WeatherBlog 18 2020/21 | Spring winter

Current situation and outlook

The Alps are in a northerly flow that could have come from the dreams of the Powder Oracle. The decisive factor for the development was the build-up of the Azores High off the European Atlantic coast. The high "blocks" the Atlantic and disturbances have to move northwards before they make it to the Alps or Central Europe. Downstream (east) of the high wedge is the counterpart of the wave: a high-reaching low that taps into cold polar air and steers moist, cool air towards the Alps. Over the next few days, the axis of the high will increasingly tilt to the east, so that the north-easterly flow will become a north-easterly flow. The air masses brought in by this will then tend to be drier than recently, but somewhat colder.

The main snowfall is likely to have ended yesterday (Tuesday), but it will continue to snow in congested areas today and in the coming night. On Thursday, the chance of clearing is higher during the day, but it won't be completely sunny in the north. Friday will look pretty cloudy again, with snow showers on and off. Even if it snows down to low altitudes, it's still March and that means that the sun will be comparatively strong and the powder will quickly lose its fluffiness if it does break up briefly.

South of the main Alpine ridge, things look very different: Here it's fluffed up with north föhn and away from the main ridge there has been little to no snow. This situation will not change significantly over the next few days, and it will also tend to get a little cooler in the south due to the rotation to the NE.

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500hPa geopotential and ground pressure, 17.3.21: Northerly flow and low pressure in the Alpine region. Blocking high in the west. — 500hPa geopotential and ground pressure, 17.3.21: North flow and low pressure in the Alpine region. Blocking high in the west.

meteociel.fr

Is this normal? (Yes!)

In February, we first wondered about the cold temperatures, then about the extremely warm temperatures. And now so much snow in March? And yet it was already so warm! In contrast to the warm period in February, the current cool, snowy phase is quite normal in terms of climatological statistics. It is common for the entire Alpine region and Germany to still experience frosty temperatures in March, or at least occasionally (depending on altitude), and snowfall down to low altitudes is by no means unusual. Anyone who has the impression that the current weather is unsuitable for the time of year has probably gotten used to warm spring temperatures in recent years...

There were also a few flakes before the big northern traffic jam. — There were also a few flakes before the big northern thaw.

LH

Medium-term: sun

Blocking layers move slowly, but they do move eventually. The high that currently lies to the west of us is slowly moving eastwards. The high pressure influence will probably prevail in most of the Alpine region from the weekend, progressing from west to east (western Alps probably already quite sunny on Saturday, eastern Alps more likely from Sunday). The blocking constellation won't change much for the time being, so the high pressure will stay with us for a while. It will only gradually get milder, as the cold air is still in the east. Depending on the exposure and wind, the fresh snow should hold up quite well until next week and nothing stands in the way of enjoying touring in the sunshine - except, of course, the risk of avalanches and the annoying travel restrictions.