First of all, verification (although there's 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 from 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 has meant that little has come down there and the negative centimetres are making themselves felt.
Now for the second wave, which actually follows on seamlessly from the first: Because it doesn't actually stop snowing. Snowfall from the north to west can be expected throughout the night and Wednesday until Thursday morning.
Today, it will be more NW-oriented and 10-15 cm should be possible again by the evening (Tuesday). Even 20 cm are possible in places, as the whole thing looks quite "healthy" on the radar and continues to accumulate.
A warm front arrives from the west during the night and the precipitation increases significantly. This is the second wave. Ullr thanks you for your diligent sacrifices. In the western congested areas from France to the Bernese Oberland, 50-80 cm and in places even more +20 cm can accumulate. From central Switzerland to the Arlberg, at least 40-60 cm should also accumulate. This means that for the first time in winter in the west, there could be a base that is sufficient for skiing.
The best thing at the end: Above 1000-1300 m, all the precipitation is kept in chic apple white, so if necessary, you can also look for an alpine meadow to spare your skis the first stone grinding of the season ;).
East of the Arlberg, the forecasts are difficult, because although the models also give up to 40 cm here, the inflow just doesn't fit, so I would say 20-40 cm are possible, but quite unlikely due to the lack of a northerly component in the inflow. I put the negative centimeters at up to 20 and say 0-20 cm should be widespread. It's only stupid who catches the zero! However, as the warm front is quite strong, I may be wrong with my pessimistic forecast.
After a thankfully dry warming on Thursday, the next cold front will arrive on Friday. From today's perspective, it looks quite weak, but more on that on Friday.
In the medium term, we'll remain in a westerly flow that isn't all that warm and could or, according to the models, should remain humid if the steering central low moves towards Scandinavia and doesn't get stuck off Greenland.
So fingers crossed that it doesn't change to dry and warm and WSW or even SW and roar: West is best! We put Ullr to the test!
Powder to the people! (Boah now I know why they use anglicisms. They just sound better.)
Text: Lars Oelmann