Consult the weather forecast

Italiano

Hiking is affected by weather conditions because it takes place outdoors, often with no shelter nearby. To know what the weather will be like, we rely on weather reports, which satellites, mathematical models, technology, specialized companies and scientists have made it more and more precise and accessible everywhere, minute by minute according to the position, and reliable even after a few days. This helps a plan route. Two things are true. The first is that for some mobile phone applications in which we check the weather forecast, it always rains in the mountains and it gets very cold. The second is that we are very well informed because of habit we read and look at the weather forecasts of the state of the sky and the temperature several times during the day and on different channels even when we don't have to go anywhere![^] And you can always blame bad weather forecasts when something goes wrong, like getting wet in a downpour or the sun is shining and you were prepared for rain.

Main weather parameters

The main weather parameters are: solar radiation, which depends on cloud cover, precipitation, their intensity and whether it is rain or snow, temperature, relative humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind speed and its direction. Weather forecasts try to estimate how these parameters evolve. In a weather report there is the UV index, the forecast on possible thunderstorms, the thermal zero, i.e. at what altitude there is 0 °C. Wheather influences the hiker in the choice of shoes, how to dress, what to pack, how much to drink.

Websites and alerts

The main purpose of walking in the mountains is to have fun, and it is natural to plan the excursion in good weather, and with a guarantee that it will remain so. The first thing is therefore to inquire about the weather conditions, choosing reliable websites, reading well what is written, evaluating any alerts or alarms that are issued. In winter, the snow bulletin should also be consulted for the risk of avalanches. Sometimes you choose to face moderate bad weather because there is not enough time available or because this is part of the possible variables.

ARPA Lombardia (Regional Agency for the Protection of the Environment) mmakes the weather forecast in Lombardy and connects a series of hydro-metro risks. The risk has five degrees of criticality, expressed in colors: white code - no forecast, green code - absent criticality, yellow code - ordinary criticality, orange code - moderate criticality, red code - high criticality. Who would go to the mountains with red? Hydro-Metro risks are: thunderstorms, hydrogelogic, hydraulic, strong wind, snow, avalanches, forest fires.[^]
In Switzerland, there is a Portal on natural hazards, marked on a scale of 1 to 5; for example for the wind with danger 3 - considerable, the risk comes from falling branches.[^]

Some risks due to weather conditions

There is no doubt that bad weather increases the risk in the mountains. Bad weather is one of the main reasons why you give up on reaching a goal, during excursion or even before departure. Another reason to stay at home is to write a blog about the mountains you love.

In case of fog or low clouds you can lose your orientation and in any case the visibility is less than a day with the sun. In the rain you get wet without the use of specialized technical material such as Gore-tex and wet ground is treacherous, with the risk of slipping especially on smooth rocks. In case of violent or prolonged rains, there is a risk of landslides. With bad weather the body's immune defenses are progressively lowered, the least is to catch a cold. You can protect yourself from low temperatures by choosing suitable clothing and shoes, staying dry and avoiding prolonged exposure. The consequences are hypothermia, freezing of hands and feet when they are below zero, to the point of frostbite. Strong wind moves and causes branches and trees or other objects to fall. In addition, the wind increases the sensation of cold and can cause imbalance and headaches due to a process of rapid dilation and narrowing of the blood vessels. During the excursion it is good to scan the sky and notice a change in humidity, cumolonimbus clouds, particular towering vertical cumulus-shaped clouds, announce a storm.[^] In the event of a storm, avoid staying on particularly exposed paths, such as ridges or peaks, via ferratas and sheltering under isolated trees. Being struck by lightning strikes means dying.

Believing that there is no health risk on a sunny day is just wrong. The sun is a source of serious problems for the skin and eyes due to UV rays, from which we must defend ourselves with the necessary precautions. The rules to follow are: walk at a time with a low UV index, spread a sunscreen with a high protection factor, wear a hat, cover the skin with clothing, wear dark glasses. In addition, sun and high temperatures dehydrate the body quickly.

In Grigna

Planning to go to Grigna requires you consult the weather forecasts. I am a fan of the Centro Meteorologico Lombardo.[^] Like everyone else, I prefer to go to the mountains in good weather, however, light rainfall does not bother me that much. Low clouds hide the Grignone on humid days, in summer as in winter, with the risk of losing the way. The hiker can experience all the factors and the typical variability of the high mountain climate, progressive lowering of temperature and humidity, strong wind at altitude, sudden changes in weather, violent and unexpected precipitation without the possibility of shelter, snow for six months per year, risk being swept away by an avalanche.

References

1. "What’s the Weather Like Today? The Habit of Checking Weather Forecasts". BVA Doxa. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
2. "Allerta LOM". Regione Lombardia. (in Italian). Retrieved 3 June 2022.
3. "Danger levels wind". Natural Hazard Portal. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
4. "Cumulonimbus cloud". Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
5. "Previsioni Lombardia [Lombardy forecasts]". Centro Meteorologico Lombardo. (in Italian). Retrieved 3 June 2022.