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PowderAlert 8 2017/18 | Episode VIII - The last alerts?

The latest sequel to the PowderAlert blockbusters

by Lars Oelmann 12/13/2017
After Episode VII, "Ullr's Awakening with Power" in the West, now comes the sequel to the box office hit "PowderAlert" in almost the same regions. It continues the pattern of this winter, the "weekend trough". All weekend warriors will be particularly pleased and no one else will be complaining about a weekly supply of powder in the meter range. It will be a colorful action firework like the new Star Wars movie! (For anyone who is still wondering what I'm talking about here...)

It has already started to snow and will continue until Saturday. The snowfall will last longer in the north and will probably bring a good, cold bonus, but I can't in good conscience predict powder for such a long time. There may be an update on Friday evening. Especially from the Arlberg to the east, there could be the icing on the cake!

Alert period

Until Friday evening, but it will continue to snow until Sunday.

Alert area

From the Arlberg to the Hautes Alpes and generally the whole north-western Alpine arc with a core from the lower Valais/northern Valais to the Hautes Alpes. Some models also see higher amounts on the Arlberg, but these are not the most reliable. From experience, the flow also tends to fit my classification.

Snowfall line

Now at around 1500, but that quickly drops to the very bottom and means fluffy powder wherever there's no wind. So full amounts should be available from 1000m.

Wind

Still fresh to strong, but not full gale or hurricane force. The wind will blow from the west and later from the north. This will bring snow, but should also leave sheltered areas.

The quantities

Ullr draws from the full. And as it gets cold, there are sure to be nice amounts further down. From the Arlberg to the Bernese Oberland there will be 35-60cm, with more towards the west. As I said, some models are extending the core as far as the Arlberg, but that doesn't match my experience with the weather situation.

In the core from the northern Valais and Lower Valais as far as France down to the Ecrins, it will be 60-100cm. In the usual potholes in the west, I can imagine up to 120cm.

Where should I go?

Thursday and Friday in your favorite trees in the west for a #-suitable result, but also from the Bernese Oberland to the Arlberg you can have fun in the botany.

Saturday and Sunday it will continue to snow in the same regions, but it is not yet clear where and how hard and whether it will clear up briefly or not. I would not expect large cloud gaps in the northern congestion. So you shouldn't ski around on a glacier with no contours, but it wouldn't hurt to book a ski resort with higher terrain in case you see a weather window for an hour.

It remains critical on the avalanche side, however, and you'll probably want to keep a low profile below the tree line. If you want to be on the safe side, take a tour in the trees because it will remain cold and even with small amounts of fresh snow and the fat dump by Friday, it will be very deep at the weekend where no one has been yet.

Medium-term

A rather warm, calm and sunny touring week is likely from Monday or Tuesday and what comes next is still unclear. Most models see boring high-pressure weather, but there is some uncertainty in the model circus again and there may also be a new trough and northwest situation.

Sacrifice at the Ullr shrine, so that the bum high is driven away soon, so that it is not just "the last alarms" and we can soon admire Ullr's episode 9 on the big mountain screen.

May Ullr's power be with us!

Powder to the people!

Your Oracle

Here's the prediction game!

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