J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by mikedib87

happy new year to u too snowgirl, hope its a snowy one!!!

Just got back from St Wolfgang today, one word: AMAZING. What a great place and the hotel i stayed in (Cortisen) was excellent for everything. I highly recommend the place for scenery, food, accomodation, the works. Skiing wise on the Postalm slopes (beginner and Ski school) it was made snow all week until Friday when a downpour put some much needed power down to ski on. Only one lift open at the moment, but they are expecting a heavy downpour of snow on Monday through Wednesday. Gosau had snow a plenty also, with quite a few runs open. Slightly more snow there than at Postalm, although come Tuesday, it should be about the same.

Once again, what a great trip and great skiing!

Rock on!

Well theres a low moving in from Newfoundland, which is moving in behind the High currently over the uk. The high will slip away towards Austria and be overhead by Wednesday. This high will bring cold, but settled conditions for Austria at least until Saturday. That will mean that the chances of new snow will be slim during next week, however, there is always the possibility of a stray front crossing the high, which would almost certainly give snow above 500m. However, this could be unlikely as by thursday, the high will have merged with another high currently over Russia. This will leave a merged high of 1036mb or thereabouts pulling in wind from the South-East of Austria/North East Italy. This wind will advect temperatures across North Eastern Italy and the Adriatic, and bring a slight increase in temperatures in exposed places in Austria. Temperatures in the valleys of Austria will fall under this high, as the little wind there is will be drawn by catabatic winds down into the valley. The opposite is true also, with a Fohn effect possible, but under these settled conditions, it will not have much effect. This is of course what is most likely to happen from a meteorological point of view, however the thing with mountains is, they really do mess up the equations a fair bit. So although this is accurate, theres still a possibility of localised conditions such as snow, blizzards and definately frost hollows.

So in summary, a great week for more use of the snow cannons with temperatures set to fall a bit more. Not that much new snow to talk about but whatever is at the ski resorts now, should stick around in fairly good conditions. I would advise them to still use the snow cannons, to maintain a good piste and prevent icy patches/areas.

Snow on the Postalm a-plenty.

http://www.postalm.at/webkamera/image.jpg

thanks for the replies guys, much needed info. I'm going to St Wolfgang on the 23rd for some skiing/grassy hill rolling(whichever the weather permits), and don't know where yet for either end of Jan or end of Feb, which may end up being my only ski of the year if this warm continues. I don't want to blow my own trumpet but i know about the weather (operate weather station and worked at met. office briefly), but i really did not expect this when we booked in Feb. Anyways, where are you off to gemma~lou?

Anybody know about any Snow reports/conditions for St Wolfgang and Postalm. I really hate this, the way that the webcam has ceased to function, the fact that they haven't said anything about their snow conditions and are leaving us in the dark. The Postalm ski resort was supposed to open on the 9th, this was then pushed back to the 16th and now the 23rd. Still no updated webcam or snow reports (although i would gather that there is not enough/no snow as the resort is closed). It would be nice to know though. I go on the 23rd and am at this point expecting to be rolling down grassy banks.

Plus most places can man-make snow, so as long as its cold enough, you'll probably get some skiing. COME ON THE SNOW!!

I'm Skiing over Christmas, but i'm planning to go for a second dose of the good stuff in either late January or late February (after the half-term break when its less packed and not a rip off). Anyways, i'll carve to the chase, has anyone got any suggestions on where to go; i'm looking for somewhere with great scenery, good accomodation, intermediate runs and lots of snow, also preferably in Europe. I'm at the moment thinking Sauze D'Oulx, Igls or maybe Levi.

Any ideas/personal opinions would be appreciated.