A while ago, the possibility of a changeover from westerly weather to easterly cold was discussed here. As we all know, that didn't happen after all and the Atlantic has thrown one meter after another onto the measurement levels of the northwest. Now the cold from the east is making another attempt.
Eastern cold
All models see a more or less strong disturbance of the polar vortex in the new week, which ensures that continental cold spreads from Siberia to the west. It remains to be seen exactly where the cold high will end up and it may well be that we escape the very Arctic temperatures. However, this would mean more difficult conditions for the western slide in any case, as the slide path would be blocked. In the Alps, this would mean either cold and lots of sunshine, or one or two Mediterranean lows sneaking past the blockade. Another option would be warm, humid Atlantic air sliding onto colder air masses and producing precipitation. Or things could turn out very differently again, as winter has so far stuck to the motto "west wins".
Dry south
Winter in general, have we (i.e. the north and west) ever had so much snow? With so much winter, it can't be climate change at all, can it? You hear these and similar ideas from chairlift neighbors and gondola acquaintances all the time. If you feel like it, you can then explain that weather is not the same as climate and that a westerly exposure clearly belongs to the former. Surprisingly, Tyrol is not so relevant for the rest of the planet. Of course, you could also save yourself the discussion and simply recommend a trip to the Southern Alps, where there hasn't been a heavy precipitation event for months and the winter fairy tale is not going so well.
Outlook
The outlook for the weekend is still a little uncertain. It is likely to be mostly cloudy with some snow showers in the west and western north, although I don't necessarily expect the oracle to have anything to say this time in view of the past few weeks.
