Massive Snowstorm Hits the Alps
It started in the western Alps hitting France and Switzerland first, and has progressed east with large parts of Austria seeing significant snowfall.
Here’s Stubai near Innsbruck on Tuesday.
Here’s Verbier in Switzerland:
View this post on Instagram
The freezing level has dropped to around 750m in places meaning the low lying areas have also seen some snow.
“Storm totals between Sunday and Wednesday will likely exceed 1m at altitude in many north-western parts of the Alps and approach 1.5m in a few places,” said Fraser Wilkin from weathertoski.co.uk.
Some have been hiking up to the snow if lifts have not yet opened.
Here’s PlanetSKI reader, Campbell MacDougal, in Avoriaz last weekend.
Flurries of snow are forecast for Wednesday and then there is some settled weather for a few days.
It has brought risk of avalanche and the authorities are advising extreme caution for those heading off piste.
In many areas of the Alps the risk is described as ‘considerable’ – Level Three.
Here is the current risk in the Swiss Alps on Wednesday 26th November, with some areas on Level Four – ‘High’.
Image from Swiss Institute for Snow & Avalanche Research, SLF.
Another storm is forecast for the Alps this weekend.
It has been one of the best early season periods in recent memory as we have reported on PlanetSKI:
View this post on Instagram
Val Thorens Our reporter Felix Milns was in the high-altitude French resort of Val Thorens last weekend as it opened with some fabulous conditions.
Felix was in the snow on Monday as the latest storm struck.
View this post on Instagram
More resorts are opening this weekend and the people able to visit will have some fabulous early season conditions.
Last weekend ski areas open in the Alps included:
- Austria: Pitztal, Hintertux, Stubai, Soelden, Kaunertal, Kitzsteinhorn, Molltal, Obertauern, Schladming, Obergurgl & Kitzbuhel.
- France: Val Thorens & Tignes.
- Italy: Cervinia, Sulden, Passo Tonale & Val Senalis.
- Switzerland: Andermatt, Verbier, Zermatt, Saas-Fee, Murren, Arosa, Davos, Glacier 3000, Titlis Glacier (Engleberg) & Diavolezza Glacier (St Moritz) and Adelboden.
Opening w/end in Val Thorens, Sunday 23rd November. Image © PlanetSKI
Here on PlanetSKI we will be updating with latest details once the current storm passes and assessing what it may mean in general for the approaching winter ski season.
Do check back…
PlanetSKI: Number 1 for digital ski news
Your digital platform for ski news, resort information, travel, equipment rental, sport, money saving deals and everything connected with snowsports – web site, social media & more.
The post Massive Snowstorm Hits the Alps appeared first on PlanetSKI.
Leave a Reply