Where is all the snow?

OldAndy wrote:This was captured on 25th November 2011 from the Tignes Val Claret webcam.
(J2Ski Snow Dance sequence).
Xmas skiing was epic with superb snow.

YoungAndy, your picture is a great demo. Regard the clear blue skies. This means that starry, cold frosty nights follow, and the ground gradually goes below freezing.

After that, there will be snow, it will stay, and nowadays, we are also blessed with snow cannon output.

Of course, the odd snow dance does not go amiss, although nowadays, I subcontract that to young folk, like, errm, YOU Andy!

With the exception of this mid-January, when, in Niederau, we will be both skiing and highland dancing in kilts.....

Have to see current forecasts are as good as it gets. We have had plenty of early snow up high to fill in glaciers so they are safe to ski. Now is clear and cold with freezing level around 1300-1500m for the next week or so, meaning next snows will form the base. Anyone wishing for snow down low so early in Winter is basically hoping for a weak layer that will ruin the whole season for most of us. Mid December - Late April is the season, hold off the snow dance for another 2 weeks at least.

OldAndy wrote:This was captured on 25th November 2011 from the Tignes Val Claret webcam.
(J2Ski Snow Dance sequence).
Xmas skiing was epic with superb snow.

I remember seeing that pic and thinking "oh eck" - went to the EK a few scant weeks later and was able to do all four points of the map (high, low, east, west) in a day with great snow all the way down to the bottom of Tignes Les B

This year the webcams for the top of the Bellevarde already have white stuff that looks good to go

Bring it on!

Plenty of time for a good few metres of snow to fall Im not off till 11/01/15 .....

Hi
I'm off to Bad Gastein on 13/12/14 and looking at the cams there is nothing at all. Last weeks snow has melted and apart from a few small mounds around the snow cannons it is looking very brown. What's worse is that nothing is forecast this side of December and the temperatures are in double figures even at the top today and that was at 8:30am this morning.

So my question is as anyone been to the Gastein region when the main areas are unable to open. If so did they have busses on to higher altitudes or is there even anywhere close to go to apart from Sport Gastein?

Looking at the T&Cs on the Crystal website there is no chance of cancelling now without 90% loss and even an amendment to another resort would still incur the 90% loss. Does anyone have any experience of trying to change bookings with Crystal with less than 21 days to go?

Thanks

Mark

Mark,

Looking at snow reports seems that they have a base up high. No resort in Alps has snow down to BG village level and would be an extremely rare year for this to be possible in November, I would relax, accept that your skiing will be limited to above 2000m and you will be taking a lift down. In my mind that is exact scenario that people would of told you to expect when you booked.

Ranchero_1979 thanks for the reply but if you look at the cams then there is nothing remotely usable at any altitude in the area. That 30cm snow report was 20cm that fell about 3 weeks ago that melted and 10cm that fell last week and lasted 2 days. Double figure temperatures are set to continue into December, it is 7 degrees at 2500 meters this morning and it was to warm for snow making last night so either something as top change or they would have to delay opening.
So if they did not open what would the lift companies and or Crystal do (if anything)?


Just be patient temps are always a tad up and down this time of year, some resorts have opened early La clusaz for one ..