CHAMONIX VALLEY AND MONT-BLANC AREA WEATHER FORECAST
Matsuo Bashō
With young leaves
I would like to wipe away
The tears in your eyes
ISSUED AT 10:25 WEDNESDAY MARCH 29 2023
VALID : WEDNESDAY MARCH 29 -- MONDAY APRIL 03 2023
GENERAL SYNOPSIS
High cell that protected our Region was recently drifting towards Sicily and Tunisia (1029 hpa). Linked subtropical anticyclonic spur is currently pivoting right towards N Balkans, thus making the altitude stream shift W, then WSW, over the Alpine Range (Chamonix, 1025 - Sion, 1024 - Innsbruck, 1023). • By the very end of this week, huge low already raging over N Atlantic (up to Azores towards S), is expected to drive several minima, S Ireland -> N Germany, in a cooling air mass on the whole, thus triggering a considerable unsettled and cold deterioration.
Avalanche risk is considerable [3/5] above 2500 m (Wed. 16:00)
TODAY - WEDNESDAY MARCH 29 2023
SKY CONDITION : cloud crossing over, fairly high, though fairly thick - ceiling drop towards 2500 m early in the afternoon - veiled sunny spell later. Period of sunshine close to 15%.
PRECIPITATION : scattered, mostly over the massifs - more sustained and extended early in the afternoon - rain-snow limit rising up towards 2500 m - 8-10 cm snowfall, windblown.
WIND - ground level : mainly SW - very light to light.
WIND - mid mountain : W -> WNW moderate.
WIND - high mountain : waving between NW et WNW - moderate to strong, occasionally strong.
TEMPERATURE : low +3°C - high +13°C.
ISOTHERM 0°C : 2600 -> 2800 m.
ISOTHERM -10°C : 4200 -> 4400 m.
OVERNIGHT
SKY CONDITION : mainly cloudy - fleeting clear spells likely, shortly after dusk and towards dawn - iso 0°C towards 2700 m.
PRECIPITATION : some raindrops at times - rain-snow limit towards 2300-2400 m.
WIND - aloft : WNW moderate to strong -> WSW strong.
TEMPERATURE : low +6°C.
THURSDAY MARCH 30 2023
SKY CONDITION : mostly cloudy, possible fleeting sunny spells - overcast in the median altitude range at times. Period of sunshine close to 20%.
PRECIPITATION : light and scattered shower in the morning - heavier and more frequent in the afternoon - rain-snow limit towards 2200 m, dropping - 10 to 20 cm snowfall towards 2500 m, windblown.
WIND - aloft : WSW strong -> WNW severe gale.
TEMPERATURE : low +5 °C - high +13°C.
FRIDAY MARCH 31 2023
SKY CONDITION : mostly cloudy - overcast in the median altitude range at times. Period of sunshine close to 15%.
PRECIPITATION : light and scattered shower in the morning - heavier and more frequent in the afternoon - rain-snow limit dropping towards 1300 m - 25 to 40 cm snowfall towards 2000 m, windblown.
WIND - aloft : WSW severe gale -> W strong.
TEMPERATURE : dropping.
EXTENDED OUTLOOK UNTIL MONDAY APRIL 03 2023
Saturday : uncertain - still very unsettled from W with still considerable snowfall towards 1500 m (> 30 cm) - WNW gale likely in the morning high up, decreasing in the afternoon. Sunday : very uncertain - remaining snow shower likely in the valley at first - slight "risk" of sunny spell in the afternoon while altitude stream veers NNE moderate, possibly fairly strong towards evening. Monday : possibly improving, to be confirmed, fairly sunny on the whole, yet still rather cold (iso 0 towards 1000 m).
Forecast reliability : fairly good until Thursday - poor as of Thursday.