The 2014/2015 ski season could not have started any worse: no snow, rain, and a temperature inversion halting artificial snowmaking plans even at the highest altitudes.
These are tough days for Italian ski resorts, where the dustings of snow at 1000 meters seen in early November are now a distant memory buried beneath the continual postponement of ski lift openings. From the Aosta Valley to Friuli, the problems are the same: a lack of the snowfall needed to build a base layer on the slopes, relentless rain even at the highest elevations, and temperatures well above average that prevent artificial snowmaking systems from operating.
A diabolical combination that is stalling the start of the season, with lift openings postponed from one weekend to the next. Even the Immaculate Conception long weekend—which is extra long this year—risks falling through, causing financial hardship for hoteliers and leaving skiers disappointed by the inability to start the ski season.
In this difficult situation, all eyes are on the weather forecast, which now points to the arrival of a new weather system accompanied by a precious drop in temperatures—which translates into the return of snow at medium altitudes. Snowfalls are forecast across the Alpine arc above 1500 meters, though a snow line closer to 1200 m cannot be ruled out in some areas such as the Tarvisio and Cuneo regions (and locally even below 1000 meters).
The weather front will move quickly across the Alps, bringing snow from Wednesday/Thursday evening until the morning of Friday, December 5. Expected accumulations could reach 30/40 cm of snow.
Right around the Immaculate Conception weekend, a colder air mass will reach the Mediterranean, driving temperatures down even further across the Alpine arc and bringing snow to the Apennines. If confirmed, this drop in temperatures will finally make it possible to cover the slopes using the artificial snowmaking systems that are already standing by on the ski runs of every resort.
In conclusion, things are starting to move and there is real hope of getting skis back on across much of our beloved Alps; let us hope nature has a pleasant surprise in store for us and that the long-awaited winter finally arrives.
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