Where to Ski And Snowboard -

Alpine forecast and update: 01 March

1st March 2010, by Fraser Wilkin

Cloud and precipitation forecast for midday on Wednesday 03 March. Reproduced with permission from Meteoblue (see below

Summary

Remaining unsettled and turning much colder again by the weekend.

A weak front will push through the Alps on Monday night with a little snow (800-100m) in places. Showers will die out on Tuesday with sunny spells developping across most Alpine regions. On Wednesday, more snow will push into the southern French and western Italian Alps but further north it should stay mostly dry, bright and mild. Snow showers are likely right across the southern Alps on Thursday, extending a little further north later. On Friday, a strengthening north-easterly wind will introduce much colder air to central Europe as well as transferring most of the snow to the northern and eastern side of the Alps. This colder weather will continue over the weekend with further snow possible to low levels.

Forecast: 26 February

Sum-up

Unsettled and relatively mild

General situation

A mobile westerly airflow is established across the Alps with one set of weather fronts affecting the Alps today, Friday, and another Atlantic storm due on Sunday. These will both bring snow to western areas, especially at altitude with some rain lower down. A huge contrast in temperatures will develop between the southern Alps (cooler) and the northern Alps (warmer) due to the Foehn effect.

Forecast

Austria

Friday will be mostly cloudy with the risk of snow showers (1000m) in all areas. Saturday will be drier, brighter and milder. Sunday will be generally dry, breezy and very mild, especially in the central and northern valleys (Foehn wind) where long sunny spells are likely. It will remain cloudier and cooler close to the Italian border.

France

Friday will be mostly cloudy with showers or longer spells of snow (800m), especially across the northern Alps. Showers will be fewer and further between across the southern French Alps where some sunny spells are likely. Saturday will be drier, brighter and milder everywhere, at least to start with. During the afternoon, cloud will thicken from the west with showers likely during the evening (snow only above 2000m). Sunday will start dry but showers will move in from the west later. It will become very windy and remain mild with any snow falling above 1800-2000m. Overnight, these showers will move further east and the rain/snow limit will lower to 1300m.

Italy

Friday will be mostly cloudy with snow showers (800-1000m) in all regions. Saturday will be drier, with some sunshine, especially further east. More snow showers (1000m) will reach the far west by evening. Sunday will see more general cloud cover with a risk of a few snow showers (1000-1200m) in all resorts.

Switzerland

Friday will be mostly cloudy with scattered snow showers (800m) mostly in the north and west and the best of any sunshine in the south-east. Saturday will be mostly dry and very mild but increasingly windy. Further showers (snow only above 2000m) will, however, return to the far west later. Sunday will cloudy in the south with snow (1000m) in places. Further north, it will warmer, windier but brighter with only isolated showers and snow above 2000m.

Outlook

Monday may see more snow at altitude in the west before a ridge of high pressure quietens things down everywhere on Tuesday.

Forecasts in association with ski travel agency Ski Solutions

Main picture: shows the forecast precipitation for Wednesday 03 March 2010 at approx midday.

copyright Meteoblue

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