Arctic drop: that is how forecasters describe the flow of freezing air coming from Scandinavia and heading toward Italy. Starting Thursday evening, November 14, snow is forecast in the Alps, reaching low altitudes in the northwestern sectors.
It is the second Arctic outbreak of the month: the first blanketed the Alps down to 1,500 m and brought the first centimeters of snow to the Apennines as well; this time snow will make an appearance even below 1,000 meters, though only in Aosta Valley and parts of Piedmont, remaining at higher elevations across the rest of the Alpine arc.
The first snow flurries will be recorded starting early Thursday evening, while Friday morning will see the heaviest precipitation across the Alps.
In Trentino Alto Adige above 1,600 meters, between 30 and 40 cm of fresh snow will fall on Friday alone, with snowfall also forecast down to 1,000 m.
Veneto and the northeast as a whole will not see low-altitude snowfall, having to “settle” for snow at medium altitudes: on Friday snowfall is forecast at 1,200-1,300 m, while on Saturday the snow line will rise to 1,600 m.
In Lombardy, snow will appear on Friday with snowflakes at medium-low altitudes and possible snowfall even below 900 meters, followed by snow above 1,400-1,500 m on Saturday.
The main stars of this weather system will be Aosta Valley and Piedmont, where the Arctic flow will hit the ski resorts head-on, pushing temperatures below freezing down to very low altitudes. On Friday, snowfall may even reach hilly elevations across parts of Piedmont and Aosta Valley, and this significant temperature drop will also be felt on Saturday, with snow below 1,000 m until late evening.
Heavy snow passing through, then more snow on the way?
Heavy snowfall is forecast in the Alps, especially on Friday, when a remarkable 40 cm of snow could fall in just a few hours above 1,600 m.
However, this will be a passing weather system, and by Saturday night, November 16, several resorts can already expect clear (or mostly clear) skies.
Weather experts are currently analyzing the outlook for the coming weeks: some models point to the arrival of a new, much stronger Arctic front starting around November 20; nothing is certain yet, but the signs are encouraging.
Snow in the Apennines
It’s not all about the Alps, as the Apennines are in on the action too: snow will also appear along Italy’s peninsular mountain range, bringing heavy snowfall especially above 1,800 m. Accumulations could exceed 50 cm, affecting the Emilian Apennines in particular while sparing the resorts of central Italy.
Where it will snow the most on Friday, November 15
- Prato Nevoso : 57 cm
- Monte Cimone : 51 cm
- Limone Piemonte : 35 cm
- San Giacomo di Roburent : 35 cm
- Panarotta : 34 cm
- Solda : 34 cm
- Corno alle Scale : 31 cm
- Bormio 3000 : 29 cm
- Gressoney la trinite’ : 26 cm
- Santa Caterina Valfurva : 26 cm
useful links
> Snow Forecast & Snow Report
> Snow Webcams
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