Champagne powder

Champagne powder (of English. "Champagne powder" ) refers to a particularly soft and dry powder snow, which is considered ideal for skiing. The term comes from the ski resorts of the American Rocky Mountains, where such snow conditions are found particularly often.

Occurrence

Basically there can be in all ski resorts weather conditions for Champagne powder. The specific meteorological conditions for this snow there regularly but only in the snowy heights of the inner valleys of the Rocky Mountains. In the U.S., this happens especially in the states of Montana and Colorado. In Canada, there are Champagne powder from British Columbia to Alberta, so Kamloops over the Kicking Horse Pass to Calgary. Champagne powder falls all the way up to Alaska.

Often set in the Rockies in November and December intensive snowfalls one. One then has quite a lot of snow and very cold at the skiing conditions are quite good. The best conditions for Champagne powder there should be in February, when using the big snowfall. In March, it is often already getting warmer by the intense solar radiation. When melting the flakes are there in these areas rather spring snow.

It is claimed that Champagne powder falls mainly at night. The day after, you should then be able to ski especially beautiful when the sun shines. The frequency of these ideal conditions is controversial and should be a legend for tourist advertising. A fact is that at night it generally snows some more, not only in the Rocky Mountains.

Formation

The regularly occurring North American Arctic highs on the pull cold air to the south are the engine of champagne Powders. In these areas it is snowing then frequently and intensively.

Because of comparisons based on internationally valid classification systems it was found that snowflakes that fall from the sky, hardly differ from each other. When it snows, the snow in the Rockies is still a bit warmer, so the snowflakes can form well located. However, between 3000 and 4000 meters above sea level the air is cold, the snow cools and freezes again from the same. Due to the altitude the snow stays extremely dry and is therefore not as easy as sticky as in other ski areas.

In the European Alps, the Atlantic determines the climate. From him comes the humidity and the air is usually only slightly moist -cold, but rarely really cold. In the Alps, there can be powder snow when the lows not just come from the Atlantic Ocean. Experienced skiers know that you can find good powder snow likely at higher altitudes in the Alps most likely to glacier ski areas, the over 2500m above sea level. NN are. But below this height you can occasionally encounter Champagne powder.