PowderAlert 10 2023/24 | Apocalypse Snow

It worked and the oracle simply didn't see the alerts on Monday and Tuesday on the journey home. But what does an angry Nordic god do when you leave him out in the cold? He behaves like Colonel Kurtz from the eponymous film, goes completely mad and goes one better. From tonight (Thursday), Ullr will be sending the next southern storm around our ears and it's going to hit us with a bang. At least regionally.

Alarm period and areas

The alert extends from south-west France and the southern Alps from southern Piedmont via Monte Rosa to Trentino, with a really quite wild centre from Aosta to north-western Ticino. The alert lasts roughly until early Monday morning.

Wind

The wind is surprisingly tame for the amount of snow, so that the whole thing also develops countercurrent-like features on Sunday. So pow up to the very top, but in Austria little up to the Tauern ridge and more in Trentino. It's a different story in the south-east, where a lot will probably spill over the Simplon to the north-west.

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Snow fall limit

From west to east between 1400 and 1800 metres and also higher in the Maritime Alps. Towards Sunday it will drop everywhere, while in the Goms or Monte Rosa or in north-west Ticino it may snow much earlier up to 1000m with heavy precipitation. Generally full amounts from 1600-2000m.

The quantities

Aye Caramba, this is going to be exciting.

From the Upper Engadine eastwards 40-70cm are coming, but as I said, due to the light easterly component rather further away from the main ridge, e.g. Trentino.

In the Maritime Alps and southernmost Piedmont it is 70-100cm.

From the Turin Alps to Ticino, 80-110cm of snow is widespread and in this area, in the core from the south-eastern Aosta Valley to the Simplon, 110-170cm of snow. On Monte Rosa or other reservoirs this can be 2 metres OR MORE.

Where should I go?

Until Saturday in the trees from 1600m in the core or in the Maritime Alps. There's a bit more fresh powder on Friday than on Saturday, so you're better off touring in the trees on Saturday than in the area. On Sunday you should not only look for treeskiing areas, but also for possible access and departure routes, because there will be 80-120cm OR MORE fresh snow in the core in 24 hours, the falling snow line opens up more possibilities (and possibly closes roads), although there is hardly any base below 1400m.

Medium-range forecast

From Monday it will clear up and you can go higher up. The snow should have settled by Tuesday and you can safely go on a few tours in average or even cool temperatures. With a north-easterly flow, this should last almost the whole week in the south.

Powder to the people!

Your oracle

Prediction raffle #10: Core zone station "Bochetta delle Pisse in Alagna (2410m)"

The snow depth competition no. 10 takes place at the station "Bochetta delle Pisse in Alagna (2410m)" from Thursday, 29 Feb 21:00 to 4 March 10:00. The initial snow depth at the station "Bochetta delle Pisse in Alagna (2410m)" (station data: select station in Stazione dropdown, and click Genera) is 138cm (29 Feb 21:00).

Write your fresh snow tip as a comment below by Friday, 1 March at 21:00! As a reminder, tip game rules, Tip player reminder email.

First prize in this year's prediction game is the Bamboo 104 slats from Valhalla - Handmade ski dreams from the Schwatzwald!