Or is this completely normal for this time of year?

We are roughly 4 weeks from being "on the ground" and I'm seeing some pretty cold/snowy weather conditions reported on our trip route.

Last year we were on Lake Como in mid-May (the 13th) and it was just perfect weather - sunny, bright, and short sleeves were just fine. The condits I am seeing now makes me wonder if we are going to be less lucky this year although we still have time.

In Switzerland, it is downright bloody cold weather reported (in the teens in the Jungfraujoch?) and I wonder if that is just normal for late April and we should expect pleasant (if not warm) weather in late May or if this year is much colder than usual. I visited the Engadin in mid-June a few years ago and it was sunny and bright and warm enough.

I know there is nothing we can do about it, but I was hoping to have the top down a lot on this trip.

A LOT can happen in four weeks. Don't fret yet.

April is never normal. Last year we had the most beautiful April I've ever experienced. Normally, it's cool, rainy and should be warming up slowly. We've just had a real nice weekend where I even walked around in short sleeves. Our neighbours skied from the Jungfraujoch into Wallis and it was magnificent.

Now it's raining again and will continue to rain till next weekend. Then it should be brighter, warmer, sunnier skies ahead.

flygirl,

Please bring the sunshine... It's not cold here in Zurich but the gray and rain are getting old!

We had a very nice sunny and hot weekend however after a few weeks of pretty steady gray mixed with rain...and some occasional brief sightings of sunshine.

I'm sure in 4 weeks you will be fine in short sleeves and a light jacket or sweater for evenings.

Don't worry!

BTW, I have found the weather predictions on CNN and Weather.com aren't all that accurate for this area and sometimes seem worse than it actually is...

gruezi

Schuler and Gruezi,

An overdue thanks! I'll keep my fingers crossed.

This is one of the webcams I have been watching, BRRRRRRR:

http://www.mmsend2.com/ls.cfm?r=1244...://ccu.acc.com

No top down for that pass - no driving on it anytime soon, either!

Hi Flygirl:

Corporate Councel University?

hahaha! I guess it didn't grab the link when I hit copy.

http://webcam.popso.it/stelvio.php

THERE it is!

(although the other link should send chills up your spine too!)

I just returned from a week in Alba, Piedmont. When we arrived it was pretty chilly and then the rains descended - around 21 April. Cleared on 22nd and on 23rd it was lovely spring weather. Didn't last. on 24th the windbreakers were back on and so was the fog and rain. The weather is so unpredictable these days you shouldn't check until it is nearly time of departure.

April 30....we just returned two days ago from northern Italy and Switzerland. The weather could not have been more PERFECT! We had light drizzle one day only out of 16 days. Annecy, Aix, Menton, Cinque Terre, Pienza, Florence, Como, Locarno, Lauterbrunnen (wonderful), Bulle, Evian, Geneva.
Most people were wearing a little jacket, or light sweater, occasionally short sleeves....fresh, crisp....and I know May will be LOVELY, and just as perfect as last year. Have a great trip....
We're still tired, lots of driving, but fun. It's good to be home, but sort of wish we were going back soon.)))):

Mari, what a great trip! Wow!

Thanks for the good news - when I saw the low temps and all the snow on the webcams, I thought, "how on earth is all that going to melt in just 4 weeks"??

I really hope we can do the Stelvio, here is a photo in summer:

http://classictravelling.com/wp-cont...elvio_pass.JPG

yikes, here is another one, taken in AUGUST?:

http://flickr.com/photos/crispy_duck/1517696110/

Mari, what a great trip! Wow!

Thanks for the good news - when I saw the low temps and all the snow on the webcams, I thought, "how on earth is all that going to melt in just 4 weeks??

I really hope we can do the Stelvio, here is a photo in summer:

http://classictravelling.com/wp-cont...elvio_pass.JPG

yikes, here is another one, taken in AUGUST?:

http://flickr.com/photos/crispy_duck/1517696110/

There's still tons of snow in the mountains. Some passes have opened but most remain closed.

I just returned from a fantastic week in Locarno. Because we decided to see the medieval celebration in Bellinzona, we got stuck in a 2.5 hour traffic jam before the Gotthard. We would have gone over it but it was still closed.

Latest update:

Expected opening of:^

Lukmanier: open

The Gotthardpass: May 21
Klausen: May 24
Furka: May 30
Susten: June 13
Nufenen, Grimsel and Furka: end of May

Albula, Flüela, Forcola di Livigno, San Bernardino, Splügen and Umbrail are still closed. Opening dates haven't been given yet.