Europe Daily Snow
By Luke Stone, Forecaster Posted 1 year ago January 9, 2024
One More Day of Showers and then Mostly Dry Through Mid-Month
Summary
After one more day of showers, most of the Alps are beginning a dry stretch that will likely continue through mid-month. Remnants of the previous storm will bring some snow to the Pyrenees and southwestern Alps through Friday, and then those regions will get a break as well. A stormy pattern is possible starting around the 15th.
Short Term Forecast
Persistent snow showers are likely across the western Alps on Tuesday, and then most of the region will start to dry out. The storm responsible for all the snow over the last four days will restrengthen over Spain and bring some additional snow to the Pyrenees and southwestern Alps. An active pattern is expected to begin around mid-month as a large upper-level low develops over Northern Europe.
The upper-level feature that delivered snow to nearly all regions of the Alps is meandering west over the next few days. Since it is cut off from the prevailing westerly flow, it can drift in this direction. Once it makes it to Spain, it will restrengthen thanks to some energy from the Atlantic and bring snow to the Pyrenees and southwestern Alps from Wednesday to Thursday. Check out the snow map below for Tuesday's snow showers and the Pyrenees snow.
Once that storm moves out of the region, a ridge will set up off the Scandinavian coast, blocking any storms from reaching the Alps for a few days. Check out the upper-level pattern below.
Extended Forecast
This strong ridge will lead to an even stronger trough to develop downstream over Northern Europe. It will take a few days but in time it will begin to sag south and bring the chances for storms to reach the Alps. There is still some uncertainty regarding how far south this feature gets, and thus how strong the storms will be, but the latest guidance brings strong storms back around the 15th.
Thanks for reading the Europe Daily Snow!
Luke Stone
Forecaster, OpenSnow
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