SnowChase 02 2024/25

Georgia -

A country between West and East

Georgia is located at the crossroads between Europe and Asia and has always been subject to geopolitical tensions due to its strategic location. The country has been struggling for independence from Russia for years. However, while the political challenges continue, Georgia is increasingly investing in tourism and has long since established itself as an attractive travel destination in the Western world.

Georgia is known above all for its unique culture, which combines influences from East and West, its hospitality and a wine culture that is one of the oldest in the world. However, the country is also enjoying growing popularity among freeriders - be it through adventurous ski tour opportunities or, more recently, through the Freeride World Tour. Since the first visit of a PowderGuide.com 2012, many others have been back to Georgia again and again. A real paradise for SnowChasers.

Fritz ready to drop in.

Teja Stüwe

Georgia

Fritz Crone

Synoptic overview - weather conditions in the Caucasus

Like the Alps, the Caucasus is influenced by both polar and subtropical air masses. Due to its location in the westerly wind zone, it also benefits from the moisture reservoir of the Black Sea, similar to the Alps and the Mediterranean. Due to the specific orography, the Caucasus mainly experiences Südstau effects, while the Alps mainly receive precipitation from the west, which is related to cyclogenesis over the Atlantic.

In the fall and spring, the frequency of storms over the Black Sea increases. This is due to the strong seasonal temperature contrasts caused by the change between summer and winter conditions. The strong air mass contrasts between cold, polar air masses from the north and warm, humid air masses from the Mediterranean are the main drivers of the weather in the Caucasus region. The resulting frontal systems bring heavy snowfall in the fall, while in the spring they regularly cause landslides and flooding along with the melting snow.

Cut-off low over Turkey

IFS

Southeast Europe

ECMWF

Current situation and outlook

The trough over the Balkans mentioned in Weatherblog 19 has been causing sugared mountain peaks in the Western Caucasus since Monday. Yesterday, the trough finally broke off over the Black Sea and developed into a cut-off low over central Turkey by today. This low-pressure area enriched with humid air brought heavy precipitation throughout the Caucasus, especially yesterday, but also today.

By the end of the week, this stationary low-pressure area will continue to weaken and slowly move across the Caspian Sea. This weather situation is a textbook example of precipitation in the Caucasus. In the west, we can hope for up to 50 cm of accumulated fresh snow from today to Sunday, while ICON is even forecasting up to 100 cm in the east. We can then expect imperial weather throughout the Caucasus at the beginning of next week.

The adventurous and culturally rich character of Georgia was documented by Sammy Theuer, Heli Hoffmann and companions in their film of a 5-day crossing of the Caucasus "Ialakha".