Zentralschweiz

Counter-current system? What is that? Without poaching too much into WeatherBlog territory, I'll say this: the countercurrent system is Ullr's way of bringing his faithful powder in exciting quantities without much wind (at least in the center) by letting two air masses make love over the Alps.

After a rather chilly spring, it has suddenly become summer in the last few days. You can tell by the pale extremities that our fellow human beings are showing off as they stroll through the city, by the pigeons and couples playing turtle and, last but not least, by the temperature. A summer day is, at least according to meteorological understanding, a day on which the maximum temperature reaches at least 25°.

As announced, here is the Thursday update. The predicted amounts of 70-100 cm have already fallen across the board and, especially in eastern Switzerland, in some cases significantly more than the 50-70 cm with the 20 cm bonus, because interestingly there was no border through central Switzerland to the main precipitation areas in the west, which is probably due to the model orography, in which the east is simulated to be less high. Even the 120 cm have become full here and there outside of France.

Our Italian low has made its way north as a Vb low and is currently causing chaos in southern Germany – and is also bringing snow to the northern side of the Alps.

The Engelberg ski resort in central Switzerland is now well known to every freerider. This has the disadvantage that the first-line jostling for the first gondolas can be quite stressful. If the classic variants Laub, Steinberg, Jochstock or Galtiberg have usually turned into moguls after just one day, the descents in particular, which require a little effort (ascent) or alpine know-how, offer lonely descents and are still easy to ski days after the last snowfall. One of these freeride tours, the Titlis circuit, has been considered a classic since the 1990s and every freerider should have done this tour at least once. There are many reasons for this: a magnificent 2700-metre descent, impressive views from Tödi to Finsteraahorn or alpine adrenaline when abseiling are just some of them.

As the little brother of the well-known freeride ski area on the Titlis, the Brunnibahn in Engelberg also offers some interesting downhill options and definitely less crowds. When the slopes in the shadowy area around the Trübsee have long since been groomed, you can still find the odd patch of untracked powder snow on the "sunny side of Engelberg". Among other things, the variants with the ascent towards Rigidalstock and the west-facing descent through Ober Stoffelberg are popular. If you like it a little more alpine and are not afraid of a via ferrata passage with skis on your backpack, then you should take the 700 meters of ascent to this summit in your stride, because the descent has it all.

After the previous northern accumulation remained just under a meter, and thus only met my standard values of 50-100 cm, it's now starting again! Snow will start falling again from central Switzerland to the east this afternoon. The snow line will remain in the lower powder regions and the amounts will be huge in the east.

First of all, the verification (although there is still some to come this evening): With some stations over 70 cm where there was no snow before and many regions with more than 40 cm of fresh snow, from Valais to Glarnerland, the values of the last PowderAlert matched pretty well until today. Even in the east in the Arlberg corner, some stations like the Diedamskopf have stalked the 40 cm total snow depth and should make it by tonight. Further to the east, what I warned about has happened, as the upslope flow meant that there was not much there and the negative centimetres are making themselves felt.

The Galenstock on the Furka Pass is a real classic. Known to many climbers in summer, it also offers great ski touring opportunities in magnificent surroundings during winter.

Whether freeride, alpine or leisurely oriented The Rotondo hut offers all possibilities? Not only does it have the right atmosphere, but you will also receive a friendly welcome, detailed advice on suitable tours and the current situation and delicious food. However, if you prefer a more rustic atmosphere, you can settle down in the winter room and look after yourself.

Central Switzerland

We chose a small spot that will hopefully remain as it is for a long time to come. Enough vertical meters, fat terrain, few locals, a relaxed atmosphere and, in addition to great weather, a good connection between the fresh snow and the old snow