Where is Good to Ski or Board Right Now?

The query everyone seems to be asking, The place is Good to Ski or Board Proper Now?

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**** Up to date Friday, 5 January, 2024 ****

The place is Good to Ski Proper Now?

Snowfall returned to the Alps on New 12 months’s Eve after a reasonably dry last week or so of 2023. Since then it has been snowing over a wider space, with some resorts now reporting over a metre of snowfall this week and Chamonix the primary on this planet to report a 4-metre snow depth reached on its highest slopes – months sooner than the Alps say these numbers final winter. So though there was some rain and sleet down low, the general image is excellent, particularly in comparison with current years.

Not so within the Pyrenees sadly the place it has been too dry though snowfall is anticipated right here too. Up in Scandinavia, the problem is dangerously low temperatures closing some lifts, over in Scotland the snowboarding stays very restricted however small areas past the nursery slopes are tentatively opening.

Throughout in North America, there have been some good indicators for the brand new yr, a foot of snow in California and recent snow on the East Coast too, but it surely stays a lacklustre begin to the season with most areas struggling to open terrain because of predominantly heat and dry (or moist) climate. One of the best seems to be in components of the Rockies the place some centres have 70-80% of their slopes open and snow depths near a metre.

Austria

Circumstances are wonderful throughout most Austrian locations. The Arlberg area is in significantly fine condition with snow over 3 metres deep up excessive and greater than 95% of the terrain there’s open. It’s related in the entire nation’s huge areas – Saalbach Hinterglemm, the Skiwelt and certainly many of the smaller areas too. Kitzbuhel (pictured above at New 12 months) stories it has all 190km of its slopes open and each elevate working. There’s been some gentle snowfall over the previous few days and that’s anticipated to proceed by the weekend as temperatures drop earlier than skies clear subsequent week.

France

French ski areas have reported as much as a metre of snowfall this week, probably the most anyplace on this planet. On the similar time, Chamonix has reached a 4-metre base depth at Grands Montets, the deepest on this planet at current. So issues are wanting fairly good nearly in all places. A lot of the nation’s ski areas are 75-95% open, though Les Portes du Soliel has been having points with about 55% of its slopes open. Nonetheless ski areas there, Les Will get and Morzine, had been among the many resorts posting practically a metre of snowfall this week so it seems like extra shall be open right here too shortly, and in any case, 55% of their terrain is 325km of runs.

Italy

There’s been some recent snowfall for Italy this week and cooler temperatures too which have given a pleasant refresh to the slopes in some areas, nevertheless, snowfall stays beneath common at extra southerly and easterly Italian ski locations, however good, particularly above 1800m, within the north and west. Regardless of skinny cowl, extra slopes are open within the Dolomites nevertheless and the nation’s huge areas like Val Gardena, Cervinia and La Thuile-La Rosiere are working at 70-90% open. The By way of Lattea space which had solely about 40% of its slope open over Christmas week has opened up way more for New 12 months week, now nearer 70% of its 400km of runs obtainable.

Switzerland

It’s wanting good throughout Swiss ski slopes for the time being with snow depths very wholesome, recent snow falling, chilly temperatures and most resorts 90-99% open. The largest is the 4 Valleys round Verbier which stories nearly all of its 400km+ of slopes are open. Different huge areas like Zermatt-Cervinia and Samnaun-Ischgl even have 200km or extra of their runs skiable.  St Moritxz is pictured above.

Pyrenees

The Pyrenees proceed to wrestle with what have been principally heat and dry situations, however that stated snowfall is lastly forecast over the subsequent few days together with temperatures method down beneath freezing so hopefully a giant enchancment might be reported subsequent week. For now, Spain’s Baqueira Beret continues to publish probably the most terrain open – 11-0km of slopes, with the most important space Andorra’s Grandvalira (Soldeu/Pas de la Casa and many others) solely having about 80km/40% of its slopes obtainable. Elsewhere some centres on the Spanish facet solely have 10-20% of their runs open however on the French as much as 100%.

Scandinavia

Nice situations general in Scandinavia with most resorts now 90-100% open, the most important Sweden’s Are posting over 80km of slopes skiable. Nonetheless, the previous few days have seen a difficulty with temperatures dipping as little as  -25 to -30C making some extra uncovered lifts deemed too harmful to function which means skiers must get again indoors each hour or so to keep away from frostbite hazard.  Levi, above, was one of many colder ones.

Scotland

Scotland’s ski season is progressively enhancing and constant chilly climate helps. There’s not been loads of pure snowfall, significantly at decrease ranges, however it’s beginning to construct larger up and Cairngorm (above) is opening their M1 and White Girl slopes as we publish this week, the one catch is that you must hike as much as the elevate to entry the run, so it’s ‘for specialists solely’ at current. It and different areas have newbie slopes open and tickets for these are promoting out each day. Glenshee additionally has runs past the nursery slopes open although.

Jap Europe

Combined stories from Jap Europe, There have been some good 20-40cm snowfalls within the Czech and Slovak Republics the place huge areas like Jasna (above) had been already absolutely open, so it’s simply higher nonetheless there. In Bulgaria, heat climate has left brown slopes across the decrease pistes however there was some recent snowfall and colder temperatures right here too over the previous few days.

USA

It’s been one other principally dry, not-too-cold week throughout the US, sadly. There have been some snowfalls (after extra rain showers within the east) but it surely hasn’t made loads of distinction, though for many areas issues proceed to progressively enhance. Most areas have had lower than half of their common snowfall this season and are posting decrease bases within the inches moderately than the ft. Nearly all big-name resorts are open now however many have solely half their runs open, or much less.  Apart from up in Alaska, which is in fairly fine condition (though even right here one space closed this week blaming rain harm to the snowpack), one of the best situations are within the Rockies the place some resorts together with Utah’s Alta and Snowbird and Colorado’s Steamboat and Winter Park, are posting no less than 70% of their terrain open and among the greatest snow depths within the nation. There was some snowfall within the east, enhancing situations after the rain and Mammoth simply noticed probably the greatest snowfalls it’s had this winter, a couple of foot of snow, and is now as much as about 70% open.  Sadly although regardless of this although that is turning into one of many worst season begins in a few years for many components of the US. Copper Mountain above.

Canada

One more pretty dry week for Canada the place plenty of ski areas proceed to wrestle to open even half of their runs. Whistler Blackcomb is now as much as 60% and a few like Sunshine (pictured above this week), Solar Peaks and Panorama have 70-95% open, however many together with Large White, Jasper and others have solely 40% open and for Pink Mountain it’s solely 10%.  It’s not a lot better within the East the place ski areas are nonetheless battling the influence of rain and struggling to open a lot both. Constant chilly climate and an honest snowfall are badly wanted.

 

**** Up to date Friday, 29 December, 2023 ****

The place is Good to Ski Proper Now?

The final week of December has been a largely sunny one throughout a lot of Europe, with a storm blowing by the north to spice issues up somewhat. After some huge snowfalls within the Alps, heaviest in Austria, every week in the past, piste skiers have been having fun with nice situations within the Alps and up in Scandinavia the place nearly all resorts are open and most with 75-95% of their slopes groomed for the height Christmas and New 12 months weeks.

As at all times it’s not good in all places. The Pyrenees proceed to wrestle with heat temperatures and a scarcity of pure snowfall. Right here it’s extra like 10-40% of slopes open in most areas though some like France’s La Mongie have managed 100% and Baqueira Beret in Spain has 110km of slopes open regardless of every having solely a 30-50cm base. Scottish centres have additionally been storm-battered over the previous few days and simply have small areas of nursery slope created with all-weather snowmaking machines obtainable. It’s wanting good over in Scandinavia although the place there have been some huge snowfalls in Norway this week. Jap European resorts are in fairly fine condition though it has been somewhat heat down in Bulgaria.

Throughout the Atlantic, it stays a poor begin to the 23-24 season nearly in all places, probably due to the robust El Nino. That stated increasingly more terrain has opened and there’s been over a foot of snowfall reported in Colorado.

Austria

There have been some huge snowfalls in Austria over the previous week – among the largest for a number of years in actual fact. The Ziller Valley (above) noticed actually enormous snowfalls simply earlier than Christmas, with accumulations of as much as a metre in 24 hours reported. There have been additionally huge dumps for a lot of different resorts.  Consequently snow depth totals have jumped throughout Austria, significantly on larger slopes, with the Arlberg area now posting the deepest snow on this planet up excessive, at over 3.5 metres for Lech and St Anton. Because the snowfall final weekend, it has been a lot drier although and that’s set to proceed into subsequent week with the freezing level at round 1700m.

France

It’s been a principally sunny week in France after extra snowfall initially of final weekend. That’s given wonderful situations on the groomed runs, of which about 70-80% are open at huge areas like the three Valleys and Paradiski (Les Arcs/La Plagne) that are additionally posting among the deepest snow on this planet at over 3 metres (10 ft) up excessive. The forecast is for extra sunshine and heat temperatures in valleys for the approaching week into the New 12 months too. The one actual draw back is that the snow is melting in decrease conventional valley resorts like Morzine. To date not a giant drawback with pistes created all the way down to resort however it will be good to have decrease temperatures and recent snow to low elevations earlier than for much longer too.  Peisey Vallandry pictured.

Italy

Most of Italy has had a predominantly dry week with loads of sunshine and heat climate within the south. The dolomites are lengthy used to with the ability to open nearly all of their slopes with a skinny masking of predominantly machine-made snow and that’s the case now in resorts like Cortina d’Ampezzo which is posting most of its runs open however solely a foot of snow mendacity at most. On the opposite facet of the nation, the through Lattea/Milky Means has related depths however solely a couple of third of its 400km or so of slopes open.  It’s not the identical, the low snow depths, in all places although. La Thuile posts practically 3 metres up excessive, Cervinia 2 metres. There’s no huge change forward within the forecast though temperatures must be cooler and there’s an opportunity of some snowfall on New 12 months’s Eve. Val di Fassa pictured.

Switzerland

Swiss centres have been posting among the greatest stats in European snowboarding this week when it comes to the proportion of terrain open (many of the huge centres at 90-99%) and snow depths (as much as 3 metres). It’s been a sunny week right here additionally and the remainder of the snow is within the north and west with cowl thinner in areas just like the Jungfrau round Wengen, no less than on decrease slopes and Engadin round St Moritz, though each nonetheless have most of their slopes open. The approaching week has a extra unsettled climate sample which ought to imply recent snowfall. St Moritz pictured.

Pyrenees

It’s been one other difficult week for ski areas within the Pyrenees as Spain wraps up its warmest December on report. Most centres are actually open however smaller areas typically solely have 5-10% of their runs obtainable as far as they battle heat, dry climate. That stated the larger resorts principally have no less than 40% of their slopes open. That’s the case for the Grandvalira space of Andorra (Pas de la Casa, Soldeu and many others) with Spain’s Baqueira Beret nonetheless posting probably the most open – 70% of their terrain and about 110km of slopes. Sadly, there’s not loads of change within the forecast – persevering with principally dry however somewhat cooler.

