‘Sherlock Holmes of Snow’ optimistic of a second bumper year in the Alps

Saturday, 23 Nov, 2018 0

Booking a ski holiday can be a risky business because if it doesn’t snow and it’s not cold enough for resorts to fire up the snow cannons, there’s no skiing. And no skiing means unhappy clients.

However, the man dubbed the Sherlock Holmes of Snow, climatologist and snow specialist Claude Schneider, reckons this season could be a second bumper year in a row, at least for the French Alps.

Last season was one of the best on record in the Alps, with many resorts getting well above average snowfall, thanks to sustained cold temperatures.

Schneider, who is based at the French resort of La Plagne, said: "Looking ahead to the 2018/19 season, long-term forecasts are extremely sensitive and often unreliable, but currently they are looking rather favourable.

"There appears to be a cold tendency to the temperatures and humidity which should circulate on our massifs. Statistically, we tend to observe small cycles of 2/3 years, which could lead us to remain optimistic for the season to come and to think that the future cumulation will again be higher than average.

"The phenomena of annual distribution of precipitation, after a very dry summer and autumn season, also leads us to think that another more humid cycle could begin at the beginning of the year 2019."

Armed with the best equipment, Schneider has been studying snow for 30 years and he carries out daily examinations, studying particles recording data and analyzing possible scenarios in avalanche risk areas.

However, only time will tell whether his forecast of a good season ahead will come true. To reduce the risk of your clients ending up on a resort without snow, read our report this week on the best snow-sure resorts for an early season ski holiday.

Linsey McNeill

Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk

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