Snow front causes cheering in the ski areas – meteorologist estimates
“In the mountains, winter is probably saved”
There was no snow at all for a long time. Now the white splendor falls in rough quantities. But is it enough to save the ski season after all? Meteorologist Klaus Marquardt is optimistic.
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After a long wait, there has now also been snow at lower altitudes. Here in Nesslau Alt St. Johann SG.
40 centimeters of snow within 24 hours – and it’s still going. After the green days of Christmas, the ski areas at higher altitudes can finally celebrate. No more snow frustration.
“After the first snow front at the start of the week, there was another good portion on Tuesday night, up to 50 centimeters were also possible locally,” says Klaus Marquardt from Meteo News to Blick. In the mountain regions, the white splendor falls locally to a height of 600 meters, according to forecasts by the weather service. “But we’re only talking about very little snow,” says Marquardt. It only gets really white from 1000 meters.
The ski areas in the Glarnerland, in the Bernese Oberland and in parts of the Valais can celebrate the snow. There, instead of white artificial snow pistes on the green meadows, a real winter landscape is finally enticing.
Klaus Marquardt from Meteo News: «Above 1500 meters it looks like winter»(03:57)
Danger of avalanches intensifies
The situation in the east of the country is different. “So far, things have looked rather meager in Graubünden,” says Marquardt. Only 20 to 25 centimeters of fresh snow are expected there. “Compared to the western Alps, this is only a very small amount.”
As early as Wednesday night, a constant back and forth between warm and cold fronts begins. This also increases the risk of avalanches in the mountains, explains the meteorologist: “The current snowfall is associated with a lot of wind and constant temperature changes – both of which exacerbate the avalanche situation. In some regions, warning level 4 is already in effect. It can currently be assumed that the avalanche danger will increase further.”
In the lowlands it is getting warm again
However, the snow is likely to remain only at higher altitudes. Below 1500 meters, on the other hand, the white winter is only short-lived, says Marquardt. It will be warmer again in the next few days. “At the weekend we are even expecting temperatures in the double-digit range at lower altitudes – and with that a quick end to the snow.”
After all: In the mountains, the winter seems saved, says Marquardt. «The pictures of the classic artificial snow bands above 1500 meters should be a thing of the past for the time being, instead it is now really winter. I’m assuming that the ski areas in the mountains can finally breathe a sigh of relief.” (zis)