PowderAlert 9 2025/26 | The Big One!

The Big One, the big quake, in California stands for the major earthquake that everyone has been waiting for and which is now decades overdue. Everyone is afraid of this shock and knows why it becomes more problematic the longer the pent-up energy at conservative plate boundaries is not discharged regularly.

While everyone there is preparing for an emergency, we are eagerly awaiting it here. The BIG ONE, the big dump that everyone who wants to finally drive without the handbrake is hoping for. Our quake is the shake of power when millions of tortured freeriders whoop with relief because it's finally snowing properly. And it gets fat, the dump. We haven't had that in the north this season, even Obi Wan in his self-imposed desert exile should notice the shaking of the Force.

In the northwest it's finally here, the northeast will have to wait, but there's a good chance of more than cosmetic snowfall after next weekend, but more on that in the medium term. There's a good chance that the weather will be a bit more powder-friendly this time.

Alert period and areas

As is so often the case this winter, the alert area stretches from the Hautes Alpes in France to the Arlberg, with the core extending from the Lower Valais to France.

The alert runs from Tuesday to Friday morning.

The amounts

From the Arlberg to central Switzerland 30-40cm, from the Bernese Oberland to the Valais 40-70cm (higher values in the west and in the western congestion), but here the oracle believes that surprises upwards are possible, because there is a lot of moisture coming from the west, so that it can also be 20-30cm more from the Arlberg to the Bernese Oberland, even if the glass balls don't see that.

In the core from the Lower Valais to the Hautes Alpes, 90-120cm. In western staues in the core, the oracle in the crystal ball sees 120-150cm, as the stau always comes from the same direction and then the models like to underestimate the orography.

Where should I go?

There's no need to stress about Tuesday because that's when it starts and it won't start snowing heavily until Tuesday evening. On Wednesday, I'd stay in the trees in the inner Alps in France or in the lower Valais above 1600m and enjoy the ^deep snow there on Thursday.

On Friday, it can tear open, but it doesn't have to everywhere, but you can take precautions in a combined area with trees and alpine terrain.

As always this winter, it will be extremely dangerous, as the weak layers above the tree line are almost everywhere and over a large area.

Medium term

Saturday and Sunday will probably be colder and the current will turn to the north. There will probably be some snow on Saturday (cold smoke!) and a chance of sunshine on Sunday. From Monday/Tuesday, the signs in the crystal ball point to snowfall again, and possibly, thanks to the northwest, from a direction that could also benefit the starving northeast of the Alps. This would mean that a second serious alarm is waiting in the wings!

All in all, it looks good for carnival and you could take "de jecke Zigg" vacation, because you're pretty sure (as is certain with weather periods of more than 5-7 days!?) that you won't go wrong.

(A Lot of) Powder to the People!

Your Oracle

Prediction game #7: Core zone station "Donin du Jour (2385m)"

The snow depth prediction game #7 takes place at the station "Donin du Jour (2385m)" from Monday, Feb 9th 5:30pm to Feb 13th 12:00pm. The initial snow depth at the station "Donin du Jour (2385m)" is 180cm (9.2., 17:30).

Write your new snow tip by Tuesday, February 10th at 19:00 as a comment below! Reminder: Prediction game rules, prediction reminder by email.