Alpen

The series of southerly storms seems to be over for the time being and the medium term looks like (south)westerly weather. Otherwise, we have various "Miscellaneous" blog items this time.

This season is full of new features. At the beginning of the season, we went online with the new website; now, as already announced, we are also going online in two languages. From March 2024, PowderGuide.com will be available in English as well as German. This will enable us to expand our readership and accessibility and create inclusion of the non-German-speaking Alpine region.

The mean temperature for February this year corresponds to a warmer than average March. In all Alpine countries, February was much warmer than usual and records were broken in many cases. The statistical winter (December, January, February) was also one of the warmest on record. Of course, the skiing winter is not over yet, and there will be more to come in the south at the weekend.

Last week's pattern is set to repeat itself: After a brief interlude of high pressure on Thursday, the southern flow will return with föhn in the north and wet weather in the south. Winter at altitude will continue and the mild, slushy spring at lower elevations will too.

Winter made a brief appearance in the south last week, as the latest ConditionReports show. CRs from the north, on the other hand, indicate that the snow is becoming less, at least regionally. According to Salta's CR from 10 February, "Great cloud scenery and very pleasant slush snow" are highlights of recent touring days in the northern Alps. Jacobanselm even found a small layer of powder on 13 February and "only" south-facing sharks.

The westerly weather that seems to have lasted forever will come to an end over the next few days. At the weekend, we can expect accumulating precipitation in the south and foehn in the north. The outlook after that is still hazy, but at least more interesting than recently.

Among meteorologists, subjective judgements such as "good" or "bad" weather are frowned upon. It's not appropriate to make such judgements; you should remain professional and neutral in any weather situation. Nevertheless, there are of course personal preferences that we can't always hide. Professionally, we tend to be enthusiastic about unusual, extreme or otherwise exciting situations that are often anything but "beautiful". Conversely, classically "nice" weather tends to be boring, especially if it lasts for weeks on end.

After the recent snowfall, the conditions for freeriding and especially ski touring are perfect across the Alps. It's chilly, at least north of the Alps, and half of Germany is also enjoying classic winter weather with frost and a hint of snow. It's like imperial weather!

After December was characterised by a succession of snowfalls from the west to south-west until the end of December, and accordingly warm, and even January started like this, we are now returning to normality and slowly having to say goodbye to the record snow depths at altitude, but also to the lack of snow below 1500m. Thank Ullr, because the valleys between 1000-1500m are still feeding off their early-season cushion and below 1200-1400m there is hardly anything possible away from the artificial snow.

The mild westerly weather will continue for a few more days before it gets colder and more unsettled again, at least briefly, at the weekend. The outlook in the crystal ball is not overly wintry, with the westerly flow tending to stay with us.

Ullr gets on his sledge and off we go for the Christmas dump. Well, except for the unfortunate ones who have to make their family visits out of the reach of the Alps, but even then they can really step on the gas again on the 22nd/23rd, if the resorts open up and you can get there at all.

The Christmas weather is not showing its contemplative side this year, but is arriving with a decent storm and fresh snow. Friday and Saturday in particular are expected to be very inhospitable, with high wind speeds and lots of precipitation. The next report from our colleague Orakel won't be long in coming!