Scandinavia

There have been some good snowfalls in Norway this week with some centres reporting as a lot as 60cm of recent snowfall in 24 hours. In any other case, issues look good for many resorts throughout the area. The large gamers like Sweden’s Are and Norway’s Trysil report slopes 80-90% open for the height season, though Hemsedal is simply ay 60%. Up within the far north the place the solar dropped beneath the horizon in mid-December, it’s because of re-emerge for the New 12 months on Monday (for instance at Levi, pictured above this week).

Scotland

Scotland’s season is underway at Cairngorm, The Lecht and Glenshee (pictured above this week) however to date it’s simply small areas of nursery slope created utilizing all-weather snowmaking machines moderately than any ‘correct’ ski runs. There was some snowfall this week and persistently low temperatures however actually much more is required earlier than resorts can begin to open full runs. Glencoe has a dry slope for skiers and a sledging slope with its all-weather snowmaking system. Nevis vary has nothing open but.

Jap Europe

A little bit of a north/south divide in jap Europe this week with extra snowfall and extra terrain opening at extra northerly centres in The Czech and Slovak Republics and Poland, and extra springlike climate at extra southerly resorts in Bulgaria and Romania. That stated the deepest reported snowpack, a couple of metre up excessive, is similar each north and south and so is the quantity of terrain with ski areas like Borovets in Bulgaria (above) and Jasna in Slovakia each now reporting that their slopes are nearly absolutely open. Bansko is pictured prime.

USA

Ski areas within the US are persevering with to endure a poor begin to the 23-24 season with most areas nonetheless hoping for an excellent snowfall to kick issues off. One of the best situations are reported within the Rockies, significantly Colorado, nevertheless, the place there was 1-2 ft of snow reported final weekend. Components of Utah are additionally doing OK. Snowbird is nearly absolutely open. However on the West Coast it’s an ongoing battle to open extra terrain regardless of some recent snowfall final week and within the east resorts do get snow however then see temperatures rise and rainfall wash away the snowpack. So colder, snowier climate is required nearly in all places within the US as we begin 2024.   Schweitzer in Idaho is pictured above.

Canada

Canadian ski areas are dealing with very related points to these south of the border within the US, with resorts in Quebec within the east of the nation pressured to shut by spells of torrential rain, whereas these within the west, together with the continent’s largest Whistler Blackcomb, struggling to open a lot terrain due to the nice and cozy temperatures there. One of the best of the situations are, as within the US to the south once more, within the Rockies, alongside the Alberta/BC state line. Right here resorts like Panorama and Sunshine (pictured above this week) are nearly absolutely open, regardless of not having a lot snow mendacity, most different centres are at 60-80% open, a lot better than the 40-50% for many areas on the East and West coasts.  The forecast is generally for chilly and dry climate throughout the nation into the beginning of 2024.

**** Up to date Friday, 22 December, 2023 ****

It’s starting to look rather a lot like Christmas internationally’s ski slopes, significantly within the Alps the place the snow is falling once more after a sunny begin to the week and base depths have reached 3 metres (10 ft) at some areas within the Alps. We’re on the shortest day which suggests extra daylight any more and we’re additionally about to begin the busiest fortnight of the season which suggests just about all ski areas are open and that they’re every aiming to open as a lot terrain as they will.

At the moment, that’s best within the Alps, the place there’s probably the most snow and up in Scandinavia. Some resorts in Jap Europe are about there too. Nonetheless the Pyrenees are in want of extra snowfall sadly and up in Scotland any snowfall in any respect could be useful – centres there are beginning to open however simply with small nursery slope areas courtesy of all-weather snowmaking machines.

Throughout in North America, difficult situations proceed, with issues really getting worse on the East Coast with torrential rain earlier this week quickly closing some centres.  Snowfall is badly wanted on the west coast too though there has now been some snowfall in California to barely enhance issues this week. The Rockies, significantly in Colorado and Utah in addition to up in Alberta and Jap BC appear to have one of the best of it there at current with some centres nearly absolutely open and some ft of snow mendacity.

Austria

After a sunny weekend and begin to this week it has turned colder and snowier once more over the previous few days with temperatures again beneath freezing day and night time proper all the way down to low ranges, so an excellent run-up to the Christmas weekend. Snow depths on Austrian slopes are already wanting more healthy than they did all final season too, so to date so good. Most Austrian areas now have most of their terrain open with the Alberg (St Anton, Lech), Skiwelt (Soll, Ellmau, Westendorf and others) and Ischgl/Samnaun all reporting over 200km of slopes open every this week.  Saalbach pictured above.

France

It has been a principally sunny week within the French Alps after final week’s rain after which snow, with skiers and riders fortunate sufficient to be on the market reporting superb situations already. The nation is reporting the world’s deepest snow (Round 3 metres at La Rosiere and Flaine) and the most important areas open, together with the most important of all of them, the three Valleys, nearing 500km open to date and maybe going for much more for Christmas week. A snowy weekend is forecast then a sunny Christmas week with temperatures warming somewhat in valleys.  Risoul, now open for the season after a delay because of flooding, has now opened and pictured above.

Italy

It’s been a reasonably uneventful week in Italy with loads of sunshine, though some snowfall is arriving as we publish this week’s report. Nonetheless, the ski racing world’s consideration has been on the nation with a number of stops on the lads’s tour staged right here this week. Cervinia is posting probably the most terrain open within the nation, though a few of that’s over the Swiss border in Zermatt, Passo Tonale’s neighbouring Presena Glacier the deepest snow and Val Gardena probably the most terrain wholly in Italy, 170km or about 95% of its slopes open already. It’s wanting sunny over Christmas and maybe somewhat hotter than we’d like down within the valleys.  The brand new cable automotive opens at Val Senales this week (pictured above)

Switzerland

Swiss ski centres had a principally dry and sunny week however snow clouds have now moved in and it’s wanting just like the nation might see among the largest snowfalls in Europe by Christmas Eve, some areas prone to get greater than half-a-metre of recent cowl. Circumstances are fairly good already with the 4 Valleys nearly absolutely open and the Zermatt-Cervinia space not far behind.  Rising numbers of Swiss resorts are reporting the snow already mendacity greater than 2.5 metres deep together with Laax and Saas Charge. So it’s wanting good and sunshine is anticipated to return subsequent week.  Glacier 3000 close to Gstaad pictured bove.

Pyrenees

Alas, its persevering with to be a moderately difficult begin to the season within the Pyrenees, with the very heat December temperatures persevering with, with valley highs nonetheless moving into double figures within the afternoons.  Smaller, decrease resorts are struggling to open in any respect, greater larger centres are open however with skinny cowl to date and restricted terrain. Spain’s Baqueira Beret has probably the most obtainable, over 100km of slopes, with the area’s largest centre, Andorra’s Grandvalira, incorporating Pas de la Casa, Soldeu and others, managing a couple of third of their runs to date. Connections between the completely different resort bases are all open however in some circumstances, it’s a elevate hyperlink, not but a piste one.

Scandinavia

Temperatures did make it a number of levels into constructive numbers earlier this week on decrease slopes at extra southerly Scandinavian centres with sunny skies too (for these not presently in a interval of everlasting Polar night time), however the latter half of the week has seen extra cloud, snow showers and temps again down within the -20s in a single day for a lot of.  Norway’s Trysil and Sweden’s Åre are presently posting probably the most terrain open within the nation.  Finlaand’s Levi above.

Scotland

Scotland’s season is getting underway with Cairngorm (pictured above final week) opening a small space of snow slope for freshmen due to their all-weather snowmaking machines. The Lecht may also be opening a  small nursery slope space from Saturday. Neither would have been capable of open with out their TechnoAlpin SnowFactoy machines because the week began heat, moist and windy, though it has now acquired rather a lot colder with some snowfall, however there’s not a lot snow left for the recent snow to fall on. Glenshee had aimed to open on Wednesday however was delayed because it was too heat even for all-weather machine-made snow. Glencoe was already open with a toboggan slope and the Lecht has stated they wish to open a terrain park with their all-weather snowmaker subsequent week. So solely Nevis Vary is reliant on the pure stuff and never but open.

Jap Europe

Bulgaria’s ski season kicked off final weekend with nice recent snow falling with good timing after a heat, dry spell. Extra snowfall has led to extra terrain opening with Borovets (pictured prime) already practically 100% open, and Bansko (pictured above) with greater than half of its slopes skiable. Jasna in Slovakia, the biggest space within the northeast, seems to have higher situations with about 75% of its terrain open and snow depths of as much as a metre reported.

USA

Sadly, there’s been little enchancment in situations within the US the place most ski areas are having a poor begin to the season. The exception is Alaska up within the far northwest the place there was a number of metres of snowfall, and the Rockies which have had a number of ft and situations aren’t too unhealthy in any respect with resorts like Alta, Snowbird, Vail and Aspen reporting some recent snowfall and most of their terrain open, so not far off regular operations. On the West Coast, it stays dry in California the place centres are nonetheless battling to achieve half their runs open, most not there but and on the East, there was torrential rain earlier this week quickly closing most centres.

Canada

Canada has had one other principally dry week, sadly, and ski areas on each the West and East coasts are struggling moderately with a scarcity of the white stuff. In Quebec, the issues had been exacerbated by heat temperatures and rain to begin this week, which closed a lot of centres. Over within the West, there’s simply not that a lot terrain open nonetheless at North America’s largest ski space, Whistler Blackcomb. There have been some respectable dumps additional east in BC and over the provincial border in Alberta, Resorts like Fernie, Panorama and Lake Louise reporting round a metre of snow on their larger slopes and most of their terrain is open. Sunshine, pictured prime this week, has lifts working.

**** Up to date |Sunday, 17 December, 2023 ****

The place is Good to Ski Proper Now?

It’s time to carry our nerves within the Alps the place, after some nice snowfalls by November and early December, issues turned heat and moist to about 2,000m altitude final weekend and remained so for a number of days. Not an excessive amount of harm was executed earlier than temperatures dipped once more and it really saved snowing up excessive all through but it surely seems prefer to climate rollercoaster isn’t over but with extra heat climate for decrease elevations subsequent week, though this time it ought to keep sunny for many. Maybe that is the brand new regular?

Elsewhere in Europe Bulgaria’s ski season begins this weekend, with restricted terrain initially, its remained very chilly up in Scandinavia and resorts are struggling to open a lot terrain but within the Pyrenees whereas they await colder temperatures and an excellent snowfall, although the massive centres and manging to open quite a bit.

Throughout the Atlantic The Rockies proceed to see some good snowfalls and there’s been extra snow within the East too, however on the West Coast it stays difficult because of heat, dry climate.

