Big Snow Forecast this week - 3rd and 4th January 2018 - READ THIS!

If you're in the affected mountains, or travelling to, from or around them in the next few days... please take note and plan accordingly! Stay Safe!

The forecast for Wednesday through Friday this week, particularly for the North and West of the Alps (French and Swiss Alps in particular), has huge amounts of precipitation, lots of wind and rapidly varying temperatures.

Snowfall totals at altitudes above 2,000 metres could be phenomenal in places whilst there *could* be very heavy rain lower down at times.

Add in the wind and it's very likely that the Avalanche Risk Level could go to 5 (the max - Black Flag!) across quite a wide area for a day or two.

It's going to be quite a storm (even by the standards of the impressive snowfall already this winter) and could seriously disrupt transport links, lift operations and piste openings while it's in progress.

If you're in the area, please follow local advice and maybe allow for a down day while slopes are made safe after what is likely to be some very heavy snowfall.

The weather over the next few day looks like it will be grim, lots of precipitation accompanied by hurricane force winds. There will likely be lots of damage and disruption and probably a few fatalities. Some forecasters are saying that the storm could be the worst since Lothar in 1999 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclones_Lothar_and_Martin By Thursday the avalanche danger level is expected to reach 4 over a wide area and numerous medium-sized to large avalanches are to be expected. https://www.slf.ch/en/avalanche-bulletin-and-snow-situation.html?no_cache=1#snowpack

SwingBeep wrote:There will likely be lots of damage and disruption and probably a few fatalities.

The latest short-range forecast model outputs are as severe as I can recall - and over quite a large area now. Fingers crossed there is minimal damage to property and people. :(

Europe's highest resort Val Thorens are taking it very seriously, I'm sure other resorts are doing likewise:

https://www.j2ski.com/ski-chat-forum/posts/list/0/17883.page#156245