Firn

The melting transformation is the transformation process of the snow crystals in the snow cover, which occurs when the snow reaches a temperature of at least 0°C due to heat input. In other words, the transformation from snow crystal to water and back to ice when the temperature drops again. The corners and edges of the snow crystals begin to melt, become rounder and move closer together. The melting transformation can occur in all winter months, but is most common in spring.

Avalanche warning products often only refer to the "classic spring situation". But what are the "non-classical spring situations"? This time it's about the three non-classical of the four different snowpack scenarios in spring.

Avalanche warning products often only refer to the "classic spring situation". But what are the "non-classical" spring situations? There are three of them, which we will discuss in more detail in the next SnowFlurry. But to start with, let's look at the most common of the four different snow cover scenarios in spring.

A few days with very poor snow quality and extremely high temperatures due to the foehn are behind us. With the right exposure, slope steepness and altitude, it was already possible to ski a preliminary firn stage.

It's the beginning of spring again! This time in the astronomical sense, meaning that the sun is vertical above the equator today and day and night are the same length everywhere. The weather is sticking to the calendar and ensuring sunny mountain weather and - hopefully - firn fun

Towards the end of the season, the focus shifts more towards firn descents, north faces and challenging, narrow residual snow couloirs. The cold and dark winter period was used by a small community to work ambitiously on the ideal setup for these goals. We are now proud to present the result of our hard work.

Another mixed winter season comes to an end. After a late start, there was another good load of fresh snow in April - probably more than the entire winter. And at the weekend there's more to come. We are pleased that our visitor numbers don't fluctuate as much as the amount of powder in recent winters. We have also grown this winter and this encourages us to keep putting more and more energy into the PowderGuide project. But now it's time to call it a day for the 2016/2017 season.

Summer firn is a little-known type of snow among skiers - but summer mountaineers often encounter it. We discuss the most important characteristics of snow that is usually reserved for hardy ski tourers and pick up where the last SnowFlurry left off.

This week's WeatherBlog takes its cue from the recent snowFlurry and looks at why humidity is relevant to spring firn. The weather is and remains rather dull, with plenty of sunshine throughout the Alps before it gets a little more unsettled at the weekend.

Moisture penetration and nocturnal radiation now become the primary avalanche-forming factor. What about temperature reserve, original layer sequence, humidity and isothermality?

For most people living in the Alps, Andalusia is probably not on the list of must-visit ski spots. You actually feel a bit strange when you drag your ski bag towards a Spanish budget airline in late spring and are eyed critically by beach holidaymakers.

Our traveling reporter Zach Paley reports from Japan for the last time this season. As has been the case all winter, the conditions are changeable and you have to work harder for the powder turns than usual in Japan. Nevertheless, every now and then you are richly rewarded. Next stop for Zach: Alaska.