A winter comeback: Fresh snow in the Alps

In the Alps, winter has decided to make a return.

The Alpine regions received a thin winter coat overnight. The combination of an Italian low pressure system and cooler air feeding in from the north caused snowfall down to 1000 m above sea level.

In Obergurgl, just under 2000 m above sea level, there are now almost 20 cm of snow, turning the region into a winter wonderland once more. The winter services are back in action to clear roads and pavements.

On the tops of the mountains, a widespread 20 to 30 cm of fresh snow has fallen in a few hours on 11th May. On the Pitztal Glacier, there has been half a metre of snow since Tuesday 9th.

A winter onset in the middle of May is not uncommon in the mountains, nor is it in mid-summer. In 2019, there was heavy snowfall 300 m above sea level, with some places seeing between 5-15 cm, recording their highest May snow cover since 1970.

While snow looks set to continue for Alpine regions, cooler weather is also set to return to the UK and Ireland.

Northerly winds will flow back in through next week, with temperatures dropping widely below average. Keep tabs on our Weather Trend for more.