Austria

Regardless of warming temperatures earlier this week and a few tawing on decrease slopes, situations in Austria proceed to be a lot better than they had been a yr in the past with some wholesome snow depths o larger slopes, nonetheless 30-60cm of snow in valleys and many of the nation’s resorts reporting 60-80% of their slopes open already.  Ischgl, with the cross-border space linked to Samnaun, nonetheless has probably the most terrain open, about 200km of slopes, however different huge areas just like the Skiwelt and Arlberg aren’t far behind.  Sunny climate and hotter temperatures are anticipated for the subsequent few days in most areas.  The Kaunertal Glacier is pictured above.

France

A  little bit of a combined week within the French Alps with temperatures climbing and rainfall to fairly excessive ranges earlier within the week. Nonetheless it then cooled down midweek and we noticed extra snowfall earlier than `skies cleared and sunshine returned to many areas to finish the week. Oh and there have been robust winds at instances so as to add to the combination!  Regardless of this snow situations stay good in most areas after the massive snowfalls of December and early November  with base depths very wholesome for this early within the season. The final of the massive French resorts that hadn’t but opened for 23-24, together with Les Arcs, open his weekend.  Les Menuires, pictured prime, was one other new opener.

Italy

Most Italian ski resorts and about half of Italy’s ski slopes are actually open highlighting that the proportion of runs open to date is about 50% on common. There’s a wide array inside that common although, with Val Gardena having 95% of its slopes open, probably the most for a single vacation spot within the nation, over 170km in complete. There’s been the identical vary of climate situations right here and it’s wanting somewhat heat for the week forward however base depths of as much as 2.5m (at Passo Tonale) ought to imply this isn’t too huge an issue and snow has been topping up the duvet within the chilly spells, Livigno reported 50cm snowfall within the earlier 24 hours on Thursday.  Kronplatz is pictured above.

Switzerland

Swiss resorts have additionally seen heat temperatures and a few snow loss at decrease elevations, Crans Montana, for instance, stories kits decrease slope base depth down from a metre to 60cm. At this stage although the snow that constructed up by November has been loads to see resorts by and there was extra snowfall, heavier at altitude, within the latter half of this week. Consequently Saas Charge is the second resort in Europe, after Chamonix, to publish a 3m base on its highest slopes.

Pyrenees

Circumstances proceed to be a bit difficult for ski centres in Andorra, Spain and the French Pyrenees with a lot of smaller centres nonetheless unable to open after the warmest December temperatures on report in Spain. Some recent snowfall has been reported although and many of the main resorts are open and opening extra terrain. Spain’s largest, Baqueira Beret, could have over 100km of slopes, greater than half of its terrain, open this weekend the say.  Grandvalira in Andorra has opened all connections and has greater than 70km of slopes open.

Scandinavia

It has been one other chilly (-10 to -30C) week in Scandinavia however with out a lot recent snowfall. The large resorts like Norway’s Hemsedal and Trysil and Sweden’s Are and Salen proceed opening increasingly more terrain forward of the busy Christmas weeks, aided y snowmaking techniques. Up within the far north, resorts like Levi and Ruka in Finland have entered a 3 week interval of Polar Night time when the solar doesn’t seem above the horizon. The slopes are floodlit although (with multi-coloured lights in Ruka – pictured above) so it’s a pleasant surreal environment for skiers. The solar shall be again within the New 12 months!

Scotland

 

Scotland’s ski season will certainly begin subsequent weekend, if not sooner, with Cairngorm (above) asserting they may provide no less than a small newbie space due to their all-weather SnowFactory snowmaking machine. Hopefully although they’ll be capable to provide extra, as will the opposite Scottish centres which additionally plan to function for Christmas week, Glenshee the primary to call a date – from this Wednesday. Snow has been falling, it’s only a query of whether or not there’s sufficient pure stuff but.

Jap Europe

Bulgaria’s 23-24 season acquired underway on Friday with the entire nation’s prime centres opening. It’s ‘early season situations’ with Borovets apologising for the restricted quantity of terrain the had been capable of open on day one. there was although, heavy snowfall for the opening weekend, elevating sprits significantly. Elsewhere most resorts are actually open in different nations like Romania (Poiana Brasov),  the Czech Republic (Spindleruv Mlyn) and Slovakia. Right here Jasna has probably the most terrain open and deepest snow (as much as a metre) to date within the area.  Serbia’s Kopaonik pictured above.

USA

Circumstances proceed to enhance throughout a lot of the US after low snowfall in November to begin the season.  The Rockies have seen among the greatest situations with a number of ft extra snowfall within the final seven days. Snowbird in Utah has opened their Mineral Basin terrain and different centres in Colorado and Utah have increasingly more runs open whereas Jackson Gap has gone by the 125” season snowfall complete already. Circumstances stay difficult on the West Coast the place there’s been little pure snowfall and what’s open is generally due to snowmaking. There’s been extra snowfall and a few powder days within the East although.  Snowbird is pictured above, Telluride prime.

Canada

The  Canadian  Rockies proceed to publish the nation’s greatest situations with bases now reaching the metre mark after  current snowfalls and centres together with Lake Louise (pictured above this week) and Fernie having most of their runs open – probably the most within the nation to date in actual fact with Whistler Blackcomb on the west nonetheless needing extra snowfall to have the ability to open extra terrain. Ski centres on the East Forged had been closed for a interval earlier within the week because of stormy, heat, moist climate however most have now reopened and are reporting recent snow cowl.

 

**** Up to date Friday, 8 December, 2023 ****

The place is Good to Ski Proper Now?

Winter is growing its maintain on the northern hemisphere’s ski areas with extra snowfalls reported throughout Europe, North America and Japan. There haven’t been any huge falls reported, however sometimes 1-2 ft has landed over the past seven days. Chamonix opened posting the deepest snow on this planet, the primary over 3m / 10 ft.

Sadly, the snow hasn’t simply floated down although. There have been gales reported at instances, low visibility from fog and low cloud and within the western Alps a quick interval of rain to excessive ranges. This principally led to short-term slope closure because of the winds or excessive avalanche hazard, however the French resort Risoul sadly suffered critical harm to its base from flash floods because it was within the eye of 1 storm.

Moreover that remoted incident although, increasingly more ski areas have opened for his or her 23-24 seasons and naturally many extra will begin this weekend. Andorra, Poland, Romania and Slovakia had been among the many nations the place the 23-24 season began final weekend.  Already open resorts are opening increasingly more terrain, we’ve seen the primary single space to supply 200km of slopes in 23-24 this week and once more this weekend will see greater nonetheless areas open.

Right here’s what’s occurring the place:

Austria

Round half of Austria’s ski areas have opened already and are posting wonderful snow situations within the giant half – particularly for this early in December and in comparison with final season. Obertauern, for instance, already has snow mendacity two metres deep from prime to backside of its slopes. All of Austria’s huge ski areas are open and for a lot of the previous week (because the one earlier than), the Ischgl-Samnaun space has dominated when it comes to terrain open with greater than 200km of slopes – probably the most on this planet till this weekend. The Arlberg (St Anton / Lech) held second place. It was a drier week for some time but it surely has stayed chilly and now the snow is falling once more so it’s persevering with to look good. Together with all the way down to low ranges at resorts like Kitzbuhel, above.

France

 

Regardless of a blip every week in the past which noticed a quick interval of heat, moist climate to excessive altitudes, leading to critical harm on the base of Risoul ski space due to ensuing flash floods, the massive image continues to be superb for early December within the French Alps. Extra resorts have been opening early and people who had deliberate to open, like Argentiere within the Chamonix Valley, report the snow already mendacity 3 metres (10 ft) deep up prime – nice information for the season forward.  The forecast seems good for tons extra snowfall over the week forward too.  Courchevel, which opened early final weekend is pictured prime, Chatel above.

Italy

It’s a giant week for Italian ski areas with the large Dolomiti Superski area absolutely opening all 12 sectors with over 300 lifts spinning and greater than 800 km (500 miles) of runs open, about two-thirds of its full space. Within the west of the nation, the Milky Means area can also be beginning operations on the Italian facet (Montgenevre on the French facet opened final weekend) with the snowboarding at Sestriere beginning. General it’s wanting nice for the primary half of December, partly evidenced by how a lot is open already.  The Presena Glacier above Passo Tonale stories the nation’s deepest snow with 2.5m mendacity.

Switzerland

The snowy begin to Switzerland’s season continues with extra snowfall reported and extra snow forecast by the approaching week as temperatures keep low. Gstaad’s Glacier 3000 has the nation’s deepest snow at 2.2m. The Samnaun/Ischgl cross-border ski space is the primary on this planet to supply over 200km of slopes open this season however one other cross border area Zermatt-Cervinia (above) is catching up quick with about 130km to date. Greater than a 3rd of Swiss centres are already open for winter 23-24 and that quantity is about to develop this weekend with many extra because of be a part of them.

Pyrenees

The ski season is getting underway within the Pyrenees. Spain’s Baqueira Beret is posting probably the most runs open to date – about 65km, with Andorra’s Grandvalira (above), which opened initially of this week, at round 40km initially. There’s not loads of snow there but and resorts have been battling with heat temperatures, significantly at their bases, however then temperatures are dropping effectively beneath freezing in a single day so the in depth snowmaking techniques can work at max. Resorts have begun opening on the French facet too.

Scandinavia

It continues to be  nice begin to the 23-24 season in Scandinavia the place most centres are actually open and lots of have been open a month already now, for Finland’s Levi and Ruka (pictured above) it’s two months. Gentle snowfall has saved falling and continues to build up and keep in nice form tanks to the low temperatures – all the way down to -20C at instances. It’s additionally getting darkish across the clock at extra northerly latitudes so most snowboarding is underneath floodlights. All the huge resorts together with Sweden’s Are and Norway’s Hemsedal are open and including growing terrain availability each day.

Scotland

Scotland has seen temperatures rise somewhat from the double digits beneath freezing initially of this week, nevertheless, they continue to be near releasing and the air has extra moisture in it with the airflow coming off the Atlantic moderately than down from drier areas to the northeast. So Scottish centres have reported snow beginning to accumulate and fill within the hollows on larger slopes, fingers crossed, we simply want the temperature to remain beneath freezing and for extra to fall. Most centres purpose to open Christmas week, whether or not with pure snowfall and/or with their all-weather snowmaking machines. Glencoe’s machine is already supplying a tobogganing slope they usually’ve turned on the entry chairlift to assist tourers entry high-altitude snow.

Jap Europe

A swathe of ski centres have opened within the Carpathian Mountains throughout northeastern Europe over the past week, together with the most important, Slovakia’s Jasna in addition to Romania’s best-known, Poiana Brasov and Poland’s Zakopane. The Czech Republic’s Špindlerův Mlýn is one other with some runs open already. Jasna already has greater than half of its 45km of slopes open due to early snowfalls which have continued by the previous week. There’s been extra snowfall at Bansko (above) which opens the weekend after this.

USA

It has not but been a giant begin to the season within the US however nonetheless, many of the nation’s huge resorts have opened now and there have been some comparatively good snowfalls this week with most ski areas proper throughout the nation seeing no less than a foot of snow, extra like two ft within the Rockies That permit to Utah’s Snowbird closing briefly final weekend because of avalanche hazard whereas Jackson Gap has already reached the 100 inches (2.5 m) snowfall this season so far level.  Sunday River in Maine above.

