[PHOTOS] Day 1 of Summer Snowstorm in European Alps Brings 12″ of New Snow

The cold front from the Arctic has hit Germany, and temperatures have dropped from summery 25-30°C (77-86°F) to chilly winter temperatures. As the low is moving north, carrying moisture it gathered over the Mediterranean Sea and hits the cold front, summer snowfall is being unleashed on parts of the European Alps. Between 5-35 centimeters (2-13 inches) of snow have fallen, and the snowline is dropping to as low as 800 meters (2,625 feet) in some areas of Germany. The brunt of the snowstorm is supposed to come on Saturday, so stay tuned for more images over the next few days.

According to Copernicus, the European Space Agency, an unusual weather system over Scandinavia is accompanied by cold Arctic air, and moving south across Europe, bringing strong winds, a sharp drop in temperatures, and early snow in the Alps. It is anticipated that record low temperatures for September will be reached. As the front progresses, heavy rain is likely to fall across central Europe, with Austria, the Czech Republic, and Poland expected to receive more than 350 mm of rain in the next few hours.

A significant low is moving from northern Italy, which is carrying a lot of humidity north towards Austria. On the west side of the low, cool air from northern Europe is tapped and pressed against the north side of the Alps. This results in heavy precipitation, so-called stagnant precipitation. This is combined with a drop in temperatures driven by Arctic air being pushed from the North, which is why Germany has currently seen the most snow and lowest snowline. As the Arctic air is being pushed south, the snowline in Austria, Switzerland, and Italy will drop further.

Here are some first impressions from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Italy.