Lack of snow in the Alps

The Alps is the perfect spot for hiking these days, but only because of its lack of snow.

For November, it is certainly striking that there is no snow, even at high altitudes in the mountains.

A comparison of webcam images show that it can look very different there during this time of year. Last year, there was already plenty of snow in many Alpine valleys.

Although it has already snowed heavily twice this autumn, the last few weeks have been extremely mild.

Especially so at high altitudes, where there has been a temperature inversion, making the valley bottoms colder than the mountain tops.

There has also been a general lack of precipitation, due to the blocking high pressure pattern that's recently affected not just the UK and Ireland, but large swathes of Europe too.

However, this is expected to change in the coming week. It is due to turn much colder and snow is expected to fall down to 1000 metres.