Canada

There’s been an enchancment within the snow situations throughout Canada over the past seven days with recent snowfall reported within the East and West. Alberta has topped the recent snowfall desk with Sunshine at Banff posting about 60cm (two ft) of recent snowfall over the previous week and a few nice powder situations. Nonetheless, Whistler Blackcomb has probably the most terrain open within the nation with about 20% of its huge space open already.  On the East Coast centres are nonetheless battling heat, spells and rain showers however chilly and snow are progressively profitable it appears with extra centres opening in Ontario and Quebec and extra terrain obtainable at people who have already opened.

**** Up to date Sunday, 2 December, 2023 ****

It’s been a  barely up-and-down week for climate within the Alps however in most respects, the dream begin continues with nonetheless extra early base-building snowfalls. For full disclosure, the one actual ‘blip’ was a interval of rain to excessive altitude as temperatures abruptly spiked, however this seems to have been short-lived and really helped stabilise the snowpack.  Stormy climate additionally closed some centres at instances. The week forward seems predominantly chilly and continuously snowy once more. So it’s wanting good.

Exterior the Alps, the primary resorts have opened within the Czech and Slovak Republics however the begin of the season appears to have stalled barely within the Pyrenees.  Almost in all places has opened now in Scandinavia nevertheless.

Throughout the Atlantic, the season begin nonetheless lacks the massive snowfalls that marked the beginning of final winter 22-23, however there was extra snowfall and many of the continent’s well-known resorts are actually open, simply with out a lot terrain obtainable but …however then it’s simply the beginning of December.

Austria

A terrific week for Austria with chilly temperatures and snowfall all the way down to low ranges. Greater than 50 of the nation’s ski areas are actually open and people which have been open some time proceed to guide the world when it comes to terrain open. The Saalbach and Arlberg areas, together with Lech and St Anton, are among the many newest big-name centres to open this weekend. Kitzbuhel, Saalbach, The Arlberg, Obergurgl, Solden and Obertauern all have no less than 50km of slopes open, with Ischgl main the world with practically 200km of slopes open already.  12 months-round Hintertux has the best share of its runs open already, 52km of its 60km space.  Snow falling in Fieberbrunn this week above.

France

It’s principally excellent news from France, with nonetheless extra snowfall and extra resorts opening, however not fairly all good with a quick spell of rain as much as 2,800m altitude reported a number of days in the past. Nonetheless that’s really excellent news general, avalanche specialists report, as it should stabilise a snowpack that was moderately unstable off-piste because of the heavy snowfall and powerful winds at instances. Newly opened ski areas embody Alpe d’Huez, La Clusaz, Les 2 Alpes, Montgenevre and Chamonix Valley (Argentiere) – opening with over 3 metres of snow reported mendacity, probably the most on this planet for anyplace open so far. They be a part of Val Thorens (pictured above final week) and Tignes, already open a fortnight. The three Valleys has additionally had an early opening of a few of its different sectors.

Italy

Extra Italian centres have opened which means a couple of third of the nation’s resorts now have no less than some runs open. Nevertheless it’s been a combined week for climate with extra snowfall for many however some affected by dry, sunny situations, resulting in the short-term closure of some slopes at Madonna di Campiglio (though it appeared good when this image was taken above earlier final week). Val Gardena is a type of newly opened, a number of days forward of schedule, initially with only a few runs however planning to totally open from the center of subsequent week when it should have one of many largest areas open on this planet at current.

Switzerland

There’s been a giant bounce within the variety of Swiss areas opening for the season, so now greater than 50, or about half of the nation’s main centres have opened. Right here too it has been a combined week for climate with an general constructive image however with some spells of heat climate bringing rain to fairly excessive ranges in opposition to durations of snowfall all the way down to low ranges. This dynamic sample, which has additionally included robust winds at altitude has led to short-term elevate and slope closures at instances and a reasonable to excessive avalanche danger off-piste.  The Samnaun-Ischgl space has slightly below 200km of slopes open, probably the most within the nation so far, whereas Glacier 3000 has the deepest snow at 2.4 metres (8 ft) up prime.  Verbier, pictured above final week, has had practically a metre of recent snow however warns the avalanche hazard is excessive. Murren is pictured prime final week.

Pyrenees

There appears to be a little bit of a delay on the season kick-off in Andorra, with centres saying they’ll open initially of subsequent week – a key one on the Spanish facet of the mountains with a plethora of public holidays making resorts actually, actually wish to have slopes open to draw early-season in a single day stays. For now although, there’s not a lot change on every week in the past when Baqueira Beret opened the primary runs on the Spanish facet and Porte Puymorens the primary on the French facet. This weekend it’s Font Romeu open as an alternative on the French facet. Bases are skinny at this early level although, with simply 10-30cm of snow mendacity.  Circumstances are somewhat marginal nonetheless, with in a single day lows of -10C and a few snowfall however daytime highs of +10C and a few rain at instances.

Scandinavia

One other chilly week in Scandinavia the place the entire area’s huge resorts are actually open for the season, together with the biggest, Sweden’s Are and Salen, in addition to Norway’s Hemsedal and Trysil (pictured above final week) and Levi,  Ruka and Yllas up in Lapland the place we’re now early at 24-hours with out the solar arising above the horizon. Though we now have once more seen the minus 10s and even minus 20s, temperatures did climb up and ut even managed to sleet somewhat briefly early within the week at extra southerly places, however most have seen clear days with the odd gentle snow bathe. Consequently, most lonely have skinny bases and 10-20% of their terrain open to date.

Scotland

Scotland has loved a really chilly, typically snowy week, however there’s not but sufficient snowfall to open, regardless of one newspaper claiming centres had been opening early.  To be truthful all 5 centres have all-weather snowmaking techniques so might open a small quantity of terrain in the event that they wished, however most are saying they’ll purpose for Christmas week for that when demand is there. Glencoe has although acquired its entry chairlift working to take ski tourers as much as the snowline for some early season off-piste.

Jap Europe

The primary ski areas exterior the Alps, Pyrenees and Scandinavia have opened in Europe this weekend with centres within the Czech and Slovak Republics now open.  They embody Czechia’s Špindlerův Mlýn however the area’s largest resort, Jasna in Slovakia, stories probably the most terrain open, about half of its 45km of slopes,  and respectable snow cowl, significantly on larger slopes. It has been a snowy week with one other one forecast forward. Bulgaria’s ski season is about to kick off in the course of the month.

USA

Most of America’s main ski areas are actually open and a foot or so of snowfall has been reported each within the Rockies within the west and in New England within the East over the previous few days. Nevertheless it has been a combined bag with loads of dry and typically heat climate in addition to durations of low visibility, so it nonetheless seems like winter correct has probably not acquired underway. Most resorts nonetheless have skinny bases and restricted terrain open, though extra vital snowfall is now within the forecast.  Colorado’s Vail is reporting probably the most terrain open within the nation – however nonetheless solely about 10% of its full space. Alaska’s Alyeska has opened with the deepest snow in America as that’s the a part of the continent that did see loads of November snowfall.

Canada

Just like the US, Canada can also be nonetheless ready for a very good snowfall to get the season shifting however nonetheless, extra areas have been opening. Fernie has opened about 20% of its slopes on opening for the season and presently has probably the most terrain open within the nation.  Whistler is simply behind with about 10% of its slopes open. Circumstances stay difficult within the East with heat climate for December limiting snowmaking operations. These watching the ladies’s World Cup GS races at Tremblant on the weekend, sadly, noticed racers battle on springlike slush and mountain fog within the restricted open terrain.  The forecast is wanting good although with chilly, snowy climate anticipated for the week forward.  Cypress Mountain in BC pictured prime.

 

**** Up to date Saturday, 25 November, 2023 ****

The place is Good to Ski Proper Now?

We’re into triple figures for the variety of ski areas already open in Europe and North America and pre-season situations stay promising in most areas. There’s been extra snowfall to low ranges within the Alps and temperatures have remained principally low whereas over within the Pyrenees, new snow has allowed ski areas to begin opening right here for the season.

Extra resorts are actually open within the Dolomites too, the biggest opening with 50km of slopes open from day one. Over in North America, many of the continent’s huge resorts are actually open, together with the most important, Park Metropolis and Whistler Blackcomb. For US resorts many wished to be open for the present Thanksgiving vacation weekend. There’s been much less snowfall right here than within the Alps to date however reported falls of as much as a couple of foot extra snow within the Rockies have improved issues and it’s been chilly sufficient for snowmaking techniques to run at full pelt.

Austria

Austria, and significantly the Tirol area, continues to guide the world relating to the quantity of terrain open at its resorts to date. Ischgl jumped to the world’s primary spot with 112km of slopes open from day one when it opened on Thursday. It overtook Solden which had reached 100km of slopes open itself, the primary on this planet this season to get to triple figures. Close by Obergurgl is in third place with 70km open already.  Typically needing snowmaking to open its terrain in November, this yr Ischgl says it has had as much as 60cm (two ft) of pure snowfall, and there’s been extra falling throughout the nation all the way down to low ranges over the previous few days.  The Stubai Glacier pictured this week.

France

The French ski season was because of have begun this weekend at Tignes (elevate opening day at Tignes final weekend pictured above) and Val Thorens however due to the heavy snowfall within the French Alps within the first half of this month, is already every week outdated, after these two centres opened early. That stated dlown within the Pyrenees Porte Puymorens reported some ski slopes open this weekend. Most different French resorts plan to open over the primary three weekends of December with resorts like Chamonix, Montgenevre and Les 2 Alpes lined as much as open subsequent weekend. It has been one other week of principally promising climate within the French mountains with the snowline dropping once more with decrease temperatures and extra snowfall.

Italy

One other good very early season week in Italy with cool temperatures and a few recent snowfall and the variety of centres open right here is now up into double figures. Large identify centres already open embody Cortina d’Ampezzo, Madonna di Campiglio (above this week), Livigno and Kronplatz. The latter has opened with probably the most terrain open within the nation to date – 50km of slopes. Nonetheless, much less well-known Sulden has the deepest reported snow within the nation at 1.2 metres.

Switzerland

Switzerland now leads Europe when it comes to the variety of ski centres open, reaching nearly 20 ski areas with no less than some runs open this weekend. There are additionally extra runs obtainable at centres which are open, with Zermatt/Cervinia practically doubling up from 30km every week in the past to 60km this and the newly opened Corviglia space at St Moritz posing much more. Nonetheless, the Samnaun/Ischgl space has taken the highest spot with 120km (75 miles) of runs open this weekend. There’s increasingly more terrain open and in additional excellent news, temperatures have been very low, hardly getting above freezing, with extra snow falling too. Glacier 3000 is pictured above.

