Extreme Temperatures
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Snowflake

Best of the Web: Record-breaking snow totals in Switzerland as 89 inches falls in 2 days (and 8 FEET in 3)


SnowBrains
Fri, 18 Apr 2025 18:49 UTC
mnmn
A new Swiss snowfall record has been set at the Bortelsee station in the Simplon region of Switzerland, where 89 inches (226 centimeters) of snow fell within just two days, and 97 inches (247 centimeters) accumulated over three days. This unprecedented event, recorded from April 15 to 17, 2025, now stands as the largest amount of snow ever measured in short timeframes in Switzerland, surpassing the previous records of 85 inches (215 centimeters) in two days at the Bernina Pass in April 1999 and 90 inches (229 centimeters) in three days at Weissfluhjoch in February 1990.

The snowfall was primarily driven by the "Hans" depression, a low-pressure system that developed over the Gulf of Genoa. Named by Italian meteorological services, Hans channeled a strong southeasterly flow from the Mediterranean, carrying warm, moisture-laden air into the southern Alps. As this air mass encountered the mountainous terrain, it was forced upward, resulting in intense orographic precipitation on the southern slopes, particularly in the Simplon region. The interaction between this moist air and colder air masses at higher elevations led to significant snowfall, culminating in the record-breaking accumulations observed at Bortelsee.


Comment: See also the following report from a day earlier which includes more details about surrounding Alpine countries: Massive mid-April snowfall in the Alps - up to 4 FEET in 24 hours

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Snowflake

Baqueira Beret ski resort in Spain records 40 cms (15.7 inches) of mid-April snow


catalannews.com
Thu, 17 Apr 2025 12:58 UTC
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Baqueira Beret
The ski resort of Baqueira Beret, in one of the northwestern points in Catalonia, has recorded almost 40 centimeters of snow before the start of the Easter holidays.

The resort management recorded unexpected snowstorms between Tuesday evening and Wednesday early morning, just a couple of days before Catalonia starts celebrating Easter and takes some days off.

The amount of snow was completely a surprise for everyone, as "not even the most optimistic weather forecasts" forecast such a snow, the managing team of the site in the Vall d'Aran and the Pallars' counties said.

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Snowflake

Best of the Web: Massive mid-April snowfall in the Alps - up to 4 FEET in 24 hours

Patrick Thorne
snow-forecast.com
Thu, 17 Apr 2025 12:16 UTC
Verbier this morning
Verbier this morning
A huge snowfall is underway in the Alps, by far the biggest of the 24-25 season.

Unfortunately, about 80% of ski areas have already ended their seasons.

For those still open the storm is also so heavy that it has closed slopes, access roads and set the avalanche danger of a rare maximum 5 on the scale to 5 in parts of the Western Alps. There is also a fear of flooding in some areas with torrential rain on lower slopes and lower snowpack at times.

Few resorts have been able to publish snowfall measurements to far but Verbier reports from its snow stake that its had almost a metre (40") of snowfall so far, later publishing an official stat of 75cm (30").

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Snowflake

Mid-April snow falls in Ireland as weather warnings in place for 10 counties

Conor Heneghan
Irish Mirror
Wed, 16 Apr 2025 17:17 UTC
mmmmm
People taking photos of the snow at Lough Bray Upper on Powerscourt Mountain in Co Wicklow.
Snow fell in a number of counties on Wednesday morning as rain warnings remain in effect until Wednesday afternoon

After the warmest weather of the year last week, conditions have turned full circle in Ireland within days with some counties experiencing snow on Wednesday morning.

Weather expert Alan O'Reilly of Carlow Weather relayed reports of snow in Wexford and Wicklow on X on Wednesday morning after a cold and wet start to the day, particularly in the east of the country.

The rare arrival of snow in mid-April comes as weather warnings remain in place for 10 counties in Ireland and Northern Ireland on Wednesday.

A Status Yellow rain warning issued by Met Éireann for Dublin, Louth, Meath, Wexford and Wicklow came into effect at 9pm on Tuesday night and will remain in place until 2pm this afternoon.

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Snowflake

Heavy spring snow whitens Mahneshan, Iran


Mehr News Agency
Wed, 16 Apr 2025 12:13 UTC
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The Spring snowfall has whitened Mahneshan County in Iran's Zanjan province.


Comment: Also of note, significant damage to the region's orchards has been reported.

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Snowflake

April snow closes roads in the Serra da Estrela, Portugal


The Portugal News
Tue, 15 Apr 2025 13:57 UTC
mmmmmm
© @Meteo Trás os Montes - Portugal
"Sections 11 (Piornos-Torre), 12 (Torre-Torre) and 13 (Portela do Arão-Torre) have been closed since 7:10 pm on Monday due to snowfall. There is still no forecast for the reopening of the road," a source from the Sub-regional Emergency and Civil Protection Command of Beiras and Serra da Estrela told Lusa news agency.

The Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) had predicted snowfall at the highest points of the Serra da Estrela, dropping the altitude to 1,400/1,600 metres at the end of this Monday, as well as a sharp drop in temperature.

For today, IPMA maintains the forecast of snowfall in the highlands of the northern and central interior, above 1,000/1,200 meters in altitude, lowering the level to 800/1000 meters in altitude in the extreme north until early morning.

