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How will the winter be? 17 signs predicting lots of snow

Sneeuw St. Anton Am Arlberg
© Spalder Media Group

What will winter 2022/2023 be like in Austria, Germany, Switzerland, France and Italy? The US and European weather services have made the first predictions, which are quite variable. Will there be a lot of snow this winter? Some people believe that we can spot indicators of a snowy winter by observing nature. You can still come across 'farming wisdom' and 'family stories' that are passed down from generation to generation. In this article, you can read about the 17 signs that predict a snowy winter.

This is what the winter 2022/2023 will be like

The first predictions for the winter of 2022/2023 are often published well in advance. Every year, numerous meteorologists and scientists predict what winter will be like. Those from the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) and the ECMWF (European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts) are considered the most reliable.

This year, the weather services don't agree with their forecasts. NOAA even brings dire news. According to the US weather service, winter 2022/2023 will be incredibly mild in Europe. We may even be heading for one of the warmest winters ever, with significant temperature increases. They predict extreme precipitation in January 2023. ECMWF predicts no drastic increase or decrease in temperature. The coming winter will be average, according to the European weather service, with most precipitation in December 2022 and January 2023. We take these predictions with a grain of salt and find them as reliable as the signs below.

How much snow will there be in the winter of 2022/2023?
Hopefully we’ll see many trees covered in snow!

17 signs predicting lots of snow

Will there be a lot of snow this season? We hope so! Let September's snowfall be a harbinger of a great season! Below we gathered some age-old peasant wisdom that indicates a snowy winter.

  1. The woodpeckers share trees with each other
  2. The snowy owl shows up early
  3. The corn cobs are thicker than usual
  4. The monarch butterflies are budding earlier
  5. The hair on cow’s neck is thicker
  6. There is regular, persistent fog in August
  7. There are more insects during summer
  8. Mice are looking for food in houses
  9. There are many and more frequent spiders in houses
  10. The raccoons have lighter and thicker tails
  11. The wild boars are earlier in their search of wood
  12. There are unusual quantities of acorns
  13. The geese fly south earlier
  14. The muskrats dig lots of burrows near the water's edge
  15. The wasps' nests are built higher than usual
  16. The squirrels collect more nuts than usual
  17. Rings can be seen around the sun regularly

How much snow will there be in the winter of 2022/2023?

Winter weather in Austria, Germany, Switzerland, France and Italy mainly depends on how the winds blow. The Gulf Stream, for example, ensures mild temperatures because heat rises better above water than over land. When the wind blows from the east, temperatures come down a lot. Then, however, the air is often a lot drier, and snow chances drop. The best chances for lots of fresh snow are when low-pressure areas over Scandinavia or the Mediterranean head towards the Alps. Combined with low temperatures, this creates conditions for large amounts of snow, as we saw several times last winter. When will there be snow again?

Winter sports weather 2023/2023

Of course, we will keep you up to date with the current weather updates in the Alps again this season. Useful links to save for winter 2022/2023 are:

  • Alpine weather: weekly updates on the weather in the Alps in winter
  • Webcams: what does it look like on the slopes?
  • Snow depth: how much snow is there in your favourite ski area?

 

Winter Female Author 3

About Nina Jan

I grew up in Slovenia, close to the Julian Alps. Early on, my parents put me on skis and skates, and the winter sports enthusiasm hasn't left me since. I also enjoy cross-country skiing and have been a keen snowboarder for the past 20 years.