Pyrenees

The Pyrenees have had a constructive change within the climate for the reason that begin of this week with temperatures dropping and an honest quantity of recent snow falling too. Snowmaking techniques have additionally fired up with lots of the area’s bigger centres because of start opening for the season from subsequent weekend. Baqueira Beret (pictured above this week) introduced it was opening every week sooner than anticipated, this weekend, due to snowfall there.

Scandinavia

One other nice week for Scandinavian ski areas as temperatures seem to dip ever colder and daylight begin to disappear altogether, till January, up within the Arctic Circle. -25C has been noticed up in Levi and Ruka in Lapland that are already practically two months into their 23-24 seasons. The area’s big-name resorts together with Are (pictured above) and Salen in Sweden and Hemsedal, Trysil and Geilo in Norway are all open now too. There have been some good 20-40cm snowfalls reported by some Norwegian areas together with Roldal.

Scotland

Scotland has had barely hotter climate on some days over this previous week but in addition continued to see in a single day lows dipping effectively beneath freezing most nights on ski slopes. Not a lot recent pure snowfall to report this week however Glencoe has had a take a look at firing of its all-weather snowmaking system and stated it hopes to open sledging in a fortnight and its entry chairlift for ski tourers wanting a elevate up, initially of December.

Jap Europe

It continues to look promising for the beginning of the season for many ski centres in Jap Europe. Slovakia’s largest, Jasna, has been posting photographs of snow mendacity a foot deep on larger slopes (above) and Bansko, the most important in Bulgaria, has had extra snowfall too. Most Jap European centres purpose to open over the primary three weekends of December.

USA

An enhancing image within the US with resorts within the Rockies posting as much as a foot of snowfall initially of the week. Then midweek there was an honest dump on the East Coast too (Sugarloaf in Mazine pictured this week above). Each had been a lot wanted, particularly as resorts battled to open for the massive Thanksgiving vacation. Numerous the nation’s huge resorts are certainly now open proper throughout the nation.  Nonetheless, there’s nonetheless not a lot open at most resorts with most solely having a foot or much less of snow cowl and restricted terrain open to date.

Canada

The season is beginning to discover its rhythm in Western Canada with an honest 30-40cm dump in Alberta which Banff’s Norquay declared was “the snowfall we’ve been ready for”.  Lake Louise is pictured prime and above – about to open new terrain this weekend.  The nation and continent’s largest resort, Whistler Blackcomb, has began its season and stories about 10% of its huge terrain open to date. The season can also be getting underway within the east of the nation too, principally due to snowmaking however with some pure snow too. The largest space right here, Tremblant, has a number of runs open and one other huge participant Mont Ste Anne opens this weekend.

**** Up to date Saturday, 18 November, 2023 ****

The place is Good to Ski Proper Now?

The variety of ski areas open worldwide continues to develop quickly, passing the 60 mark this weekend, with a couple of 60%/40% cut up Europe to North America.  We’re set to achieve triple figures earlier than subsequent weekend.

A variety of ski areas within the alps are opening every week or extra sooner than deliberate with Crans Montana, Laax, Livigno, Madonna di Campiglio and Passo Tonale amongst these doing so this weekend.  So too did Tignes and Val Thorens, beginning the French ski season.

The Alps have seen extra snowfall, all the way down to low ranges in Austria over the previous few days, though there has additionally been thawing and rain on some decrease slopes after the massive falls within the first half of the month, fairly regular as issues settle all the way down to winter within the latter half of autumn. It has remained chilly up in Scandinavia the place huge identify resorts like Are and Trysil are actually open..

Over within the US it stays a combined image with extra East Coast resorts opening (together with Sunday River pictured prime) and the most important within the US, Park Metropolis (pictured above), however some together with Telluride have delayed opening because of too little snowfall there.

Austria

Austrian ski areas have seen among the greatest snowfall of the previous few days with Lech and St Anton each posting photographs of heavy snowfall all the way down to road stage on  Saturday. There are a couple of dozen ski areas open with Obergurgl the most recent non-glacier space to affix, opening with over 50km of runs open whereas its Otztal neighbour in Tirol, Solden, has jumped to over 90km of slopes open, up 50% on every week in the past and remaining probably the most on this planet at current. In truth there two have probably the most open on the planet at current, adopted by two extra Tirol areas, Hintertux and Stubai, every with practically 40km open. They’re maybe all getting ready for subsequent Thursday which sees Ischgl opening and its presently reporting nice snow situations forward of opening day. It usually manages to have over 100km of slopes open from day one, even in poor snow autumns.

France

The French ski season is because of get underway this weekend with each Tignes and Val Thorens (pictured above a number of days earlier than opening), which had deliberate to be the primary within the nation to open on the finish of subsequent week, bringing their opening dates ahead by every week after receiving greater than a metre of snowfall above 2,000m. The previous week has, sadly, seen a little bit of a set again as you would possibly count on for mid-November with some quick thawing on decrease slopes in addition to rain and gales at instances however Tignes nonetheless goals to open with 1300m of skiable vertical this weekend.

Italy

The selection of ski areas open in Italy has jumped this week with Livigno (above), Madonna di Campiglio and the Presena glacier by Passo Tonale all opening early and doubling the selection of resorts open already right here. The transfer follows greater than a metre of snowfall on larger slopes within the first half of November creating nice early-season situations on larger runs. Now you can additionally ski on the Italian facet of the border down from the glacier at Zermatt-Cervinia.

Switzerland

Swiss ski centres have seen one other week of snowfall, if not a lot because the earlier fortnight, however issues nonetheless stay good and greater than a dozen areas are open this weekend (18-19 November), probably the most for any single nation in Europe. Andermatt, Crans Montana, Grimentz and Laax had been among the many areas newly opening, becoming a member of the likes of Arosa, Davos, Engelberg, Gstaad, Murren, Saas Charge,  St Moritz and Zermatt.  Andermatt (pictured above) reported 80cm of recent snowfall mendacity for its opening day.

Pyrenees

There’s been some snowfall on larger slopes within the Pyrenees however no ski areas are identified to have opened for the season there but and most focusing on the primary weekend in December in a fortnight’s time.

Scandinavia

It continues to be very chilly in Scandinavia and daylight are dropping away shortly too with extra northerly areas because of begin a month or so with out the solar showing above the horizon in only a few weeks’ time. Large identify resorts together with Are in Sweden, which has the biggest ski space within the area in addition to Trysil in Norway are actually open, however not one of the dozen or so areas now open have a lot terrain obtainable but. Essentially the most, 7km of slopes, is on provide at Finland’s largest resort, Levi, the place temperatures have been all the way down to the -15 to -25C vary this week. It’s Lapland neighbour Ruka is pictured above.

Scotland

Scotland’s season is edging nearer with one other week of low temperatures and extra snowfall on larger peaks within the Highlands. Nowhere’s open but however centres have began to announce opening plans. Cairngorm say they’ll wait to Christmas week, by which era they hope the funicular, out of motion as soon as extra, shall be fastened. Glencoe will run their entry chairlift and begin making snow with their all-weather Snow-factory from the beginning of December.

Jap Europe

There’s been extra snowfall on excessive slopes in lots of mountain ranges of Jap Europe. It’s presently wanting significantly good at Slovakia’s largest resort, Jasna. There has additionally been snowfall reported for Bansko, the biggest resort in Bulgaria. Nonetheless most areas gained’t be aiming to open till early December or later, though that’s now only a fortnight away.

USA

The US ski season continues to come back to life however we’re but to see the massive snowfalls in both East or Western US that we’ve seen within the Alps and the final huge snowfalls (1 foot plus) had been recorded again in late October for many areas. As an alternative there’s been loads of sunshine, some rain and never a lot snow but. However resorts are opening with small quantities of terrain obtainable, together with the biggest, Park Metropolis, as Utah’s season will get underway. On the East coast extra centres have opened too, becoming a member of Killington, together with Maine’s largest Sugarloaf (pictured above this week) and Sunday River, each providing top-to-bottom runs.

Canada

There’s nonetheless not an entire lot open for the 23-24 season but in Canada, both within the variety of resorts or the quantity of terrain obtainable at these centres which are open, and we’re actually nonetheless ready a giant, extended, snowfall, however it’s a progressively enhancing image, particularly within the west the place about half a dozen resorts are actually open with Solar Peaks (above)the primary in BC to d so, pictured above, and because of be joined by the most important within the nation and North America, Whistler Blackcomb, in only a few days’ time.

 

**** Up to date Saturday, 11 November, 2023 ****

The place is Good to Ski Proper Now?

The principle snow information this week continues to be from the Alps the place some centres have reported one other 30-60cm of snowfall following related accumulations on the finish of final week, so a rising quantity have now had over a  metre of snow on excessive slopes and it’s wanting good for the beginning of the season. With that in thoughts, extra resorts together with huge names like Cortina d’Ambezzo, Davos, Kitzbuhel and Verbier have now opened for 23-24 whereas the primary French centres, Tignes and Val d’Isere will open subsequent weekend, every week sooner than initially deliberate, due to the snow. Scandinavia continues to look good too and there’s been extra snowfall, although nothing open but, in different mountain ranges.

Throughout the Atlantic the US there’s not been a lot recent snow however the nation has leapt to first place for many areas open, the primary to achieve double-figures for the 23-24 season. Seven of those are in Colorado the place Breckenridge and Vail simply opened. California’s season can also be underway with Mammoth among the many first to open solely 3 months after its 22-23 season resulted in August.

Austria

Austria will more than likely be the primary European nation to have 10 centres open subsequent weekend when Obergurgl (pictured above) is scheduled to open. It additionally has the ski areas with probably the most terrain open, topped by Solden, which has staged its winter opening this weekend and expanded its obtainable slopes past its glacier to 60km of runs – way over the lower than 10km many of the 40 or so areas open worldwide can provide. Hintertux and Stubai have the 2nd and third most on this planet with over 30km of runs open every.  Kitzbuhel and Schladming opened on the weekend becoming a member of the seven glacier areas already open..

France

The snow retains falling on the French Alps and to some extent, the Pyrenees with many resorts now posting over a metre gathered previously week above about 2,500m, however with snow all the way down to round 1,400m in locations. There stays nowhere open as but however Tignes has now damaged ranks and says it should open every week sooner than deliberate, subsequent weekend (18th) with snowboarding over 1300 vertical metres from day one, down from the glacier.

“Now we have snow all the way down to Croisette at 1800m and temperatures are low. This can be a nice begin to the season to date. There may be extra snow within the forecast for subsequent week alongside these cool air temperatures and we’re excited for our opening date of ninth December,” stated Marlene Giacometti, Les Menuires Vacationer Workplace Director.

Italy

Italian resorts have additionally seen loads extra snowfall in each the Alps within the west and the Dolomites. Cortina d’Ampezzo’s Col Galina space has opened becoming a member of already open Sulden. Madonna di Campiglio and the Presena Glacier are each anticipated to open early, subsequent weekend, and Cervinia (pictured above), which now supplies year-round entry to the glacier snowboarding above Zermatt and is presently on the world ski racing stage as successive weekends of World Cup downhill racing are underway there, has introduced that some runs on its facet of the border will open this week.

