Stratosphäre

This winter can already be classified as difficult due to the below-average snow conditions and especially because of the treacherous avalanche risk situation. But all good things come from above: A circulation upheaval is planned in the stratosphere, which could greatly favor the northern slopes of the Alps in terms of upstream flow. In view of the old snow problem, we remain defensive in our route selection and look into the crystal ball of the weather below.

Two PowderAlerts after a long drought! And at least in parts of the Alps, it's continuing to be reasonably wintry! The south in particular is benefiting from a relatively stationary area of low pressure that lies diagonally over Spain and France and is repeatedly producing südstau this week. In the north (east), the amounts remain lower and will not significantly improve the snow conditions, but will hopefully at least alleviate the acute risk of forest fires.

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.

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?

The changeable spring weather is still really cold in places and at times already thundery! The meandering jet stream continues to indicate stratospheric influence and it seems that we will still experience some fluffy precipitation in April. The weather in the Alps remains unsettled and summer is still a long way off.

In any case, the high pressure is over for now and we're in for a cold snap in the next few days, hopefully with more than just cosmetic snowfall. And yes, the Alps urgently need snow! The upcoming FWT finals in Fieberbrunn and Verbier could use it, as could all of us, and finally northern Italy, which is already fearing the next summer drought. We can find reason for hope further above us, in the stratosphere.

The unclouded sunshine is history. Not because winter is making a sustained comeback, but because dust is being stirred up in the Sahara. In keeping with the current drought, we are being supplied with real desert air. A small disturbance is also moving through the north-east today and it is raining or snowing a little, but there are still no significant changes in sight.

While the southern side of the Alps can already boast a more than decent base, the north is still struggling for the most part, especially at lower altitudes. It has recently been warm on both sides of the main ridge - in the south with rain up to high altitudes, in the north with snow-eating Föhn winds and in the center with gale-force winds. A change in the general weather situation is now bringing change.

After our colleague Orakel has already reported four times, it's high time for the WeatherBlog to return from its summer slumber. We are starting the season with a classic overview of the very interesting general weather situation:

The Alpine region is still under the influence of a high-altitude trough filled with cold, polar air masses, while the Azores High is trying to build up off the European Atlantic coast. Today, Wednesday, a low pressure system will slip from the British Isles towards the Mediterranean and "drip", i.e. leave the main current to remain in the Mediterranean for a while as a genoa low.

The Alps are under the influence of a powerful high with its center over Germany. In the west, a small high-altitude low will provide some visual variety in the form of clouds, but there won't be more than a few scattered snowflakes here either. While it will get colder every day near the ground, it will remain relatively mild at higher altitudes.

To kick off the 2016/17 WeatherBlog season, we are addressing a topical question from PG user Peleiade: "What do I need to read? The polar vortex is weakening, extreme mildness in the Aleutian Islands and there is even a threat of a polar vortex split in early November? What does that mean in terms of fresh snow?"