Bergwetter

We're not complaining any more, because the recent snowfalls have provided surprisingly good conditions, especially on the southern slopes of the Alps. The Alps are currently enjoying perfect weather thanks to blocking high pressure over Central Europe. The conditions for ski tours are quite good where there is snow and especially where it has recently snowed and should be taken advantage of. The outlook is not clearly promising, but a comeback of winter is quite possible in connection with a sudden stratospheric warming. So there is hope, and as long as there is hope, let's hold on to it.

Colleague Sebastian dedicated last week's WeatherBlog to the new PG weather, because of course it deserves such a dedication and because he didn't just want to "moan about the weather forecast". I, on the other hand, love to moan and have no inhibitions about making up for it this week for both of us!

The Friday before last (07.02.2025) we released the new PowderGuide weather, version 2.4.0, which has been providing you with the weather forecast ever since. We no longer only show ICON but also the SNOWGRID and EXOLABS snowpack models. We look back on our old system with satisfaction, but we also had to develop further. The new system covers the whole of Europe and also international regions, includes new variables and extends the forecast to 7.5 days. It was a turbulent development process, and not all ideas were realized. But we are pleased with the result and we are sure that it will also keep you well informed and entertained. The weather forecast, which is usually the main focus of the WeatherBlog, can be found in abbreviated form as a picture gallery, because unfortunately there won't be much going on in the Alps next week.

The warm, slightly foehn-like Kaiser weather of the last few days has been replaced by overcast skies and even a few snowflakes here and there. Overall, however, the weather situation in the Alps still falls into the category of boring, dull weather.

January is over, but the winter is still not very wintery. A few short episodes of fresh snow made for spectacular images - especially at the Freeride World Tour in Val Thorens, which will be remembered for its impressive lines and deep powder. Nevertheless, the snow conditions are below average in many places. There is hope for a sustainable return of winter, but the weather situation remains complicated.

Fresh snow, storms, high avalanche risk in places - winter was barely declared dead before it was back, at least for a few days. Thanks to the fresh snow of the last few days, the snow depth on the main Swiss ridge is approaching the average again, but without replenishment and with settling, it won't stay that way for long. If you can, you should enjoy the snow with due caution while winter is still within reach.

It won't get any more wintry in January. Apart from low pressure activity in the Thyrennian Sea, not much precipitating weather is to be expected. Although the western Alps will get some snow again at high altitudes, there will also be some rain. We believe that the main reason for the uneventful westerly weather is the stability and positioning of the polar vortex. Is the winter weather dead and if so, when will it rise again?

Apart from a short, unspectacular break today (Wednesday), there will be plenty of sunshine and little chance of fresh snow for the time being. It will become increasingly milder at higher altitudes over the next few days, while the cold air will linger in the valleys.

All good things come from above, but our weather mostly comes from the west. Cyclones and troughs form in the Atlantic and then wrap around the Alps with fronts and cold air intrusions. Or warm air simply rushes in from the Azores High and puts the brakes on all skiing fun. The Atlantic is Europe's weather kitchen, it's still feverishly warm and there's a bit of everything this week.

Cheers to the New Year! The Christmas period of high pressure is coming to an end and 2025 will bring a change in the weather - it's about time! A cold front will bring some variety and even a bit of precipitation from tomorrow. The outlook for the coming week is still very uncertain. Depending on the mood of the Azores High, the options range from mild westerly weather to an Atlantic block with an outbreak of cold air over Central Europe.

The heavens have given us plenty of presents for Christmas. It's still cool at the moment and there's still plenty of powder under the northern slopes of the Alps. But we are also thinking of all those on the southern slopes of the Alps who are unfortunately more likely to go for a walk in the foehn this year.

Before we head towards the Christmas snow, let's take a look at the large-scale pressure centers that rotate over the world's oceans and control our weather: The polar vortex currently has two distinct cold poles. One lies over eastern Siberia and the North Pacific. The other extends roughly from Newfoundland via Greenland to the Barents Sea and is responsible for a strong westerly current over the Atlantic, which has been bringing us "new weather" every few days for a while now.