Christina Demetz from Val Gardena Vacationer Workplace feedback, ” Now we have winter storms hitting Val Gardena this week and already we now have 30cm of snow on the mountains. We’re because of open on the fifth December and this chilly climate and early snow is nice to see.”

Switzerland

Now we have as much as 9 ski areas open in Switzerland now, though about half of those are solely opening at weekends in November. Newly opened for 23-24 this weekend are Arosa (pictured prime), Davos and Verbier (pictured above) with Adelboden opening some cross-country tracks however not downhill runs. They be a part of already open Gstaad (Glacier 3000), Murren, St Moritz (Diavolezza Glacier), Saas Charge and Zermatt. All report nice situations due to considerable snowfall over the previous week. Davos has snowboarding accessed by the  Parsenn funicular railway is taking skiers and boarders as much as the ski space with the “Totalp”, “Speedy”, “Furka” and “Kreuzweg” lifts and their related pistes all open. The summit elevate can also be in operation for freeriders, with the East summit having no groomed piste.

Pyrenees

There’s been extra snowfall within the Pyrenees over the previous week, significantly on larger slopes, however there stays nowhere open as but.  Most centres plan to open on the primary weekend of December.

Scandinavia

Scandinavia’s ski season is actually beginning to take off with extra small centres opening throughout the area and large names like Are and Trysil set to open subsequent weekend. It’s additionally stayed chilly with extra snow falling. Levi in Lapland (above) is already into the second month of its season and has been staging World Cup racing this weekend with the primary ladies’s slalom races of winter.

Scotland

Scotland noticed chilly climate this week with in a single day lows all the way down to -8C within the Highlands. There was precipitation too however not on the similar time in order that’s been fain at low ranges. Nonetheless Glencoe (above, cam pic credit score Winter Highland) did hit the candy spot and noticed its slopes flip white all the way down to fairly low ranges, others noticed snow up excessive. Nowhere open but though the all-weather snowmaking techniques might actually be fired up as quickly because the centres like now.

Jap Europe

There’s nowhere open in Jap Europe but however early indicators are promising with extra snowfalls. Serbia’s Kopaonik was among the many newest to publish recent snow photographs on social media.

USA

A principally dry and sunny week throughout the US but it surely has been getting colder once more permitting snowmaking techniques to fireplace up and there have been some snow flurries. California’s ski season acquired underway on Friday after a  couple of inches of snowfall there with Mammoth (pictured above) and Mt Rose opening. Nonetheless Colorado is dominating with seven resorts already open, together with Breckenridge, Loveland and Vail which opened Friday, Copper would be the eighth on Monday. Dozens extra ski areas together with the biggest Park Metropolis in Utah, are scheduled to open later this week.

Canada

There’s been extra gentle snowfall in western Canada the place it’s a progressively enhancing image however there’s not an excessive amount of change on every week in the past. The third of Banff’s ‘Large 3’ ski areas, Sunshine, has opened becoming a member of Norquay and Lake Louise however Jasper’s Marmot Basin has delayed opening by every week. There are a handful of different areas open, every with only a few kilometres of runs to date, together with one small centre in Quebec within the east due to snowmaking.

**** Up to date Sunday, 5 November, 2023 ****

We’re again with our winter 23-24 stories and it’s nice to have the ability to report heavy snowfall within the Alps for the beginning of November. We’re seeing as much as 60cm (two ft) in 48 hours up on glaciers and snow falling proper all the way down to the valley flooring for the primary time this autumn. In opposition to that we now have to report one other heat, dry early half of the autumn means there’s misplaced floor to catch up, however there are actually greater than a dozen glacier areas open, most in Austria or Switzerland. It’s been extra persistently chilly and snowy for longer in Scandinavia the place half a dozen resorts are already open and there’s additionally snow falling, however no lifts spinning but, within the Pyrenees and in Jap Europe.

Throughout the pond North America’s 23-24 season is now underway with the primary half dozen areas open within the Rockies, each in Colorado and up in Alberta, Canada. A couple of centres have additionally used snowmaking to open in Vermont, Quebec and the Midwest for a complete of 10 resorts open to date, however that quantity is prone to double by subsequent weekend.

Austria

We’ve seen some heavy snowfalls in Austria over the previous few days, stepping up a change that started a couple of fortnight in the past now as temperatures dropped after a heat first half of autumn.  Glacier areas reported as much as 60cm of snowfall in simply 48 hours on the finish of the week and there was additionally the primary snowfall all the way down to valley flooring. Seven glacier resorts are already open, principally in Tirol and probably the most areas open on this planet at current. They embody Hintertux (above), Kaunertal, Pitztal, Solden and the Stubai, which have been open since October or earlier than and the Kitzsteinhorn above Kaprun and the Molltal which opened this weekend.

France

French ski resorts noticed snowfall all the way down to the valley flooring on the finish of final week with a wholesome masking of snow for resorts like Châtel (pictured above on Friday) and Megeve, up on excessive slopes there’s been a lot with the snow trying to be 20-50cm deep up above 2500m for resorts like Les arcs and Val d’Isere. However with Tignes deciding to not open till the tip of this month this yr, there stays nowhere open in France. Val Thorens and Chamonix additionally plan to open within the last days of November.

Italy

The Sulden ski space (above on Friday) opens on Monday, sixth November, and from webcam photographs is in fine condition for the season forward.  Italy has additionally had loads of snowfall on larger slopes over the previous few days, with Livigno reporting 50cm there. It’s also possible to entry the glacier snowboarding above Zermatt from Cervini and the 2 resorts shall be internet hosting the primary cross-border FIS World Cup Downhill races over the approaching two weekends, climate allowing.

Switzerland

Swiss centres have seen some huge snowfalls over the previous week, a lot in order that the Glacier 3000 ski space close to Gstaad introduced it was delaying its deliberate season opening on Sunday till subsequent Friday by which era it hopes to have absolutely prepped the slopes and dug out after a number of ft of snowfall. Nonetheless, Mürren did handle to open some runs on the Schilthorn, becoming a member of already open Saas Charge, Zermatt and St Moritz (Diavolezza Glacier). Verbier says it should announce its season begin imminently and has been prepping its slopes with groomers after the recent snow, the primary runs above Davos are additionally anticipated to open subsequent weekend.

Pyrenees

The ski season within the Pyrenees doesn’t normally begin till the ultimate weekend of November with Andorra’s ski areas focusing on December 1st for opening day this winter. Nonetheless, we now have had snowfall on excessive slopes over the previous few days. For a lot of that is the second or third snowfall of the autumn so far, however for some the primary and all the way down to decrease elevations too. If it continues to be chilly with extra snow some areas might open early as has occurred previously November, however much more snow is required at this level.  Spain’s Baqueira Beret pictured above on Friday.

Scandinavia

Half a dozen ski areas are already open for the 23-24 season in Finland, Norway and Sweden.  The area has seen wintery situations over the previous month when it was a lot hotter within the Alps, and now northern areas are seeing snow showers and staying below-freezing days and nights. Open areas embody Kvitfjell in Norway and Idre Fjall in Sweden (above). Finland’s Levi and Ruka which used snow farming to open runs a month in the past are actually in full winter mode with pure snowfall turning the encompassing mountainscape from brown to white.

Scotland

Scotland’s ski areas noticed snowfall down as little as 300m above sea stage this week and subzero temperatures. There’s nowhere planning to open till early December however a number of centres might open earlier if there’s an excellent autumn snowfall.

Jap Europe

Most Jap European ski areas gained’t purpose to open till the very finish of this month or extra doubtless the beginning of December however there was some snowfall in the previous few days on larger slopes up within the Czech and Slovak Republics and additional east.

USA

The US ski season acquired underway within the last few days of October and extra ski areas are opening by the day. Colorado’s Arapahoe Basin (above), Eldora and Keystone have all opened and extra areas, together with Loveland, Breckenridge and Vail are anticipated to open within the coming week. The primary ski space on the West Coast, Mammoth, can also be anticipated to open solely three months after its 22-23 season ended final August. There are a number of centres open within the Midwest too. Killington opened on the weekend, the primary within the east. It has been a sunny interval within the west over the previous few days after huge snowfalls every week in the past. Within the East and Midwest, it’s snowmaking that has allowed centres to open due to a temperature drop though there was somewhat recent snowfall too.

Canada

Canada’s 23-24 season acquired underway on Thursday, however unexpectedly it was Mont St Sauveiur ski space in Quebec that opened a run due to snowmaking as temperatures dipped. The primary deliberate opening, Mt Norquay close to Banff, had already been introduced ahead from Saturday to Friday and it was joined by Lake Louise opening every week early, then Nakiska opened on Saturday (initially weekends solely), so we now have 4 Canadian ski areas open to date, with Jasper and a fifth Albertan ski space, Sunshine, anticipated to affix them later this week. They’re all opening as full winter situations dominate within the west of Canada due to a fast transition from fall to winter. There’s been some snow within the east too however right here there’s extra of a reliance on snowmaking.

 

**** Up to date Saturday, 22 April, 2023 ****

The place is Good to Ski Proper Now?

Round 95% of ski areas within the northern hemisphere have now closed and by Monday we’ll be at 97%, but it surely has saved snowing, no less than on larger slopes within the Alps, The Rockies and varied different mountain ranges around the globe.

The snowfall on excessive slopes within the Alps has been happening for a couple of fortnight now, with temperatures staying near freezing. Remarkably, for this far into Spring, bases are nonetheless growing, together with the deepest in Europe at Tignes, as much as 462cm now.  The season is over, or nearly in Jap Europe and the Pyrenees with all ski areas in Andorra, Bulgaria and Spain now closed.

In North America, it has been very heat within the east and most ski areas are closed, although half-a-dozen battle on. Within the west, the nice thaw, bringing with it fears of flooding, is underway and extra areas have closed, however dozens have prolonged their seasons into Might and there have been extra vital snow showers on larger slopes right here too.

Austria

It’s the ultimate week of the season for a few of Austria’s best-known resorts, together with Ischgl, Obertauern and Obergurgl – every aiming to remain open to Might 1st and clock up their common 5-month plus ski seasons. They’ve had extra recent snowfall on larger slopes within the final week so it must be an excellent last bash. The Arlberg area together with St Anton closes this weekend however half-dozen Austrian glacier areas will keep open into Might.  They embody the Kaunertal, open one other 5 weeks and pictured above with recent snow this week.

France

French resorts haven’t seen the snowfalls reported additional east within the final week, though a number of gentle showers have registered. However Tignes continues to publish the deepest base in Europe at over 4.5 metres (15 ft) up on its glaciers, and together with neighbouring Val d’Isere in addition to Val Thorens, has plans to remain open for an additional fortnight. Les 2 Alpes closes this weekend however plans to re-open in only a week’s time for 2 months of glacier snowboarding, which means there’ll be no finish to the French ski season subsequent month.  La Plagne is pictured above this week.

