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news from the slopes 2007-08
We provide occasional
reports on weather and conditions. We can send
you the reports by e-mail if you would like to
Latest news:
The season ends with snow
(31 May)
The last day of May brings cloudy conditions after a
week of precipitation. In its last report for the
winter season, the Swiss Avalanche Foundation has
recorded 150cm of fresh snow above 3500m in the region
east of Saastal, around the Simplon, and the upper
Maggia Valleys. In the western Alps there has been
20-30cm of snow above 3500m, with the snow level
dropping from around 3300m to 2700m in some areas.
There is around 50-150cm of snow at 2500m, but at this
altitude the snowpack is very wet. The avalanche hazard
is category 3 (considerable). The weather forecast is
for showery conditions, with snow down to 2700m, and
light southerly winds.
Up to 70cm of new snow above
3000m (27 May)
Over the past 3 days, up to 30cm of fresh snow has
fallen above 3000m along the main alpine arc, with as
much as 70cm having fallen in central southern
Switzerland.
Foehn winds (23 May)
A spell of milder temperatures has seen the snowline
rise and below 3000m and there is a danger of wet snow
avalanches in many areas. On the main arc of the
alps up to 30cm of fresh snow has fallen in the past 3
days, with as much as 70cm in central southern
Switzerland.
Fine weather and great touring
conditions
(7 May)
Despite the great snow conditions and fine weather, it
seems that the ski touring season is coming to a
premature end. The avalanche hazard is subject to
a strong daytime cycle: it is low (category 1)
throughout Switzerland in the first part of the day, but
in the afternoon becomes considerable (category 3).
There is still plenty of snow on the glaciers and high
peaks, and great spring skiing conditions.
Superb touring conditions
(2 May)
With powder on north facing slopes and spring snow on
all other aspects, the ski touring is about as good as
it gets. The snow line is still quite low allowing
descents to roads and public transport.
Excellent spring snow
(26 Apr)
The high Oberland has very good snow
cover. At high altitude there is a mixture of good
soft snow and 'interesting' crust, while at lower
altitude there is good spring snow. The descent
from Oberaarjoch to Munster in the Rhone Valley is in
very good condition.
Excellent snow cover in
Switzerland
(24 Apr)
The Swiss Avalanche Foundation has
published its latest report for snow height, and all of
Switzerland is between 110-140% the long-term mean
value, and with large areas of the Oberland with over 2m
of snow.
More snow brings difficult avalanche conditions
(22 Apr)
Two days of snowfall and strong winds
have brought difficult avalanche conditions to the
western Alps. Once again, conditions are more like
mid-winter than spring.
Great skiing conditions
(19 Apr)
The weather improves and there the
off-piste skiing and low-altitude tours are in excellent
condition. At high-altitude the glaciers are well
covered and the prospects are for a good and long
touring season.
Winter returns
(15 Apr)
The temperatures drop, and a series
of fronts brings heavy snow and strong winds.
Winter is back...
Clear skies and great powder
(13 Apr)
A weekend of good weather to enjoy
the fresh snow. Off-piste conditions at Glacier
3000 are excellent.
Fresh snow and wind
(10 Apr)
After a week of mixed weather, the avalanche hazard is
increasing again, especially in southern areas where the
snowfall and winds have been greatest.
Excellent snow on the Stockji glacier
(5 Apr)
After a week of mixed weather and fresh snow the
conditions for the descent from the Col de Valpelline to
Zermatt are excellent.
Snow and strong winds
(2 Apr)
A day of snow and strong northerly winds brings high
avalanche danger. Great care is needed to avoid
the unstable accumulations.
Excellent snow cover for high level tours
(30 Mar)
The recent storms have provided excellent snow cover for
high level routes in the western Alps. The classic
HLR from Chamonix to Zermatt is in very good condition
with easy ascents, cols in good condition, and great
snow for descents.
"Treacherous avalanche
situation" SLF
(25 Mar)
With an additional 20-70cm of fresh snow in north and
western Switzerland, the Swiss Avalanche Foundation has
described the avalanche risk as treacherous. The
fresh snow is lying on poorly bonded layers from the
previous recent snowfall, and great care is needed for
any winter sports.
High avalanche risk
(22 Mar)
With up to 70cm of fresh snow with poor bonding to the
old layers and deep accumulations of wind blown snow the
avalanche risk is high and great care is needed for
off-piste skiing and ski touring. However, with
careful route choice there is some great skiing over the
Easter weekend.
Storms and more snow
(21 Mar)
In northern and western Switzerland storms with strong
winds and heavy snow (up to 50cm) have increased the
risks of avalanche - a good time to be finishing and
descending from the 'Wild' high level route.
30-50cm of fresh snow (19 Mar)
Since the week-end, between 30-50cm of snow has fallen
at 2000m. Temperatures have dropped to -10 at
2000m. There are excellent conditions on the 'Wild'
high level route. As Easter approaches, the
forecast is for up to 50cm of more snow in western
Switzerland.
