Where to Ski and Snowboard Forums

Road closures due to snowfall

2012-01-06T15:09:22Z

Hi all

Just received this latest news from Austria, via one of our readers (Thanks Ted, and son Stephen)

It’s the latest on some of the travel chaos as a result of the heavy snowfalls - which have also now moved east towards Salzburg, as well as in the western corner of the country.

If anyone is off to the Alps this weekend, take care and do report back on the latest conditions / travel situation.

Cheers

Wendy

Storm Andrea: Traffic chaos

Up to 60 cm fresh snow fell in under an hour this morning and strong winds and acute avalanche danger have led to numerous road closures in western Austria. Many villages are not accessible by road. ÖAMTC have reported that among other routes closed due to extreme avalanche danger are:

B177 road between Scharnitz Seefeld and Mittenwald in Bavaria
Access to the Felbertauern tunnel between Mittersill in Salzburg and Matrei (alternatives are possible via a long route along the A10 Tauernautobahn and Autoschleusse rail travel by ÖBB between Mallnitz-Obervellach and Böckstein)
B165 Gerlosstraße between Wald im Pinzgau and the Gerlospass (The toll road is open)

Just back from 10 days in Les Arc

2012-01-01T20:27:01Z

Just driven back from 10 days in Les Arc. Best skiing ever. 6 days straight bluebird sunshine! Last day I was enjoying knee deep powder on Chantel - awesome!

The valley road between Aime and Bourg was shut Saturday am for about two and a half hours due to an avalanche on the road .
We were stuck for about two and a half hours until the road opened.

People in the supermarket in Bourg were warning that they couldn’t get up the road to Les Arc with snow socks and were driving down to buy chains - upon police advice.

The queue into the valley seemed to stretch back almost to Moutiers on Saturday. People were stopping in the road to put chains on and holding everyone up - it was a zoo and I really pitied anyone driving in that day!

Happy holidays everyone

Cheers

Mike

best conditions to form a good base?

2011-12-31T15:03:13Z

I’ve been looking enviously at the web cams in the French Alps over the last few days and started thinking about which type of early snow conditions are best for forming a good base for the rest of the season (assuming there is a relationship, that is)? Does anyone know? For example, if there is lots of snow and cold temperatures early on, does that mean that the base can be compacted well so that it lasts better if there is a dry/ warm spell later or is it better to have more gradual snowfall over the first month or so?

Wanted! Snow bloggers ...

2009-12-02T18:42:02Z

Hi all

Anyone up for sending us snow reports?

We’ve noted a few threads from folks off on extended trips this winter and are looking for some willing volunteers to email us ‘reader snow snippets’ and maybe a pic or two of the day etc.

Ideally, you’d be in a resort for a season, or a few weeks at a time, but we’re happy to post updates from anyone out ion a trip.

Send them to me on a weekday, and I’ll pop them up on the same (or as soon as possible) day.

We’ve already got one volunteer for Chamonix ... anyone else?

Wendy

Weather Warning for the Western Alps for Fri 16th - Sun 18th Dec

2011-12-15T16:09:48Z

Just a quick post for anyone travelling to the Alps this weekend. Several resorts have started posting warnings re travel disruption on the approaches to resorts for Fri and all day Saturday. A storm of some significance is due to cross the whole of the Western Alps and heavy snow ( up to a metre locally in places) will fall throughout Friday and most of Saturday. Snow has started falling for the last 36 hours or so, this is heavy in some places and will affect all the major roads into the mountains. Local authorities are warning of likely road closures at times, particularly the approaches to resorts which may be affected by avalanche control activity. Avalanche triggering may also be in place so road closures are very likely. Police control points are likely to be in place to check you have chains with you, even for vehicles fitted with snow tyres and vehicles that don’t will probably be turned back. Overnight stop offs are being suggested near to the Alps with completion of journeys on Sunday morning rather than Sat evening. On a lighter note the conditions from Sunday should be amazing if not a little chilly next week.

Stay safe and have a great week

Adi

Its finally on the way!!

2011-12-03T14:26:51Z

It looks like the snow for the Alps is on the way, have been keeping my eyes on the Aosta valley in particular, we go out late Jan, but it seems much of the Alps will get 40cm plus during the coming days, hopefully those going out on early or Christmas breaks can breathe a sigh of relief, though much snow is needed in the coming weeks to build a decent base especially the lower resorts or those without comprehensive snowmaking.

Snow, weather, avalanche talk

2009-11-10T21:48:28Z

Hi all

Until we have a dedicated reader section for snow reports, feedback etc, I thought I’d start a new forum. We had quite a good thread going last season, as folk added comments after or during their trips.

So, if you are in resort, paying a quick early season trip, want to discuss the weather (how British is that!) ... tag it on here or start a new thread in this section.

And there’s the serious stuff too: avalanche awareness, etc. Is anyone going to the UK talks at Snow n Rock?

Wendy

Our forecasts and weather charts

2009-12-18T12:13:30Z

Hi all

We’re canvassing opinion on our weather charts that accompany the snow forecasts: Do you find them useful? Do you bother looking at them at all? Want more explanation of individual maps, etc?

We have previously incorporated met office images, but also wanted to mix n match these with ones from some of the excellent weather sites across Europe. We are aware that in some cases the images are too small at present; we are sorting that problem out. [NB: this week’s forecast (18 Dec) does not show the related charts]

We’d appreciate your views on this and any other aspects of our current snow sections.

Wendy

Heading to Andorra on the 27th and getting worried ....

2011-02-07T19:17:51Z

... about amount of snow that will be left - based on current temp.

Anyone back from Soldeu in the last week or so - what are the conditions like - how is the snow holding up . Getting a bit twitchy now. 14 degrees this week by the looks of it with a minimum of 2 degrees