Italy

We’re all the way down to single figures for the variety of Italian ski centres nonetheless open for the 22-23 ski season, however the snow retains falling with ski areas within the Dolomites reporting snowfall to low ranges on Thursday/Friday (Val di Fassa pictured above) and high-altitude Italian slopes above 2,500m seeing a number of snowfalls this week. 5 Italian centres count on to remain open till Might 1st, or later, Cortina, the Presena Glacier above Passo Tonale and Livigno (which reported 26cm of snowfall within the earlier 24 hours on Friday morning) stay open each day with Macugnaga opening for weekends.  Cervinia would be the final space nonetheless open every week later.

Switzerland

The centre is after all winding down in Switzerland as in all places north of the equator and there are simply over a dozen Swiss ski areas open this weekend, a quantity which is able to halve as we enter Might in every week’s time. Davos and Verbier are among the many areas the place it’s closing weekend. As with the remainder of the Alps, we’ve seen recent snowfall on Swiss slopes above about 2,000m, with resorts like Zermatt posting as much as 30cm of recent in a 24-hour interval. Swiss resorts open to Might 1st embody Andermatt’s Gemsstock freeride space and Samnaun with its cross-border hyperlink to Ischgl. Then every week afterward the seventh, it’s Adelboden, the Diavolezza glacier close to St Moritz, Engelberg and Glacier 3000 close to Gstaad/Les Diablerets.  That may depart simply Zermatt aiming to maintain its glacier space, Europe’s highest, open all yr spherical. Murren, pictured above and open to the thirtieth April, has been internet hosting the Swatch Nines occasion.

Pyrenees

The ski season within the Pyrenees is kind of over. All of the ski areas in Andorra and Spain are believed to have ended their seasons, leaving Cauterets in France the one space nonetheless open – and its season finish is anticipated to be this coming Sunday.

Scandinavia

Scandinavia comes into its personal for spring snowboarding and whereas it has been a moderately hotter week than normal in many of the area’s ski areas, many of the huge resorts proceed to have nearly all their slopes open and most plan to remain open into Might. For Lapland Ruka (pictured above) and Levi will proceed every week into subsequent month and Sweden’s “Spring snowboarding capital” Riksgransen shall be open many of the month with 24-hour daylight arriving in simply over a fortnight’s time. Greater than half of the area’s ski areas stay open (its lower than 10% in most different nations), with the most important, Sweden’s Are, nonetheless having 90% of its slopes open.

Scotland

Scotland’s ski season ended final weekend when Cairngorm gave up on its previous couple of runs nonetheless open within the Ptarmigan basin. It had been the one centre with elevate=p-accessed in-bounds terrain open. Glencoe, then again, has been providing chairlift entry to ski-touring terrain exterior its borders. Even that high-altitude snow has suffered with every week of very heat, sunny climate within the Highlands. Subsequent week ought to see a return to winter with recent snowfall forecast.

Jap Europe

Most ski areas in Jap Europe have now closed, together with all centres in Bulgaria. Nonetheless a number of centres are planning to make it to the beginning of Might, together with Slovakia’s largest resort, Jasna, in addition to Kanin on the Slovenian/Italian border which is famed for its late-season spring snowboarding into Might.

USA

The US continues to see snow falling on excessive slopes within the Rockies and on the Pacific coast, though on the similar time, the spring thaw is gathering tempo with Utah declaring a state of emergency over flooding fears consequently. Extra ski areas have closed for the season however a number of dozen are staying open into Might due to the massive snowpack, mendacity sometimes double its regular thickness for late April. Solitude in Utah (pictured above) is a type of with a month of the season remaining there, having already simply made it to their longest season ever, passing the earlier report of 160 days on Thursday.

Canada

Canada’s season is winding down however right here too ski areas within the west have been reporting extra late-season snowfall up excessive. The continent’s largest, Whistler, has now closed Whistler Mountain for the season however will proceed snow sports activities on Blackcomb till twenty second Might, which is able to most likely be the final day of Canada’s 22-23 season, with Sunshine ski space close to Banff additionally planning to shut then Grouse Mountain, Mt Norquay and Marmot Basin at Jasper (pictured prime) all planning to remain open one other week to Might 1st and Lake Louise one other week after that  The season is kind of over within the East solely Sommet St Sauveur might maintain a terrain park open at weekends into Might, because it usually does. It’s Tremblant’s (pictured above) closing weekend this weekend.

**** Up to date Saturday, 15 April, 2023 ****

It’s been a remarkably snowy week on excessive slopes within the Alps with as much as three ft (90cm) of snowfall over the latter half of this week and actual midwinter situations. In fact, all of the snowfall is arriving simply as most ski areas have already closed for the season, or will after this Sunday. However for these nonetheless working their larger terrain, and there are nonetheless tons of of resorts open, it’s been a implausible late-season bonus.  There’s been recent snowfall in Scandinavia too, the place most resorts are nonetheless open, and in Scotland, the place sadly they’re not, for snowboarding no less than. Additional south a number of snow flurries up excessive for the ultimate few areas nonetheless open within the Balkans and Pyrenees.

Over in North America, it’s feeling springlike throughout the continent though there’s been some snowfall reported, lighter than it has been for the previous six months, within the Rockies. Right here too many ski areas have closed or shall be closed this coming Monday. However extra ski areas have been extending their seasons later into Might too.

Austria

It’s barely ironic that prime slopes within the Austrian Alps have seen among the snowiest climate of the season to date simply as many of the nation’s ski areas have closed for the season. It’s excellent news too although for these centres which are planning to remain open into Might or past although after all.  Solden, which has been posting the nation’s deepest snow for greater than six months now has over 3 metres./10 ft mendacity after receiving greater than two ft (60cm) of snow up above 3,000m over the previous 72 hours.  The Molltal glacier, open to late Might, posted an identical snowfall complete however was closed Friday because of robust winds.  The year-round Hintertux glacier topped the snowfall desk although with practically a metre of snowfall since Tuesday on its highest runs.  Lech is pictured prime this week.

France

It’s been a snowy week on larger French slopes simply as extra resorts wind down their seasons.  Initially, la Clusaz was posting probably the most snowfall with 30-40cm on its larger slopes simply because it closed most down after the easter weekend, leaving the principle Balme space open.  However the Chamonix Valley then posted a barely larger 50cm complete for its highest runs, finally overtaken by Les 2 Alpes with practically 60cm (2 ft) up above 3,000m altitude over 72 hours. The chilly and snowy climate is constant by the weekend and appears to be excellent news for these booked to ski areas open into Might like Tignes (pictured above this week) , Val d’Isere and Val Thorens.

Italy

Most of Italy’s ski areas have now closed with extra becoming a member of them this weekend, however like the remainder of the Alps, and in Italy’s case the Dolomites too, there’s been recent snowfall on the nation’s slopes over the previous few days – whether or not they’re nonetheless open or not.  The nation’s deepest base has gone over 3 metres – 10 ft, for the primary time this season due to the snowfall at La Thuile on the French border. It’s open for another week. The Cervinia-Zermatt ski space, which stays open for the primary week of Might, is posting probably the most still-open terrain within the nation although, albeit with some in Switzerland – round 130km (80 miles) of slopes.  Val di Fassa is pictured above on Friday.

Switzerland

Swiss centres have seen their share of snowfall too, simply as extra resorts there finish their 22-23 seasons. Engelberg, which frequently has one of many deepest snowpacks within the Alps though not this yr, has seen one in every of its largest snowfalls of the yr up on its Titlis glacier, getting greater than 60cm (2 ft) of snow. It’s open effectively into Might.  Davos (pictured above on April 14th), one other ski space with excessive slopes and an extended season, has had greater than 45cm (18”).

Pyrenees

We’re down to only three ski areas nonetheless open within the Pyrenees and that quantity will most likely drop to only one from Monday.  The largest – Andorra’s Grandvalira is amongst these into their last weekend, each with much-reduced terrain left open, Grandvalira having closed its Soldeu-El Tarter sector final weekend. It has really been colder this final week with snow reported on the best slopes. The one centre presently anticipated to remain open subsequent week is Cauterets, on the French facet of the ski space.

Scandinavia

Scandinavia continues to face out because the vacation spot the place most ski areas stay open, and generally absolutely open. The biggest centre in Scandinavia, Sweden’s Are, stays 90% open and Norway’s Trysil reported 30cm (A foot) of recent snowfall on Thursday.  Hemsedal is pictured above.

Scotland

Scotland’s ski slopes have turned white over the previous few days with some chilly in a single day temperatures and recent snow. It’s not sufficient for terrain to reopen, and the approaching week is about to be heat and sunny, however Nevis Vary (pictured above on Friday) and Glencoe each supplied sledging and the latter additionally highlighted their entry to refreshed high-altitude ski touring terrain through chairlift. The one runs nonetheless open are a few trails on comfortable snow within the Ptarmigan Bowl above Cairngorm close to Aviemore.

Jap Europe

It’s the ultimate weekend of the season for many ski areas within the Balkans which are nonetheless open, with the most important, Bansko (pictured above on Friday), closing after Sunday. Additional north within the Czech and Slovak Republics, some centres plan to proceed for an additional week or so, with that plan boosted by chilly temperatures and recent snowfall.  Jasna has introduced that it intends to remain open till Might 1st and nonetheless has practically half its runs open and an almost 2m base up prime.

USA

Spring has sprung within the US and there’s been loads of sunshine and heat climate proper throughout the nation and far much less snowfall. The massive snowpacks which have constructed up within the west by 5 months of snowfall are lastly beginning to diminish. On the similar time, increasingly more centres have been ending their common seasons. Some although have introduced they’re staying open longer.  The nation’s largest ski space, Park  Metropolis, now says it should keep open till 1st Might, making it the fourth Utah ski space to remain open till subsequent month and becoming a member of 5 in Colorado additionally planning to make it into Might together with a dozen or so extra throughout different western US states.   Cannon, within the East, the place temperatures are reported to have been reaching 80F, is pictured above.

Canada

About half of Canada’s ski areas are closed with extra closing after Sunday but it surely has saved snowing with resorts within the Canadian Rockies posting as much as 15cm (5″) of recent snowfall previously few days. Ski areas together with Sunshine (above), Marmot Basin, Lake Louise and Whistler are all staying open into Might. Over within the East, it’s been getting hotter however some centres are nonetheless open utilizing their diminishing snowpack as a base. Massif du Sud stories it nonetheless has 100% of its terrain open for its last weekend.

**** Up to date Saturday, 8 April, 2023 ****

We might have reached Easter weekend however Mom Nature doesn’t appear to wish to let up on winter, in some circumstances maybe realising she dropped the ball when it was imagined to be wintery …again in wintertime and now attempting to cram the chilly and snow into April. It’s clearly excellent news for nonetheless open centres and people skiers and boarders fortunate sufficient to be on the market for Easter week.

