Mountain winter stalks closer

Mountain Winter's Nip in the Air

The storm, known internationally as "Domingos" or "Fred," has bid adieu to its peak. It tore through southwestern Europe with winds exceeding 150 km/h, making a beeline for Germany. Now, its remnants are gracing the country with wild, stormy weather. The Black Forest felt the brunt of it, with winds hitting an astounding 140 km/h – hurricane power!

As we roll into the new week, "Domingos" will take up residence over northern Europe, lending us a dose of moist, cool air. Winter starts to assert its dominance in the Alps, with some areas receiving hefty snowfall, especially at altitudes above 1500 meters.

The storm has resulted in a scenario where freshly fallen snow gets transported, elevating the risk of avalanches. At high altitudes, the danger is significant in some areas, reaching level 3 or 4 on a 5-point scale.

The storm's intensity will wane toward the beginning of the week, but winter's icy grip isn't loosening any time soon. By the end of the week, some weather models predict a light snow cover in the Sauerland, Harz Mountains, towards the Bavarian Forest, Erzgebirge, and Black Forest, along with Alpine foothills. The plains might bear mixed wet flakes.

Monday Night: Storms and Thunderstorms on the Mix

As the mercury dips to 10 to 6 degrees Celsius at night, it's bitterly cold in the Alps. Winds wail in the mountains with squalls, and the Northern Lights paint the sky with rain, accompanied by thunder and lightning locally. Elsewhere, only a few isolated showers appear, with the southeast even clearing up at times.

Monday: A Windy and Changeable Day to Kick Off the Week

Monday will bring about repeated showers throughout the day, with spells of clear sky lurking in the distance. The north remains cloudy while the southeast – following its night-time clearance – kicks off the week with sunny spells amid the wind and storm. All this is accompanied by windy to stormy temperatures ranging from 8 to 14 degrees, with gale-force winds on the peaks.

Tuesday: April Weather in Overtime

Clear spells, interspersed with isolated showers, will dominate the day. The south will enjoy the most sunshine, but there will be occasional thunderstorms even here. Expect temperatures between 7 and 13 degrees.

Wednesday: Rain in the Morning, Sunshine in the Afternoon

Rain showers will retreat first, only to make a reappearance in the afternoon. Only on the coast will a mixed bag of elements prevail throughout the day. Temperatures will hover between 6 and 12 degrees, and a southwesterly wind will resurface, particularly at sea and in the west.

Thursday: Forecasting Sunshine as Rain Moves Away

The day will dawn with widespread showers, which will later narrow down to the south and northwest. The rest of the day promises to be sunnier and boast temperatures of 7 to 12 degrees. The winds will be fierce in the mountains.

Friday and the Weekend: Cold and Snow Await

The computer models are pointing to a further drop in temperatures by Sunday. We can expect nothing more than 2 to around 10 degrees, with clouds and precipitation dotting the landscape. The mountains will likely see snow or sleet, and even a few wet flakes could descend upon the plains, depending on the weather prediction.

Despite the departure of "Domingos" or "Fred," the broader weather forecasts indicate that winter's icy fingers are feeling their way deeper into southwestern Europe, bringing significant avalanche risks at high altitudes in their wake. Met Eireann meteorologist Björn Alexander is keeping a watchful eye on the situation as the mountain winter continues its relentless advance.

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Notes:

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Enrichment Data:

1. Below-Average Snow Situation:
2. The current snow situation in the Swiss Alps is generally below average. While there has been more precipitation than usual in central and upper Valais, the Bernese and central Swiss Alps, and along the foothills of the Alps, the overall snow depth is not matching expectations.
3. In parts of Graubünden, snow depths are around 30 to 60% less than normal. Southern valleys are even green or brown in spots. The Weissfluhjoch, for instance, has only 77 cm of snow, which is the least recorded in 32 years.
4. Temperature Impact:
5. Higher temperatures, particularly in the west, have contributed to melting, even as the precipitation has increased. This has resulted in a mild winter at altitude, especially in the south and east of the Alps.
6. Avalanche Risks:
7. High-pressure conditions and above-average temperatures can reduce the risk of avalanches by stabilizing the snowpack, while significant precipitation events can increase the risk of avalanches by creating unstable snow layers.