[b]Summary[/b]

[size=4][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Further fresh snowfall means that there are great conditions across the Alps at the moment, and the persistent cold weather over the past few months has meant some impressive snow depths on most slopes.

There are signs of some milder weather over the next few week or so, which will be discussed in more detail below.[/font][/size]

[b]Synoptic Summary[/b]

[size=4][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Currently quite mild over most of Western Continental Europe with Westerly winds, the Siberian High still keeping it cold for the far east of Europe and NE Scandinavia, turning briefly colder over the UK with North Westerly winds bringing a Polar Maritime airflow. [attachment=131557:18 Feb Current.JPG]

Staying cold over the UK Sunday, and the NW winds pushing deeper into Europe, bringing colder conditions over most of Western and Central Europe.

A South Westerly flow becoming established over the UK and Western Europe for the start of next week[/font][/size], [size=4][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]bringing much milder conditions to much of Western Europe[/font][/size]
[size=4][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][attachment=131555:18 Feb + 48.JPG][/font][/size]

[size=4][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]This slowly introducing milder conditions further east over Europe as the week progresses including the Alps for Thursday and Friday.
[attachment=131556:18 Feb + 96.JPG] [attachment=131554:18 Feb +144.JPG][/font][/size]

[size=3][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][b]Alps Detail[/b][/font]

[b]Freezing Levels (noon)[/b][/size]

[size=4][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][b]Sun 19 Feb[/b][b] - [/b]600-1000m Germany, NW Switzerland, 1000-1400m elsewhere
[b]Mon 20 Feb[/b] [b][b]- [/b][/b]400-700m generally, 900m-1200m France/Italy border and S Switzerland, SW Austria
[b]Tue 21 Feb[/b][b][b] -[/b][/b] 400m-700m generally, 1000m-1600m France/Italy border, Central and S Switzerland, W Austria
[b]Wed 22 Feb - [/b]800m-1000m NE Austria, 1000-1600m most Central areas, 1800-2000m SW Alps
[b]Thu 23 Feb[/b][b][b] - [/b][/b]2000-2200m generally, 2200-2600m SW Alps
[b]Fri 24 Feb[/b][b][b] - [/b][/b]2800-3000m generally[/font][/size]

[size=4][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][b]Freezing Levels (6am)[/b]
[b]Sun 19 Feb - [/b]0m-800m East, 800m-1200m Elsewhere
[b]Mon 20 Feb - [/b]0m-400m Generally
[b]Tue 21 Feb[/b][b][b] -[/b][/b] 0m-400m Generally
[b]Wed 22 Feb - [/b]0m-400m Generally, pockets far higher towards the south
[b]Thu 23 Feb[/b][b][b] - [/b][/b]variable acorss the alps
[b]Fri 24 Feb[/b][b][b] -[/b][/b] Generally over 2000m in the Alpine region, but down to mountain level in many areas

[b]850 Hpa Temps (noon)[/b]
[b]Sun 19 Feb - [/b]-5 to -6c Germany, NW Switzerland, -2 to 0c elsewhere
[b]Mon 20 Feb[/b]-5 to -9c North and East generally, -3 to -5c elsewhere
[b]Tue 21 Feb -[/b] -5 to -6c East, -1 to -3c generally
[b]Wed 22 Feb - [/b]0 to +3c South, -1 to -2c East
[b]Thu 23 Feb - [/b]0 to +3c South, -1 to -2c East
[b]Thu 23 Feb- [/b]+3 to +5c generally
[b]Fri 24 Feb[/b] - +4 to +8c generally [/font][/size]

[size=4][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][b]Alps Daily Summaries[/b][/font][/size]
[size=4][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][b]Sun 19 Feb - [/b]Dry to start in the South East, but a cold front edges in from the North West bringing moderate snow above around 600m to the French Alps, Switzerland , Southern Germany and NW Austria by noon, this pushing SE by evening into Austria and Italy, turning drier further north and west.
[attachment=131536:18 Feb + 24 Alps.JPG]

[b]Mon 20 Feb - [/b]Mostly dry to the north but patchy snow remaining for parts of Austria and Italy during the day, turning drier later.
[attachment=131537:18 Feb + 48 Alps.JPG]

[b]Tue 21 Feb and Wed 22 Feb -[/b] Dry days, very cold overnight, a bit milder than recently during the day.
[attachment=131538:18 Feb + 72 Alps.JPG] [attachment=131551:18 Feb + 96 Alps.JPG]

[b]Thu 23 Feb[/b] - A dry start, but patchy rain (SL over 2000m) pushing in later for Germany and Northern Austria.
[attachment=131549:18 Feb +120 Alps.JPG]

[b]Fri 24 Feb[/b] - A dry start, but patchy rain (SL over 2400m) pushing in later for Germany .
[attachment=131550:18 Feb +144 Alps.JPG][/font][/size]