WetterBlog 1 2026/27: Der erste Schnee ist gefallen

And just in time for the start of the ski season in the glacier ski resorts, we’re treated to a weather spectacle in three acts:

Act 1: Tuesday—The Starting Point | The Mediterranean Takes Center Stage

It all starts with the Mediterranean. After the hot summer, the sea is still warm, providing energy and moisture for powerful storms. Currently, in the Gulf of Genoa, moist air is being transported northward inland by a weakened upper-level low-pressure system. Along the Riviera between Marseille and Genoa, a significant amount of precipitation has already fallen—these are the typical heavy rainfall events along the Mediterranean coast in the fall, and they are often catastrophic. The rest of the Alpine arc has remained dry so far. Combined with the southerly flow, this has brought stormy foehn winds in some areas, causing temperatures to rise above typical October levels. But tomorrow, another key player will take the stage.

Act 2: Wednesday—The Current Situation | Mother Cold Air Knocks on the Door

Today we’ll get to know her: the cold air. As we know, she comes from the north and sometimes ventures down to us in the mid-latitudes. This time, she’s riding in on the trailing edge of the upper-level trough that already brought us the Genoa low. It brings with it a hefty cold front and declares war on the foehn. While the foehn will still be fighting bravely in the Eastern Alps throughout the day, the front will continue to gain ground from the west. The wind will shift to the west, and by evening it will have fought its way all the way to the east.

In concrete terms, that means precipitation, dropping temperatures, and snowfall! Heavy snow is possible, especially in the northwestern Alps. Regionally, up to 30 cm of fresh snow is possible. Overnight into Thursday, the snow line will drop to 1,500. However, this will be accompanied by strong winds with gusts of up to 100 km/h. A clear victory for Mother Cold Air. For now, at least, because...

Update 1: Only in the higher elevations is there a high chance of the first significant snowfall between Tuesday and Wednesday.

PG-Map

ICON-D2-EPS

Act 3: The Weekend—The Forecast | After the Front Is Before the Front

On Friday, a weak interim high-pressure system will take over. The skies will clear, the sun will come out, and temperatures will rise slightly again. But Mother Cold Air seems to have taken offense. Because on Friday, the next disturbance from the Atlantic is already approaching, and the Alpine arc will once again be the scene of a battle of temperatures. The spectacle begins anew. On the leading edge of the next low-pressure trough, the wind shifts back to the southwest, bringing milder air toward the Alps. In the Eastern Alps in particular, the south föhn will pick up again on Friday, while in the Western Alps, the next front enters the fray. And it will fight its way eastward over the weekend. All in all, regionally over 50 cm of fresh snow is possible in the Western Swiss Alps, but even in the High Tauern, there could be up to 40 cm by Sunday.

It won’t be until sometime next week that high-pressure conditions are expected to return. And with that, the curtain falls. It remains to be seen whether the snow will be enough to serve as a base for the upcoming ski season. For now, our hearts race as we admire the snow-dusted mountains.

Average new snowfall over 5 days: By the weekend, the entire Alpine arc will see its first snowfalls. — PG-Map

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SnowChase | Norway and North America

The mountains in Scandinavia have already gotten quite a bit of snow— Nikolai Schirmer demonstrates this firsthand—and the Rockies, and especially Alaska, are also getting their first snow these days.

Seasonal Outlook: PowderGuide Weather

We’re glad we’ve revived the WeatherBlog for now, but if it doesn’t keep snowing, we’ll put it back on hold. By December at the latest, we—Michael, Sebastian, and Lea—will be writing weekly updates on winter weather. Our focus remains on the Alps, but in SnowChase we also want to venture a look at more distant mountain regions. We’re not buying into the populist powder hype—so far, it’s only been a cosmetic dusting of snow, as a few webcams show. Our developments for the PG Map have gone largely unnoticed. Some of your wishes and our dreams will come true. Here’s to a great winter with plenty of snow—may El Niño snow generously!