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PowderAlert 7 2018/19 | Nordstau 4, the fourth horseman of the primal calypse?

Lots of fresh snow again doesn't mean the end of the world, but hardly a reason to rejoice everywhere either

by Lars Oelmann • 01/07/2019
"There ain't no party like a Nordstau party because a Nordstau party don't stop!" Unfortunately, the party part is long gone in the east and people are more likely to be hungover about the recent large amounts of fresh snow. Only in Switzerland can you still look forward to it, although there too the danger of avalanches will cloud the fun from Wednesday.

As soon as you leave the bunker, the next alarm goes off. It goes on and on, because Ullr has pressed the persistence button on the weather machine and simply left the north jam lever in automatic mode. Normally we are happy about this, but in view of closed schools and roads, traffic chaos and a real threat to people living in the Alps, we should hold back a little on the joy and enjoy the alarm with caution. Especially in view of the further outlook, but more on that in the medium term. The fourth north jam in a row is something special and it will be really big and fluffy again.

Alert period and areas

Alert 7 applies from Tuesday morning to Thursday evening, then there will be a short break in the snow until Alert 8 hits the Alps on Friday, which would be the fifth north jam in 10 days. The oracle remembers nothing comparable.

The alert applies from the Bernese Oberland to the Rax, there is no clearly defined core. In northern Valais, there should also be just enough for alerts.

Wind

Storm, strong storm and stormy wind depending on altitude and region. As always, lots of snow, lots of wind and great danger. It pushes the full amounts up to the main ridge.

Max
Orakel
Max
Orakel

Snowfall line

Shortly around 800-900m, then quickly all the way down. Cold powder everywhere where there is no wind

The amounts

Widespread snow from the Bernese Oberland to the Rax 70-100cm, in the accumulation areas also 120-150cm. As I said, Ullr has set the north jam lever to the stop, is sitting on his throne and enjoying the show. Considering how much has already fallen, this is certainly record-breaking in some regions. Especially as it's only the beginning of January! There's so much again that you have to expect closures everywhere.

PG
Schnee
PG
Schnee

Where should I go?

In Switzerland, you have to see how much base was west of eastern Switzerland, otherwise you can ski anywhere in the trees from the base. Tuesday will see the first flurries and possibly a few more ski resorts will be open again. The main mass will arrive on Wednesday and you'll have to see where you can get to. Thursday is the cold finale. You should stay in the forest on all days. But the same applies here: the forest is only safe further down, if at all, with this amount of snow. With the sinking depths and the huge amounts, even sluffing in the forest can be extremely dangerous.

There will be a short break on Friday, but it won't break up before the 8 alarm.

Medium term

It will continue to snow, again intensively at the weekend and possibly in the meter range. It will probably get a little warmer, but from 1000m it should stay snowy. The oracle is slowly starting to worry and is wondering whether you Ullr have made too many sacrifices, because even after the weekend it doesn't look like the north-west/north-east conveyor belt will stop. For some areas, this could become a serious situation at the weekend. Or even more serious if you consider that schools are already closed and people are stuck. Fascinated and amazed, the Oracle looks into the crystal ball and keeps its fingers crossed that you find powder and that nothing happens to you and everyone else.

Powder to the people!

Your Oracle

This article has been automatically translated by DeepL with subsequent editing. If you notice any spelling or grammatical errors or if the translation has lost its meaning, please write an e-mail to the editors.

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