Some wild weather but still
good skiing (16 Mar)
A week of changeable and stormy weather with fresh snow
created very variable conditions and some good skiing.
Excellent conditions
for touring and north faces (6 Mar)
Much colder temperatures have helped to stabilize the snowpack,
and with up to 20cm of fresh snow in the western Alps
touring conditions have been superb, with many north face descents
are in excellent
condition. During an Eagle Ski Club week in the Tarentaise, Antony, John, Steve and William skied 3
excellent north faces in great conditions.
Precipitation and mild
conditions (1 Mar)
The mild weather continues with light precipitation and
above 2000m brings some good fresh snow. The
forecast is for more snow and much colder conditions.
Continued clear
weather (26 Feb)
Another sunny day in the mountains with light winds from
the south and southwest, and midday temperatures around
2°C at 2000m. In most of western Switzerland the
avalanche hazard has increased to level 2 (limited). In
many western areas the snowline is between 800-1200m on
north facing slopes; and on south facing slopes the
snowline is around 1400-1500m and the snowpack is moist
throughout. There have been reports of great climbing
conditions on classic north face routes.
Continued high
pressure and great spring snow (24 Feb)
The high
pressure weather and great spring snow continues.
The avalanche hazard remains low, but increases on sun
exposed slopes in the afternoon. The weather
forecast says some precipitation is on the way, with an
indication that winter conditions will return.
Spring snow and excellent weather (22 Feb)
Many high
glaciers and summits are in excellent spring ski touring
condition. With glaciers well-covered, the
avalanche risk low, and stable high pressure weather it
is a great time to be high.
Excellent weather and
conditions continue (20 Feb)
The amazing
weather and conditions continue. The avalanche
hazard is low (category 1) in all areas of Switzerland. There
is still some wind affected snow around ridges, and some
faceted and weakly bonded layers in some areas; but in
the current conditions, as the Swiss avalanche
foundation said yesterday, "fracture
propagation in the snowpack is all but ruled out".
Averaged over a 5-year period category 1 occurs 17% of
the time with the most common being category 2 (47%),
followed by category 3 (32%), category 4 (3%) and then 5
(0.4%). Most fatal avalanche accidents occur when
the danger is category 3.
Yet more clear skies
and excellent conditions (15 Feb)
Over a week
with no wind, clear skies and cold nights has resulted
in excellent conditions for off-piste and ski touring.
There is still powder on north facing slopes and good
spring snow on south facing slopes. Also, there is
still some great ice climbing conditions low down, and
lots of higher alpine routes are in very climbable
condition.
More clear skies (10 Feb)
No wind,
clear skies and great off-piste conditions continue.
The snow pack is relatively stable and the avalanche
risk is low.
Skies clear after more
snow (7 Feb)
Despite
intermittent snow and mild conditions the week started
with some good off-piste skiing. By the end of the
week the fresh snow made the off-piste excellent.
Clear skies follows
20-40cm of fresh snow (3 Feb)
The skies
clear after two days of intermittent snowfall, that
brought 20-40cm of fresh snow to the Leysin area.
Conditions off-piste are extremely good, but care is
needed with avalanche conditions as the fresh snow is
not bonded to the old transformed snowpack. Also,
strong winds from the south will be creating windslab at
altitude and near exposed ridges and cols. The
forecast is for more snow.
Spring-like conditions (29 Jan)
Sunny and
mild weather has produced spring-like ski touring
conditions. Many south faces have good spring
snow, and the avalanche hazard is moderate in most of
Switzerland. Lower altitude ice climbs have faded,
but higher altitude climbs are coming into condition.
The forecast is for fresh snow and colder conditions in
the next few days.
Light snow gives way
to high pressure (25 Jan)
After a few centimetres of snow along the
northern ridge of the Alps the weather has returned to
high pressure. At 2000m the snow cover on the
northern ridge is mostly between 80-120cm and in places
up to 240cm. Further south and in central Valais
the snow cover at 2000m is 50-80cm. In western
Switzerland the avalanche hazard is category 2 with an
increase in risk on sun exposed slopes in the afternoon.
Picture postcard
weather (20 Jan)
High pressure has arrived, and Meteo
Swiss is describing the weather as "picture postcard".
Temperatures are still mild, but with the clear skies
overnight the snow pack is generally stabilising, with
an increase in avalanche risk on sun exposed slopes in
the afternoon.
Considerable avalanche
risk, clear weather coming (17 Jan)
A week of intermittent snow and some
foehn winds have created considerable avalanche risk on
all aspects in western Switzerland. The skies have
cleared today, with a mid-day temperature of -11 at
3000m with light winds. In the next 24 hours a
warm front is forecast to cross the western Alps, and
after that high pressure will dominate. In the
short-term it will be mild with light precipitation and
moderate winds. Next week looks like it will start
with clear sunny days, but still with mild temperatures.
