WeatherBlog 18 2018/19 | Short update between alerts

Cyclonic westerly situation develops northern component

The situation can still be summarized as "changeable westerly weather". The Atlantic frontal zone is currently battling with the Azores High. The latter is trying to extend northwards towards Iceland, where new lows from the northwest Atlantic are constantly arriving. Due to the increased activity of the Azores High, these have to take a small detour to the north before they make it to Europe and therefore arrive in the Alps from a north-westerly direction. The detour to the north allows them to collect colder air masses on the way, in contrast to the disturbances last weekend, which reached the Alps via the direct western highway without touching colder, more northerly latitudes.

A warm front follows immediately afterwards (night from Thursday to Friday). The precipitation will continue, but temperatures and the snow line will rise. The warming will march from west to east. It is difficult to say exactly where it will rain and how much and depends on the local topography and the exact timing of precipitation in relation to the arrival of the warmer air, but it can be assumed that the winter feeling in the forest will be gone everywhere. It can also be assumed that the combination of heavy precipitation, rising temperatures and wind will result in a very tense avalanche situation.

After the front moves away, sunny, mild weather will prevail at the weekend.