Lars Oelmann

A pattern is emerging this (late) early winter. Changing fronts from the west, bringing sometimes cool, sometimes mild and humid air to the western slopes of the Alps. As with the Dumpicane, this is now the case again. After a few insignificant flakes of up to 10 cm today (an exception in Switzerland with 25 cm), it will start tomorrow (30.12.2011).

No sooner have I hung my snorkel from the Dumpicane© on the wall than the next alarm goes off! After the Dumpicane© has put even my rather optimistic estimates in their place and delivered over 150 cm of snow (together with the snow from the two days before, the SLF says up to 2 m!), Santa Dump is now at the door and wants to open his northern bag. Praise Ullr! (Sorry to the southern side of the Alps, you'll have to go on suffering).

It's dumping! And that in hurricane-force winds! The appropriate name for the upcoming system for freeriders would be: Dumpicane. As our PowderGuide weather expert, the only one who really knows her stuff, has already explained how it comes about (WeatherBlog for Freeriders 07/2012), here's what it means for us. It's "dumping"!

Nothing new in the west, or how Ullr sweetens our wait with lots of small snowfalls. Now that last week's dump has been digested and photographed, this week will see a punctual replenishment on the northern and western slopes of the Alps. It has already started to snow in the west and north of Switzerland and in France today and the front will also move eastwards along the northern edge of the Alps during the course of the day.

First of all, the verification (although there is still some to come this evening): With some stations over 70 cm where there was no snow before and many regions with more than 40 cm of fresh snow, from Valais to Glarnerland, the values of the last PowderAlert matched pretty well until today. Even in the east in the Arlberg corner, some stations like the Diedamskopf have stalked the 40 cm total snow depth and should make it by tonight. Further to the east, what I warned about has happened, as the upslope flow meant that there was not much there and the negative centimetres are making themselves felt.

After the beginning of October, the time has finally come again. Snow is falling. The weather situation has changed and instead of dry and southern flavors, we are now getting our fresh, juicy air masses from the west to northwest. After the beginning of October, the time has finally come again. Snow is falling.

After everyone almost went crazy because of a few colorful cards and hardly any snow fell below 2500-2600m, there will now be a short cabin break on Monday to discuss tactics and then the südstau will go out on the field again on Tuesday with renewed vigor.

As some may have already noticed, a short but, as is so often the case, heavy südstau has set in in the Southern Alps. As these are always somewhat difficult to forecast, the alarm is only being issued now.

As some may have already noticed, a short but, as is so often the case, heavy südstau has set in in the Southern Alps. As these are always somewhat difficult to forecast, the alarm is only being issued now.

Now that the snow from two weeks ago, as predicted in the first alert, is hardly present below 2300 m, some more is coming: from France via the Vaud Alps to the Arlberg, around 20-30 cm will accumulate, as there is no real accumulation and the front is only moving across the Alps.

Now that the snow from two weeks ago, as predicted in the first alert, is hardly present below 2300 m, some more is coming: from France via the Vaud Alps to the Arlberg, around 20-30 cm will accumulate, as there is no real accumulation and the front is only moving across the Alps.

Just in time for the first significant snowfall of the still young 2011/2012 winter season, the PowderGuide team presents a new editorial addition and completes the PG weather service: The PowderAlert appears before significant new snowfall and forecasts when, where and how the snow will fall and where you have the best chance of good snow. The experienced amateur meteorologist and powder snow enthusiast Lars Oelmann presents the first PowderAlert for the period from October 8, 2011.