A slight drop in temperature and the formation of ice or frost are also expected in some places in the northeast of Trás-os-Montes and Beira Alta.

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Arrow Down

Who owns the oceans? The UN wants to tax ships to reduce carbon emissions — a $40b windfall for unaccountable global bureaucrats

Jo Nova
joannenova.com.au
Tue, 15 Apr 2025 02:50 UTC
Shipping Containers
© Image by Peter Lindenau from Pixabay
What looks, acts, and taxes like One World Government?

The UN is has succeeded in getting a global shipping tax approved supposedly to control the weather. It will be formally adopted in October, and start in 2027, applying to ships of more than 5,000 tons. I don't remember our parliamentarians debating it, do you? Somehow a tariff is terrible but a global trade tax paid to unaccountable bureaucrats will save the world?

It sets a very dangerous new precedent. For the first time the United Nations would be able to tax the world directly, without twisting the arm of national governments. Who owns the oceans? The UN apparently...

By 2030 the UN is projected to collect $40 billion in total from this tax. Supposedly they will hand this on to "supporting developing countries" (like China, eh?). Obviously this give the UN bureaucrats another $40 billion in power. It's more money for them to fly to conferences in the Amazon, more money to reward their "friends", and more money to buy the right votes at the right moment. It will feed more committees to write more press releases to shake down even more money from the hapless taxpayers of the West.

And why would it stop there? Once the UN can collect the cash from ships, why not planes too, and surely satellites and rockets? (Has anyone told Elon?)

Whatever happened to "No taxation without political representation?" Killed by a thousands cuts.
Global breakthrough to tackle shipping emissions

Esme Stallard, BBC

Countries have agreed a global deal to tackle shipping emissions, after nearly ten years of negotiations. The agreement covers the vast majority of the world's commercial shipping and means that starting in 2028, ship owners will have to use increasingly cleaner fuels or face fines. The deal was nearly derailed after Saudi Arabia forced a last minute vote and the US pulled out of talks in London - but it eventually passed on Friday. Small island states and environmental groups were angry that a blanket tax was not agreed to and called the deal "unfit for purpose".
The United Nations' International Maritime Organization (IMO) will be able to take $380 per ton of "carbon" emitted.
It will require owners of large international vessels to increase their use of less carbon intensive fuels or face a penalty of up to $380 per tonne of carbon dioxide emissions they emit from burning fuel.

The vote was requested by Saudi Arabia, who did not support the agreement, and this position was shared by a dozen other oil-producing nations, including Russia.

Although they opposed the proposal, they will be bound to implement it because they are members of the IMO.
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Snowflake

Michigan's northernmost peninsula doubles 2024 snowfall total in epic winter

Justine Lofton
MLive
Sat, 12 Apr 2025 19:37 UTC
The Keweenaw Peninsula recorded 306.5 inches of snow during winter 2024-25, doubling the total from 2023-24.
The Keweenaw Peninsula recorded 306.5 inches of snow during winter 2024-25, doubling the total from 2023-24.
With almost three feet of snow still on the ground, the Keweenaw Peninsula is calling it: "Spring has sprung."

What is believed to be the last snowfall of the season fell in a flurry on Wednesday, accumulating one-quarter of an inch, according to Keweenaw County data. That brought the 2024-25 snowfall total to 306.5 inches, doubling the 153.25 inches recorded in 2023-24.

"We're known for some of the most epic snow in the Midwest, and this year didn't disappoint," said Brad Barnett, executive director of Visit Keweenaw. "It's great to see how much people enjoy tracking the totals — and we're already looking forward to next winter."

The visitors' bureau hosts an annual snowfall total contest in which anyone can take their best guess for a chance to win free swag and bragging rights. About 700 guesses were submitted. Two winners guessed the exact total: David Myron and Randall Matson.
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Snowflake

Heavy April snowfall restricts access to Troodos region in Cyprus


in-cyprus.philenews.com
Sun, 13 Apr 2025 12:06 UTC
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Heavy snowfall in the Troodos mountains has led to restricted access on key roads in the region, with only four-wheel drive vehicles or those equipped with snow chains permitted to pass, the police said.

The affected routes include Karvounas - Troodos, Prodromos - Troodos, and Platres - Troodos roads.

Authorities urged drivers to exercise extreme caution, maintain low speeds, and keep safe distances from other vehicles. Travelers heading to mountainous or semi-mountainous areas are advised to check police updates on road conditions before starting their journeys to avoid delays or hazardous situations.

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Snowflake

A foot of fresh April snow on Belleayre Mountain, New York


hudsonvalleyone.com
Sun, 13 Apr 2025 11:54 UTC
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"We made last call, and suddenly Old Man Winter decided to stop sipping pina coladas on the beach and get to the mountain!," read Saturday morning's giddy snow report from Belleayre Mountain at Ulster County's elevated northwest corner. "It wouldn't be a Belleayre Closing Weekend without some fresh snow, and a twelve-inch dumping of fresh 'Catskill Concrete' is already sitting at the top of the mountain with flakes still floating down.

It got packed down at various times through the night by our gang o' groomers on 27 trails, with two lifts getting prepared to get you on top of it!"

Season passes at the state-owned facility for the 2025-2026 ski season are now available. They increase in cost at the end of April.

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