Clear skies and great
skiing conditions (13 Jan)
Fresh snow, clear skies, and light winds
make for great skiing conditions. The avalanche
category is 3 (considerable) across all of Switzerland.
Natural releases are not expected, but the conditions
are critical for skiers and boarders and careful route
choice is needed.
More snow,
temperatures drop (12 Jan)
The Swiss Avalanche
Foundation recorded the following snow fall across
Switzerland over the past two days:
50 to 80 cm of new snow on
the main alpine ridge from the Matterhorn to the Bernina
region and south thereof; 30 to 50 cm of new snow from Arolla over central Valais - Aletsch region - central
Switzerland - Glarus Alps - central Grisons - Upper
Engadine to the Muenstertal; and elsewhere widespread 20
to 30 cm.
Considerable avalanche
danger continues (7 Jan)
The New Year holiday period ended with overcast
conditions and intermittent snowfall. 30 to 40 cm of
snow has fallen above 1700m along the northern alpine
ridge from the Alpes Vaudoises along the Oberland to
Grimsel, and also in the Valais. The winds have
been strong and stormy from the west and northwest, with
midday temperatures of -1 at 2000m.
Widespread considerable avalanche
danger (4 Jan)
Recent
precipitation has brought between 20 and 50cm of new snow in the south
of Switzerland and along the southern alpine ridge. The strong foehn
wind from the south has moved a lot of snow at altitude and created
warmer conditions in the north. In the south some of the fresh snow
fell on surface hoar, and the wind has created windslab.
Year ends with fresh snow and powder
(31 Dec)
2007 ends in the Alpes Vaudoises with cold, clear
windless weather and fresh snow. The off-piste skiing around
Leysin is in good condition and the touring is great around the Alpes
Vaudoises. Our last summit for 2007 is Le Tarent (2548m).
Still skiing powder
(29 Dec)
The long period of sunny weather has transformed south
facing slopes, but there is still untracked powder to be found in the
Alpes Vaudoises.
Excellent holiday weather
(25 Dec)
More sunny and windless days for the Christmas period.
Days of sunny weather
(22 Dec)
The cool sunny weather has continued.
In shady areas there is crystal growth, and on south facing slopes at
lower altitude there are full depth slips. Otherwise the snow pack
is generally stable and well-bonded.
Cold clear weather continues
(18 Dec)
The weather has remained sunny and cold,
with midday temperatures at 2000m around -6 degrees. The snowpack
is mostly well bonded, however, the low temperatures have resulted in
crystal growth in particular on shady slopes. Crust has formed on
south-facing slopes. At high altitude there is a lot of wind
affected snow.
Excellent powder in Courchevel
(12 Dec)
After a weekend of snow the skies clear to
some excellent powder conditions, particularly at lower altitudes.
Good pistes in Val d'Isere and Tignes
(5 Dec)
Val d'Isere is opening up for the season.
Strong winds at altitude have moved snow lower down. The pistes
that are open are in good condition.
Generally good conditions
(30 Nov)
The weather has been sunny and mild
with midday temperatures at 2000m around about zero degrees and light to
moderate westerly to north-westerly winds. The older snowdrift
accumulations, that were formed by the strong to stormy winds, have
increasingly bonded and consolidated with the old snow layers. The
layering is favourable in many places, however, in some places the
bonding between the individual layers is still sensitive.
Up to 120cm of fresh snow
(11 Nov)
After 3 days of snow, the Swiss Avalanche Institute has
recorded the following amounts of snow fall above approximately 1500m:
80-120cm on the northern flank of
the Alps east of Susten Pass, northern Grisons,
Silvretta and Samnaun;
60-80cm in the eastern Bernese
Oberland, the Gotthard region, and from central Grisons
to the lower Engadine; and,
40-60cm on the remaining northern
flank of the Alps, the northern Valais and the upper
Engadine.
Widespread snow across Switzerland
(7 Nov)
In the east of Switzerland the snow line has dropped
intermittently to below 1000 meters, with 20-30cm at 2000m.
Elsewhere in Switzerland the snow has been down to 2500m. The
southern Valais remained dry under the influence of a foehn wind.
The snowfalls from October remained in shady places down to 2500m, and
in some places a weak partly formed snowpack has developed. More
snow is forecast for the weekend with strong winds and a dramatic drop
in temperatures. Avalanche conditions are likely to be
considerable (level 3).
Official start to the 2007-08 ski
season
(27 Oct)
Glacier 3000, the highest lift of the Alpes Vaudoises,
remains open throughout the year and has declared 27 October as the
official opening of its ski season.
Snow down to the tree line
(29 Sep)
The Swiss Avalanche Foundation issued 2 avalanche
warnings during the last week of September as snow feel below 2000m in
the Alpes Vaudoises. We will post information on weather and snow
conditions starting in November. Meanwhile, you can look back at
the news and pictures from our last two seasons
2005-06
and 2006-07.
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