Any Snow Yet?

[Sebastiano]

Originally Posted by annec

I ain't convinced, that's why I'm asking. But my tenant is convinced, he's postponed the art exhibition he is planning to 13th Dec on the strength of the info he's received

the whole of italy from tomorrow will be hit by the same front going thru the uk direct from the artctic temeratures of as low as -4°c are foreseen in this area with snow at low quotas and high winds everywhere...actually the forescasting is usually pretty accurate these days.

[English teacher]

I've been told that we should expect snow this weekend, then more snow mid week. It's been blowing a gale today, and whenever this happens, it generally signals a change in the weather. My msn weather forecast still shows mild weather / rain for all of next week. Shall now leave before I get laughed off the forum for using crappy forecast services..

[Angie and Robert]

Well I will join you English teacher, have just checked again and the weather looks OK, no snow for us? at 420mtrs, but just to be prudent did extra shopping today, how everyone will laugh when we wake up to it, or not they are much too kind!, plus we are on second harvest of olives, snow shoes then?
A

[Lisa C.]

Hi Angie,

How are winters in your area in general? How much snow would you estimate you get each winter and how long does it usually last? The reason I ask is that so far of the areas of Italy we have seen and lived in, the area where you are (including around Monte Rinaldo) is our preferred area to retire to. As we live in snowy Vermont, my husband does not want to endure months of snow and brutal cold like we have here. Our friends in Monte Rinaldo say it isn't too bad but we'd love to hear from another person as well. It has been in the low 20's to mid 30's F all week during the daytime and it's getting old! Our winters start about November and go through until around the end of April. In the dead of winter we can have temperatures of 10 degrees F below zero at times. We have even gotten snow in May on rare occasions.

Lisa

[Sprostoni]

Last December/January there were quite a few feet of snow in and around the hilltop villages of Santa Vittoria, Montelparo, Monteleone, Penna San Giovanni etc, temperature as I recall got down to -6 or so at night every now and then, In March onwards weather (temperature wise) has been quite good/very good I would say.................

Obviously the higher villages such as Smerillo get a little cut off at times.......but they look good !

So far, there have been SIGNS of snow, the Sibillinis have a covering as I write, but only down to about 1200mtrs.

Snow is suggested for early December

[Angie and Robert]

Hi Lisa
At 420 mtrs and between the mountains and the coast, the snow which seems to last a few days for us is not a problem, but prior to us moving out here there were severe snow coverings , it is so difficult to give you an estimate. This year it has remained sunny and warmish into late November, it is sunny as I write.
There have been previous threads on this subject, and it seems that the distance from the mountains and the height of your property is of significance with regard to the weather you can expect, also, where the house is positioned with regard to the prevailing winds, an open exposed position or one that is sheltered, as ours is, but still attracts loads of sunshine.
I know that you have been out here , and to look around with these points in mind may help you in your search, certainly not as cold as Vermont, where I have been but in the fall, not in the depths of winter.!
Good luck with your continuing search
Angie

[HelenMW]

I'm sitting at my computer looking at Monterinaldo with lovely sunshine at the moment, bu unfortunately I feel the answer to how much snow & for how long is "how long is a piece of string".
Last year we had snow on 17th December & got about a foot (I remember cos I had to drive to Rome to fly home the next day so left my car at a neighbours & walked the 500m to his hpuse to be on the safe side!). Not sure how long it lasted but it wasn't there when we arrived back on 5th Jan. I don't remember any more than that.
The year before there was none
The year before that it snowed for Nov 29th to end of January off & on, but I don't remember a great amount
The year before that it snowed for a week solid in jan (just before we cam out for a site visit) so there was a couple of feet & there were still little pockets of it left in March

Did anyone else get woken up at 2am this morning by the wind storm- I though I was in the Wizard of Oz!!!

[Angie and Robert]

Dont forget the thunder too!, but all is calm and sunny today, off out to plant more violas.
A

[Sally Donaldson]

Originally Posted by Angie and Robert

Dont forget the thunder too!, but all is calm and sunny today, off out to plant more violas.
A

Don't forget the cellos too. The mind boggles!!! lol

[AllanMason]

Originally Posted by Angie and Robert

...it seems that the distance from the mountains and the height of your property is of significance with regard to the weather you can expect, also, where the house is positioned with regard to the prevailing winds, an open exposed position or one that is sheltered...

All true. Micro-climates are very real, but often the causes are not immediately obvious, particularly in a climate and topography very different to "Home".

One thing you can easily check is which direction a house faces. Unless you like being cold in the winter (or you're sure you'll never be in Italy at that time of year) and you much prefer shade to sun in the summer, you do not want a house on a north-facing slope. My advice when house-hunting is to take a little compass with you.

Al