Austrian weather and snow conditions

Loads of snow AND 4.5 Euros a pint in grandvalira.

Wtf are people's problems with me reporting what a mate told me. He's a reliable bloke, not the sort that says things for effect. He was simply stating how gobsmacked he was with the prices. If beer is 7.50 then it's 7.50 where you are at that moment in time. I'm not attempting to exaggerate, neither is he, just reporting what's what as it is.
He's been going to Saalbach for the past god knows how many years and probably struggling to comprehend how the French can charge these kind of prices.
It was 5 euros a pint in serre che which we thought was excessive, now that looks quote reasonable!!

Anyway. Back on topic, and I, struggling with the forecasts as every time I look it changes. Earlier today there were reports of a massive drop in temps and 4 days of snow in the next week, but tonight I get another email saying sun and 4c all week.

I guess it will be what it will be and we will find slopes to ski on wherever we are.

It's almost impossible to accurately forecast the weather in the Alps for more than a few days. Forecasts stretching beyond a few days are associated with a high degree of uncertainty. It can always happen that unpredictable and chaotic weather events distort the expected mean tendency. Present forecasts have a reliability of about 70-80% for temperature, and only 55-60% for precipitation. A forecast strategy based on random guessing would yield 50%.

According to Wetter.at it might snow in Bad Gastein on Tuesday.

http://www.wetter.at/wetter/oesterreich/salzburg/bad-gastein/prognose/9-tage

Niederschlag = Precipitation

Exactly, SB. If you have spent many years in the Alps, you learn to accept what nature offers. Weather predictions are a guide, not a bible. Our sport is blessed with technology that allows the effects of variable weather to have a minimal effect.

In 1971, there was no snow in most of Europe from Christmas until April. There were no snow machines. Now, there are few resorts that cannot support skiing, even in the worst of winters.

I find great difficulty in following the whinging/disappointment/regret that snow levels are not 1/2m deep in every resort in Europe. It is nature. We must all learn to ski with nature.

I refuse to consider the idea of "going high" as a panacea to all ski holiday planning. If subsequently, a bad weather Euro winter occurs, the high pistes are ultra packed.

I plan my skiing based around, like many others, villages where I have a strong affiliation. I also plan visits to other places, where I have an interest, skiing, local interest, painting possibilities.

I would also add that over the years, I have lost far more ski hours in high resorts due to adverse high mountain weather, than I have lost in low resorts.

I wonder if this might rate as a gentle Rant?

Tony_H wrote:Wtf are people's problems with me reporting what a mate told me. He's a reliable bloke, not the sort that says things for effect. He was simply stating how gobsmacked he was with the prices. If beer is 7.50 then it's 7.50 where you are at that moment in time. I'm not attempting to exaggerate, neither is he, just reporting what's what as it is.
He's been going to Saalbach for the past god knows how many years and probably struggling to comprehend how the French can charge these kind of prices.
It was 5 euros a pint in serre che which we thought was excessive, now that looks quote reasonable!!

I think someone needs to go back and read my post again.
I did say the drink price was possible, my issue was 50 quid for a hot dog and chips which I simply don't believe.

As for the weather, you are right it will be what it is thats for sure. Everyone should be able to find skiing somewhere so thats a positive but i must admit its disappointing when we invest so much and conditions aren't what we deserve.
Its all fine for the locals or people that can put in a season but for those that only get the single week a year weather like this can be heartbreaking.

Grass and rocks starting to poke through in Avoriaz :-(

who cares about the price of beer in France- ITS SNOWING IN SCHEFFAU AND HOPFGARTEN.

Yes! Great news SnowLily! This is going to be longest day in work ever. I plan to spend most of the day hitting refresh on the webcam pages :-)

Chamonix had a sprinkle overnight above 2000m. Very good conditions first thing this morning but slushy by 11am down low. Packed powder offpiste which was nice to ski on. Wind at moment 35km/h ++ above 2500m, overall Grand Montets is offering good skiing still. Brevent/Flegere/Le Tour/Les Houches all need a bit more.