Last week, up to metre of snow fell in parts of the Austrian Alps. This week, there could be just as much, as another unexpected cold front moves down from the north and settles over the region.
In contrast to last week’s snowfall, parts of the western and southern Alps will also see the white stuff.
Here’s tomorrow’s snow forecast.
This is the snow map for Wednesday.
And here’s how it’s looking for Thursday.
By this time, it’ll be properly cold again. Not as frigid as last week, but with the freezing point at around 1000m across the whole of northern Alps, the snow will be settling at village level again for a time.
It’s further proof, if any were needed, of just how flukey the weather in the Alps can be. Spring got going very early this season, with a warm trend settling in around February half-term. But since April 16 winter has bitten back, and it’ll stay in control of conditions until the beginning of May.
For anyone with the time and budget to get out to the high-altitude ski areas of Austria – places like Hintertux, Obergurgl, the Stubai and the Kitzsteinhorn – now is clearly the time to book a last-minute trip. While it’s snowing, visibility will be a problem: but once skies clear, (on Saturday at the latest) – hallelujah. Nothing quite beats the combination of strong spring sunshine and cold, wintry snow.
Here’s how it was looking at the top of Obergurgl on Saturday in the wake of last week’s snow.
Further west, high-altitude areas such as Zermatt, Cervinia, Val d’Isere and Val Thorens will also see the white stuff this week: though not in the same quantities as Austria.
Of course, it’s great to see snow at any time in the season: but I wish Mother Nature had organised this late burst of winter at the end of March, not late April. Most Alpine ski resorts are now closed. There aren’t many left in which to enjoy the new snow.
Speaking of the season’s end, have you seen the video of St Anton’s Weisse Rausche race on Saturday? The famous Arlberg resort closed yesterday, which doesn’t seem right, given how good the cover was at the top of the resort.
And this is the rather cute “Thank you for a great season” video from Courchevel in the Three Valleys.
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