{"id":63292,"date":"2026-07-11T18:26:30","date_gmt":"2026-07-11T16:26:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aresweden.com\/?p=63292"},"modified":"2026-10-15T16:43:25","modified_gmt":"2026-10-15T14:43:25","slug":"weather-phenomena-in-are","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aresweden.com\/en\/see-do\/weather-phenomena-in-are\/","title":{"rendered":"Weather phenomena in \u00c5re"},"content":{"rendered":"
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For the latest and most detailed local updates of temperatures, winds and general weather in \u00c5re\u2019s ski area, you should go to Skistar\u2019s website<\/a>. In Sweden, the national weather service is called SMHI<\/a>, which is also the most accurate one. There are also other weather services, such as yr.no (Norwegian weather service) and klart.se. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inversion \u2013 the lid is on<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The lid is on today \u2013 this is a common phrase in \u00c5re during winter. We get out of bed and check the thermometer which displays minus 22. It sounds a bit too cold for skiing and we decide to stay at home. Later, however, we notice that others seem to have had a sunny and amazing day of skiing while we\u2019ve been sitting at home. How is this possible? \u201dThe lid\u201d is an everyday expression for what the meteorologists call inversion<\/a><\/em>. This is a weather phenomenon that occurs when the weather is cool and calm. <\/p>\n\n\n

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Normally, air temperature decreases with a rise in altitude, meaning that the air on the top of the mountain is normally cooler than the air in the valley. When inversion occurs, this relationship is reversed.

The ground cools the lower air layer and because that air contains a lot of humidity, a layer of clouds is formed above. The lower air layer is therefore trapped underneath the clouds and the air temperature above the clouds rises as it is not mixed with the cool air below. Also, the sun does not reach below the clouds and so only heats the air above. The layer of clouds also makes the valley dark while the sun is shining above. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This whole spectacle can cause a difference in temperature of up to 20\u00b0C, meaning the thermometer can show minus 20\u00b0C in the valley and minus 2\u00b0C at the top. So don\u2019t just check the weather apps<\/strong> \u2013 check the SkiStar weather<\/a> and their web cameras <\/a>to make sure that you don\u2019t miss out on a great day of skiing!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I can see your halo\u2026<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As many of us know, the rainbow is not a bow at all, but a circle. A rainbow occurs when tiny water droplets circulates in the air and catch the sun\u2019s beams as in a prism.

In the same way, tiny crystals of ice can create some awesome light phenomena. One of them often occur in \u00c5re in the winter: the Halo. This phenomenon mostly occur at really high altitudes but sometimes in the winter they also occur closer to the ground. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Simplified: In order for a halo to occur the ice crystals need to be \u201cgeometrically perfect\u201d (meaning they need to be made up of straight lines and be hexagonal), they need to vary in form and shape and there needs to be a lot of them in order for a halo to occur. <\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

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Pow or slush<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Whether we can expect to enjoy pow-wow the next few days or if they need to order more plaster at the Health Care Center depends on the temperature. For example, when snow falls at minus 15\u00b0C it is actually five times \u201dfluffier\u201d than when snow falls at temperatures just below zero. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At cooler temperatures more air is \u201dtrapped\u201d between the snow crystals which means the snow that falls on the ground is lighter and \u201dfluffier\u201d. That\u2019s why it\u2019s not obvious how much snow we will actually have when the weather forecast says 1 millimeter of precipitation. At minus 1\u00b0C, 1 millimeter equals 1 centimeter of snow. At minus 10\u00b0C, 1 millimeter of precipitation equals 3 centimeters of snow, and so on. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also, at cooler temperatures the air contains less water than at higher temperatures, meaning the snow also contains less water and will be less compact. The wind is also a factor that affect the snow density. The layer of snow will be more compact when it\u2019s windy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So that\u2019s a short explaination<\/strong> of why we get pow-wow when it snows at minus 15\u00b0C and there\u2019s no or little wind but get a completely different snow quality when it\u2019s windy and snows at minus 5\u00b0C. Read more about it here<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately for powder lovers, heavy snowfall during cold weather isn't all that common in Sweden. But every now and then, \u00c5re delivers the perfect storm. When the forecast calls for classic \u00c5re conditions, it's time to dig out your powder skis and make the most of it. <\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

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The Wind \u2013 a cooling companion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Yes, we have a lot of wind in \u00c5re. Most often it\u2019s just a matter of typical mountain weather but sometimes, when skiers or hikers are caught in a blizzard, we may be talking about the treacherous downburst<\/a>. Most downburst are only noticeable as gusts of wind but sometimes they can be as strong as hurricanes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are different types of downbursts and in Sweden these has caused events such as when 100,000 cubic meters of forest fell due to strong and wide-spread downbursts in 2011. It was also the cause of the tragic Anaris accident where eight skiers died in February 1978. The weather had been nice until they were caught in a blizzard caused by downbursts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201dOrdinary winds\u201d might also cause issues. At minus 10\u00b0C, moderate winds cause a cooling effect of down to minus 20\u00b0C. In short, when it\u2019s windy, the temperature can be much cooler than the number shown on the thermometer. For example, winds of 2 m\/s can lower the temperature from minus 10\u00b0C to minus 14\u00b0C. There are charts<\/a> that help you keep track of this but the easiest way to check is just to pop your head outside for a bit to decide whether you need an extra pair of undergarments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Swedish Mountain Safety Council<\/a><\/strong> shares useful advice<\/strong> on its website for reading the signs of changing weather, so a sunny day in the mountains does not turn into a storm before you are prepared. Incidentally, the highest recorded average wind speed at the summit of \u00c5reskutan is 55 meters per second, measured in december 1979. <\/p>\n\n\n\n