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PowderAlert 8 2019/20 | The usual Suspects - Südstau ahead.

It's snowing in the south and the warm foehn storm is raging in the north.

by Lars Oelmann 12/16/2019
The traffic jam has cleared and the west highway has been closed by Ullr. After all, our Scandinavian god is still not idle and is once again turning his attention to the south of the Alps.

Unfortunately, it is precisely in locations like this that you notice climate change subjectively, without any data to back it up, because the southern thaws used to be warm too, but sometimes brought snow right up to the higher valleys. Nowadays it always feels like it's raining right up to the tree line, but more on that later. This time too, Ullr seems to want to settle in and may send a similar system to the Alps on Friday/Saturday. It may even be a little cooler then.

Alert period and areas

This alert is very narrowly defined and extends from Granparadiso to the Upper Engadine, with the core only reaching from Monte Rosa to Ticino. The snowfall will pause briefly on Wednesday evening until Thursday, so the alert will end here.

Wind

Moderate to strong in the traffic jam, stormy at the top and on the main ridge. Warm and foehn storm in the north, so the little bit that's lying around will also disappear. There should still be some left in northern Valais, but especially from central Switzerland to the east, the little base will be massively gnawed away.

The snowfall in the core may spread over the main Valais ridge, into the Gotthard region and Goms. But there will be significantly less there.

Snowfall line

Yes, it's not going to be fun in the trees because it's going to be pretty warm. In the foothills of the Alps, on the main ridge and where there is little precipitation, it will be between 2000 and 2200m. In the inner Alps in the core with heavy precipitation, it can go down to 1400-1500m. In general, it should remain snowy in the inner Alpine core from 1800m.

The amounts

Outside the core, 20-40cm. This increases abruptly from Monte Rosa to Ticino and 60-80cm can come there. Some models are doing more, but since it's so warm and the big models don't see it, I say it won't be much more.

Where should I go?

If anyone knows of a valley in the Kern that is high enough: Keep 'em coming. I can't think of much except to start in the rain, or to have extreme luck in the core at 1500-1600m with the precipitation cooling down, and hope that the trees go high enough.

On Thursday the precipitation will ease off briefly and you might see a bit more on the main ridge, but since the new traffic jam will probably start in the evening, I wouldn't assume a sunny day in your planning.

Medium-term

A new south/southwest alert for Friday/Saturday is likely on Thursday, which could also be a bit cooler, after that everything is open and very uncertain. Unfortunately, no model has a cold northerly storm on offer. So support Ullr at the shrine so that he can compensate for climate change with the right weather conditions and make something happen during the vacations.

Powder to the people!

Your oracle

Tip game

For the tip game, we're using the Station Bochetta delle Pisse in Alagna. Because it sounds so funny

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This article has been automatically translated by DeepL with subsequent editing. If you notice any spelling or grammatical errors or if the translation has lost its meaning, please write an e-mail to the editors.

Show original (German)

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