Michael Steger

Written articles

• WeatherBlogs

  WeatherBlog 1 2026/27 | The first snow has fallen

  10/22/2026 • Michael Steger & Sebastian Müller

  

  Winter weather is coming to life—and with it, the WeatherBlog. After a record-breaking summer in terms of heat and water shortages across much of Europe, the situation has unfortunately not improved this fall. Whether that will change this winter remains to be seen. Right now, though, it certainly looks that way—it already snowed last night, and it looks like we’ll get quite a bit more by the weekend. So it’s high time to wake the WeatherBlog from its summer slumber and take a look at what’s happening on the weather front.
• WeatherBlogs

  WeatherBlog 24 2025/26 | April April does what it wants!

  04/15/2026 • Sebastian Müller & Michael Steger

  

  April is known for the small battles between Ullr and Ostara - winter versus spring, cold versus mild, snow versus sun. At the beginning of the week, Ullr tried once again to make up ground. But it wasn't too successful: the PowderAlert station reported a decent 33cm, but the advance was limited to the higher elevations. Ostara is increasingly asserting itself in the valleys - but spring is holding out.
• WeatherBlogs

  WeatherBlog 22 2025/26 | White gold rush on the northern slope of the Alps

  04/01/2026 • Sebastian Müller & Michael Steger

  

  As WeatherBlog 21 already indicated, and as two PowderAlerts within the last week as well as many highly starry ConditionsReports prove, early spring has once again covered the north side of the Alps in white gold. Although the gold price has fallen considerably since mid-March. We dare to doubt whether there is a negative correlation here. What these two northern storms certainly correlate with, however, is the weakening of the jet stream - more on this in the special topic.
• WeatherBlogs

  WeatherBlog 20 2025/26 | High pressure lures you to a high tour

  03/18/2026 • Sebastian Müller & Michael Steger

  

  The last Mediterranean cyclone has once again delivered a wild mix of powder and concrete snow to large parts of the Alps. The weather will remain varied and snowfall is still to be expected. And when the powder season slowly draws to a close, the high altitude season begins. The current high pressure and increasingly longer days are inviting the first high-altitude tours.
• WeatherBlogs

  WeatherBlog 18 2025/26| Early spring

  03/04/2026 • Michael Steger

  

  The sun means well with us - perhaps a little too well. A small high-altitude low caused a few blemishes on Tuesday and Wednesday, then high pressure took over and the meteorological start of spring began with an omega situation. For us, this means big temperature differences between day and night, firn windows in the morning - and a watchful eye on the avalanche situation in the afternoon.
• WeatherBlogs

  WeatherBlog 12 2025/26 | Oh, how beautiful is Kamchatka

  01/21/2026 • Sebastian Müller & Michael Steger

  

  Only the avalanche situation is more exciting than the weather. The dry early winter in the Austrian Alps is taking its revenge. A pronounced weak layer combined with wind and fresh snow has provoked a series of avalanche accidents and claimed several victims. Kamchatka was also badly hit, with huge snowdrifts burying homes and people. Europe is also facing a stormy week. Quo vadis 2026?
• WeatherBlogs

  WeatherBlog 10 2025/26 | The Beast from the East

  01/06/2026 • Sebastian Müller & Michael Steger

  

  At the beginning of the year, it's not just world events that are coming thick and fast, but also the weather. Winter has finally descended on Europe, is currently spreading deep into the Balkans and the next trough promises to bring large amounts of fresh snow to the northern slopes of the Alps as early as today. High pressure is prevailing over Greenland, however, and temperatures are very high. We therefore turn our attention last to the special role that Greenland and its ice sheet play in the global climate.
• WeatherBlogs

  WeatherBlog 8 2025/26 | It has begun

  12/23/2025 • Michael Steger

  

  As announced in PowderAlert 3 and the SnowChase Xmas Special, it's been snowing - sometimes heavily - from the Maritime Alps to Piedmont since Sunday morning. While people are still sitting in the dry north of the Alps, winter is knocking on the door in the south.
• SnowChase

  SnowChase 2025/26 | Xmas Special

  12/23/2025 • Michael Steger

  

  Many people dream of a white Christmas. In our SnowChase Xmas Special, we take a closer look: Where does it snow under the Christmas tree, where does it stay green and where is it at least sugared?
• WeatherBlogs

  WeatherBlog 4 2025/26 | Onset of winter in Central Europe

  11/26/2025 • Sebastian Müller & Michael Steger

  

  There is a magic in every beginning, and winter has got off to a magical start.
• WeatherBlogs

  WeatherBlog 3 2025/26 | La Foliage and Climate Greening

  11/12/2025 • Sebastian Müller & Michael Steger

  

  There is no corresponding translation for the Italian term "la foliage": it describes the changing color of the leaves in autumn. In recent days or even weeks, the colorful foliage in the light-flooded treetops and under a blue sky has painted a picture-book Indian summer. Together, we will find out why the leaves are changing color, what this has to do with climate change and what the term "climate greening" means. Of course, we'll also take a look at further weather developments, which predict some snowfall at the end of the forecast period.
• WeatherBlogs

  WeatherBlog 2 2025/26 | Onset of winter and explosive cyclones

  10/29/2025 • Sebastian Müller & Michael Steger

  

  The oracle has spoken and announced the temporary start of winter in the Alps. Yesterday was a powder day with bright sunshine, even though the north-westerly wind was blowing freshly around our ears in the summit regions. As indicated in the last WeatherBlog, the blocking high-pressure situation has disappeared and made way for westerly and north-westerly currents. Autumn storm "Joshua" also played a role in this. One of the strongest hurricanes since records began is raging in the Caribbean. "Melissa" has hit Jamaica and is moving on towards Cuba.