Low-pressure dumps up to 40 cm (16 inches) of fresh snow across the Alps

A low-pressure which brought heavy rains to central Europe, dumped heavy snow across the Alps on Tuesday, August 4, 2020. Accumulated snow reached up to 40 cm (16 inches) in Passo Stelvio, Italy — located above 2 700 m (8 860 feet).

Around 30 cm (12 inches) of fresh snow was reported on Zugspitze– Germany's highest mountain.

Temperatures also fell in Munich, Germany, Zurich, Australia, Salzburg, and Verona in Italy. With this, many ski areas in the Alps were open.

Other ski resorts open in the Alps are Les 2 Alpes in France; Hintertux and Molltal in Austria and Saas-Fee and Zermatt in Switzerland.

On Tuesday, up to 40 cm (16 inches) of snow was reported in Passo Stelvio in Italy. The Matterhorn Glacier Paradise ski area above Zermatt can also be accessed from Cervinia.

Summer snow is not unusual in the region and it has, in fact, helped refresh glaciers open for skiing. "Summer snow is highly important for the health of glaciers," said glaciologist Mattias Huss.

"The cold front of last Monday brought 10 cm [4 inches] of fresh snow above ca. 2 500 m [8 200 feet] in the Alps. Although this is not much, it will shut off melt for several days due to the albedo effect. Very welcome in this period of the year."

The snowfall was caused by low-pressure, which brought strong precipitation to central Europe.

Featured image credit: Matthias Huss