Heavy snow forecast in the Alps

21st October 2014, by Abi Butcher

Hoping that the skiing conditions will be this good when Val Thorens opens next month

Winter is due to arrive in the Alps from tomorrow — with a drop in temperature and heavy snow expected across parts of Switzerland and Austria. The news bodes well for those of us hoping to get a pre-season ski break on the slopes.

Fraser Wilkin, our snow guru from weathertoski.co.uk explains.

“A dramatic change in the weather is forecast for the Alps mid-week with freezing levels dropping from 4000 to 1200m and heavy snow across the northern Alps,” he said.

“The greatest accumulations will be reserved for the central and northern Swiss Alps as well as much of Austria (away from the far south). Here 60-80cm of new snow is possible at altitude between Tuesday night and Thursday with a dusting as low as 800m in places.

“The southern Alps will see only patchy snow but no-one will escape the huge drop in temperature and biting north-westerly winds.”

Let’s hope the snow is hearty, because it’s now a month away from WTSS’s first foray to the slopes — for the opening weekend of Val Thorens.

Fraser Wilkin will resume his weather news updates for Where to Ski and Snowboard from next month.

• ski
• snow
• skiing
• austria
• switzerland
• val thorens

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