Snow Returns to The Alps

After a dry week for most areas of the Alps, with unseasonably warm temperatures towards the end of last week, the snow has returned this weekend across the region. Snow has also been reported in the Dolomites and Pyrenees.

Resorts in Switzerland reported the most fresh snow, with Saas Fee (pictured above) reporting 45cm in the past few days, including 25cm in 24 hours from Saturday to Sunday. Grindelwald reported 30cm and Zermatt 20cm.

In France so far the snowfalls have been smaller, with reports of 5-25cm over the past 48 hours – Flaine and Val Thorens are among those reporting the most new snow.

In Italy Madonna di Campiglio reported 20cm of new snow in the last 24 hours, Cervinia 25cm over the weekend.

There has not been much fresh snow reported in Austria since last weekend, but Obergurgl reported 11cm of fresh snow this weekend.

In the Pyrenees, Grandvalira in Andorra has had a few inches of fresh snow.

Most areas are expected to get moderate fresh snowfall over the next few days with the snowstorms continuing to Tuesday or Wednesday.

Interesting, the weather reports I looked at said it was getting warm this week.

Austrian mountain temperatures to remain at or below freezing. Snow due all over Austria on Saturday.

So what I am reading is this:

A low-pressure area, located over the western Mediterranean regions, will keep in distance, consequently the lively and slightly foehny southerly current, located at the mountains, will weaken starting next week. A high-pressure area, located over East Europe, will begin to influence the weather, or that is to say, that the high-pressure area will increasingly become part of a strong ridge of high-pressure over Europe and result in bright weather. The conditions will be moderately cold in the mornings, though the temperatures will be pleasantly mild.

Thats from Soelden's own website, they're suggesting the 0c level will rise from 1700m early this week to 1900m and then 2500m by the end of the week with the temp peaking at 7c.
Thats not good reading.

Miraculously, both are true as, although in one sense correct, I was a bit too general with 'The Alps' The heavier snowfall mentioned - which turned out less than expected, was mostly in the southern and western Alps, with little or nothing in the north and it is now getting warmer, yes. More snow expected, or hoped for, around next weekend.

Weather forecasting: mumbo jumbo, witchcraft, old wives tales, guesswork and a little bit of bad science practised by people who liked science but were no good at it, otherwise they'd have been doctors, physicists, chemists etc! :D