We haven't had much rain or snow in the last month and a half. My town has been covered by a blanket of snow since beg. of December and most of the time it's been sunny skies every day. The lower towns have been in or under a blanket of fog.

As a result, we now have a soot particle problem. Too much of it in the air. German-speaking cantons have decreased the autobahn speed limit to 80 km. Diesel vehicles are getting the evil eye. The Bodensee is drying up as well.

It will all change again as soon as we get some major precipitation... hopefully.

Just some info for those travellers coming soon.

Schuler--this seems to be very hopeful news to me as I will be in Chiavenna and Soglio in middle and late March and I want desperately to do some hiking! Any insights on that?

Sorry Guy, all you can do is wait and check the weather sites before you pack. You may have rain, snow, fog or sunshine. Too early to know or predict.

I will be in Switzerland the end of March and I want lots of snow as I ride the scenic rails.

We've had an unusual warm spell in Connecticut too with no snow on the ground currently.

schuler,
My DH checks several Swiss webcams every morning (our daily fix!), and we've noticed that at places like Zermatt the snow seemed to even be melting.

Here in Austin, we've had a particularly dry and warm winter (if you care to even call it winter). They're calling it the beginning of La Nina, which means more dry, warm weather to continue for us here in Central Texas, but look out for hurricane season in Florida - could be another record year.

I have a brother in Seattle - he's miserable!

Will be coming to Engelberg this summer. Hope there's enough rain to bring in those beautiful alpenblumen!

Have a good day.

The Bodensee is drying up???? Is that glacier at the head of the Rhine not melting as fast as it should be? Then let's send some of the Fodorite banned posters over there immediately to apply some heat.

Schuler, wow, do you know how things are up in Basel? Foggy there too?

Anything under 800 meters has been in or under fog for over a month (more or less). The fog has now risen to 1100.

This isn't really that unusual for January. It's just that this is the first time that officials have reduced the Autobahn speed limits and have advised people to do their fitness in the mountains and out of the fog.

There is still snow in the mountains because of the cold temperatures. We just need rain/snow to lower our soot levels in the air.

We had an unusual long winter period here in Dresden too. 7 consecutive weeks now ... fortunately we got some more snow and wind from time to time. It's snowing right now ;-)

Hope Switzerland will get a load of snow soon!

Ingo

It's snowing in Dresden? That's great! Enjoy the winter!

Switzerland has been having a time of it lately with the weather, non?

Between that freak hail storm last summer around Montreux, then the floods in central parts, now this...

It's still pouring rain here in Seattle and we're having a huge wind storm as I write this.

schuler,
As a Seattlite I can only say: be careful what you wish for!

As a Portland, Oregonian, I agree with artlover. We've had half our year's rain totals in the last 6 weeks...something like 20 inches!

well now the sun's out and it is clear and mild in Seattle today.

Glad to hear! It's supposed to come out here tomorrow too! (and the fog will go away for awhile...)

Today's the big day for Washington State! Good luck!