Summer will have to wait because winter has decided to take a holiday in the Alps and bring back the much-loved snow. Widespread snowfalls have hit the entire Alpine arc and beyond Italy, bringing decidedly wintry weather even though June is just around the corner!
The weather system that swept across the Alps (and the Apennines) in recent hours has brought snow back to the main high-altitude ski resorts and more. Over 20 cm of snow fell in Livigno, thoroughly blanketing the town itself, with widespread snowfalls across most peaks above 2000 meters. However, the snow did not stop at 2000 meters, dropping down into the Alpine valleys: in Italy snowfalls were recorded down to 1600 meters, while in Switzerland and Austria snow even reached villages at 1000 meters.
Snow brushed the valleys of the Aosta Valley and Piedmont, whitening the “slopes” of Gressoney and Prato Nevoso.
Over half a meter of snow fell on the glaciers of Austria and Switzerland (as much as 80 cm on the Corvatsch), along with heavy snow on Passo Stelvio, where snow-clearing operations had just been completed for the lift opening and the start of summer skiing. Snow reclaimed the roads and snowplows went back to work so as not to jeopardize the opening.
In addition to delighting snow lovers, this weather front will help the Alpine glaciers face the summer season, in the hope that the snowpack remains as intact as possible.
No comments yet