Alps forecast & update: 3 Jan

30th December 2010, by Fraser Wilkin

Forecast for noon on Wednesday 3 January 2011 [(c) Meteoblue - with permission]

Forecast update 3 Jan

Sum-up

It’s cold and fairly quiet across the Alps right now, but milder and more humid Atlantic air will invade from the south-west later in the week.

General forecast

Tuesday will be mostly dry and cold with variable cloud cover, but still plenty of sunshine for most areas. Similar conditions are expected on Wednesday, though cloud will increase in the southern French Alps with a little snow likely later. On Thursday, some central and eastern Alpine areas will remain bright, but most areas will be cloudier with showers, most frequent in the west and south-west with the rain/snow limit rising to 1800m or higher later. On Friday and Saturday it will continue unsettled with showers in places, and will become increasingly mild with freezing levels generally exceeding 2000m. The best of any brightness is likely in Austria. It should become colder again on Sunday with snow to lower levels, especially in the north of the Alps.

Next detailed forecast: Thursday 6 Jan

NEW YEAR Alpine forecast 30 December 2010

Sum-up

A cold front will bring a little snow to the north-eastern Alps on Sunday, otherwise we’re looking at a quiet New Year period with no widespread snow likely until later next week. It is also turning colder again, which will help maintain the promising early season conditions.

Austria

All Austrian resorts will see plenty of sunshine on Friday and Saturday though it will be noticeably colder than of late, particularly at altitude. The extreme south of Austria will hang on to some brightness on Sunday, otherwise most parts will be cloudy with some snow flurries to low levels, heaviest in the north.

On Monday there may be flurries across the northern foothills early on, but these should die out and most areas will brighten up as the day progresses. It will remain cold.

France

Some low cloud may plague the valley bottoms on Friday and Saturday, but it will be crisp and sunny at altitude. On Sunday a weak front may bring cloudier skies to the northern Alps with the odd flake of snow here and there. Further south it will remain dry and largely sunny but it will feel colder everywhere. A return to clear skies is likely for all regions on Monday, but it will remain cold.

Switzerland

Like in France, some cloud may plague the lower valley bottoms on Friday and Saturday but there will be plenty of sunshine at altitude.

Sunny spells are still possible in the far south on Sunday, but elsewhere it will be cloudier with a little snow close to the northern fringes of the Alps, heaviest in the north-east. It will also feel noticeably colder. Any remaining snow flurries will quickly die away from the far north-east on Monday with sunny spells returning to all areas.

Italy

Friday and Saturday will be sunny and crisp for all Italian resorts. Sunday may start sunny but some cloud is expected later, especially close to the border regions, and it will become colder. Pure blue skies are expected to return on Monday, but it will remain cold.

Outlook

All areas will be fine, bright but cold for the first half of next week. It is likely to become increasingly unsettled thereafter, with snow in places, but at this stage it is uncertain exactly which areas will benefit most.

Forecasts in association with ski travel agency Ski Solutions

Main picture: shows the forecast precipitation for Wednesday 3 January 2011 at approx midday.

copyright Meteoblue

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