It’s snowing once more on larger slopes for the third weekend in a row within the Alps, additional enhancing situations at centres nonetheless open, significantly up excessive. It’s been snowing once more too in North America, the place some resorts would really prefer it to cease to allow them to simply get pleasure from a number of weeks with out having to as soon as once more dig our lifts and make slopes avalanche-safe and really get to get pleasure from all of it earlier than closing day. Extra have been extending their seasons later into April and even Might to extend the prospect of that.

Elsewhere it’s a bit hotter in Scandinavia however situations are nonetheless good with lengthy daylight now.  Jap Europe has had recent snowfall this week. The Pyrenees have too however there’s a particular end-of-the-season really feel there and in Scotland, sadly, nearly every thing is now closed.

General most ski areas shall be closed after the easter week concludes however a number of hundred shall be persevering with on into the latter half of April and a few past.

Austria

It’s a chilly and infrequently snowy weekend within the Austrian Alps, with many ski areas reporting 5-10cm of recent snowfall on their larger slopes to begin the Easter weekend. Most shall be closing both from Monday or on the finish of this week however a number of dozen centres with larger altitude slopes together with glacier centres will keep open into the latter half of April and even into Might. Amongst them are Ischgl and St Anton, every open to Might 1st, which nonetheless each have tons of of kilometres of slopes open for the ultimate weeks of the season. Kitzbuhel is pictured above.

France

It’s a chilly and snowy weekend within the French Alps too, with plenty of centres posting some good 5-15cm recent snow top-ups for his or her larger slopes on Good Friday, completely timed. A lot of the main French centres stay open with most nonetheless having 70-90% of their terrain open, however they’ll start closing over the subsequent few weekends, the final Tignes, Val d’Isere and Val Thorens in early Might, though Les 2 Alpes presently plans to re-open for summer season snowboarding in Might and June after a quick closure on the finish of April. French resorts proceed to publish the deepest snow in Europe with Les Arcs and Tignes each with snow mendacity greater than  4 metres deep on larger runs.  Snow falling at Chamonix in France on Friday is pictured above.

Italy

Italy noticed some snowfall on the finish of the week too, with as much as 15cm reported within the northwest, nearer to 5cm within the dolomites, however in all places seeing one thing. The subsequent few days shall be sunnier however stay pretty chilly, particularly above 2,000m.  Many Italian areas will shut both on Easter Monday or on the finish of the approaching week, however a quantity plan to remain open into Might together with Cervinia and Passo Tonale.  Val di Fassa above,

Switzerland

Swiss ski areas noticed a snowy begin to the weekend as effectively, with loads of recent snowfall throughout the nation, as soon as once more heaviest within the west and on larger slopes Gstaad’s native Glacier 3000 space (pictured above on Saturday) and one other glacier at Saas-Charge each reported 7cm accumulations forward of the weekend, for many different areas with slopes above 2000m it was simply an inch or two. About half of the Swiss areas, principally low-lying in comparison with the big-name areas, have already closed and right here too many extra will shut after the easter weekend or the tip of the approaching week. However resorts together with Andermatt, Zermatt and St Moritz could have no less than some terrain open into Might.

Pyrenees

There’s a particular end-of-the-season really feel within the Pyrenees with most ski areas because of shut after the Easter weekend. Baqueira Beret (pictured above), the biggest in Spain, has a 20-60cm base and a couple of third of its terrain, principally the best runs after all, continues to be open and it’s an identical story at different areas which are nonetheless working. Circumstances did enhance somewhat with a recent snowfall on larger slopes earlier this week.

Scandinavia

The previous few days have been predominantly sunny and dry throughout Scandinavia. It’s been somewhat hotter than it has been however with lengthy daylight now and the snow nonetheless in fine condition, situations are typically wonderful for the ultimate three or 4 weeks of the season. Most Scandinavian ski areas are nonetheless open, with all lifts and runs accessible and lots of count on to remain so till the beginning of Might. The approaching week seems like a change to extra wintery climate is coming with chilly and snowy climate forecast.  Roldal pictured above and prime.

Scotland

There’s little or no open for the Easter weekend in Scotland sadly. The Lecht and Glenshee had each hoped to make snow with their all-weather machines for some nursery or snow enjoyable slopes however have admitted defeat with temperatures too heat for it to be viable. Glencoe has chairlift entry to ski touring terrain whereas Nevis vary has hardly opened this season and is now in full mountain biking mode. So it’s simply Cairngorm above Aviemore, with simply a few runs nonetheless open on the time of writing.

Jap Europe

It’s been an excellent week for Bulgaria with ski areas reporting as much as 50cm of recent snowfall initially of the week on their larger slopes and temperatures cooler than they’ve been. For a lot of, the upcoming Easter weekend is the ultimate one of many season. Additional north there’s been snowfall extra not too long ago up within the northeast of Europe with the remaining areas nonetheless open in Slovakia (together with Jasna, above), the Czech Republic and Poland all reporting 5-20cm Good Friday snowfalls on larger slopes so once more issues are wanting good for what’s for many right here the ultimate weekend of the season too.

Canada

Nonetheless pretty good situations throughout Canada, the place most ski resorts are nonetheless open, no less than for Easter weekend. The principle challenge within the west this weekend is reported to be very robust winds which have raised avalanche hazard ranges and compelled resorts like Whistler to restrict the variety of lifts open.  Within the East of the nation, there’s been recent snow in Quebec but in addition some heat climate so it’s a combined image for snow high quality within the last few weeks of the season. Some centres together with Lake Louise, Sunshine, Whistler and Jasper’s Marmot Basin are open into Might.

USA

The distinctive snowfall within the Rockies exhibits no actual signal of ending at the same time as ski areas start to shut for the season. There’s been loads extra recent snowfall in Colorado and Utah over the past week, with some Utah centres posting over 5 ft of recent snow and Alta and Snowbird now each having had greater than 800″ (20 metres) of snowfall this winter, each at report ranges. However all of the snowfall continues to trigger sensible points with each closed for a number of days midweek because of excessive avalanche hazard.  Elsewhere the snow stays deep in California and alongside the West Coast and East Coast resorts have had extra recent snowfall up excessive, although rain at instances on decrease runs. Ski areas are actually closing throughout the nation however a  rising quantity have additionally introduced season extensions into Might.

 

**** Up to date Saturday, 8 April, 2023 ****

It’s April and we’re coming as much as Easter so it’s no shock that we’re seeing full springlike situations throughout the snowboarding world. Within the Alps, we had very delicate temperatures once more Midweek after snowfall to begin the week, but it surely’s now acquired chilly and snowy as soon as extra, with extra vital falls anticipated over the subsequent few days on larger slopes.

Springtime normally means heavier, wetter snow to larger elevations, nevertheless, is the norm and this yr is not any completely different in each the Alps and the Rockies. For decrease altitude centres it may well additionally imply the pure finish of the season and once more a few of these centres will shut this weekend, others after the Easter weekend and round 90% of resorts by the center of the month.

(Park Metropolis, 1 April)

It has saved snowing with extra snowfall data being damaged in Western North America nevertheless and whereas many centres will nonetheless shut with the snow mendacity deep and nonetheless falling over the subsequent few weekends, ever extra have prolonged their seasons to later this month, into Might or later within the spring and a few even into summer season.

Austria

The nice and cozy climate that has been plaguing Austrian ski areas for a lot of March was lastly banished initially of this week when chilly climate arrived finally, temperatures getting all the way down to freezing proper all the way down to valley flooring and there was loads of recent snow to low elevations too. St Anton posted photos of snow mendacity fairly thick on resort streets whereas larger altitude slopes up on the nation’s glaciers posted 30-60cm (1-2 ft) of snowfall on larger slopes. That is all excellent news for the Easter fortnight, which may also see lots of the nation’s ski areas closing this weekend or subsequent. Centres with larger runs like Ischgl and St Anton will then come into their very own for the remainder of April, together with the Austrian glacier resorts.

France

Some nice snowfalls for French ski areas this week, the heaviest on Sunday-Monday when temperatures additionally dropped all the way down to freezing proper all the way down to low valley flooring. The bottom at Tignes, the deepest in Europe, has handed 4.5 metres, and Les Arcs has posted a metre enhance in its higher slope base depth in simply over every week. It’s one in every of a quantity posting 3m+ higher slope base depths and so wanting good for the ultimate weeks of the season. After the midwinter situations to begin the week temperatures did rise and the low-lying areas which have been struggling all season simply acquired a quick respite, however it’s now cooler and snowier once more with extra huge snowfall totals forecast for the approaching weekend.  Val d’Isere pictured on Saturday April 1 prime.

Italy

There’s heavy snowfall in Italy to begin April, no less than on the nation’s larger slopes and within the west of the nation. Cervinia posted photos of a full-on snowstorm on Saturday morning and La Thuile and Courmayeur each posted 25cm of recent snow on the similar time.  Decrease Italian areas have seen rain in current days and have begun closing however it’s chilly and snowy up excessive the place many of the huge locations resorts provide their snowboarding so it’s wanting good for easter for a lot of.

Switzerland

Swiss ski areas are seeing some huge snowfalls on their larger slopes. Saas Charge posted 70cm in 24 hours up excessive initially of the weekend, Crans Montana acquired 35cm. It was an identical story throughout the nation with temperatures dipping wat again down beneath freezing and extra snow forecast by the weekend and temperatures anticipated to stay low subsequent week.

Pyrenees

There was some snowfall on the weekend to finish the weeks of pretty continuous heat sunny climate, but it surely wasn’t actually sufficient to cease the relentless thaw and end-of-season feeling. The area’s largest space Grandvalira (Pas de la Casa, ​Soldeu -​El Tarter) stories lower than half of its terrain is now open for Easter and lots of smaller areas have closed for the 22-23 season.  Piau engaly in France says situations are nonetheless good up excessive (pictured)

Scandinavia

Issues are lastly turning extra springlike in Scandinavia with temperatures climbing to +5 or so at some resorts within the area, though in a single day lows on larger slopes are nonetheless getting all the way down to -10 to -20C. Circumstances are actually one of the best in Europe for the beginning of spring with most resorts nonetheless absolutely open and lots of planning to maintain working into Might.  Ruka is pictured prime.

Scotland

There’s not a lot open in Scotland for Easter alas. The previous week has seen some low temperatures and recent snowfall however, as has been the case since mid-January, heat durations too which have stopped a lot enchancment within the restricted areas obtainable. Essentially the most, however nonetheless not rather a lot, is at Cairngorm with Glenshee having a number of brief runs created with all-weather snowmaking (though this weekend they’re saying simply sledging on them). Glencoe has elevate entry to touring terrain however no in-bounds runs, Nevis vary stays closed to skiers and The Lecht says it should use its all-weather snowmaking machine to make snow for an Easter nursery slope.

Jap Europe

It’s been fairly a heat and sunny week within the Balkans after somewhat snowfall earlier on. The heat isn’t nice information for snow cowl all the way down to low elevations and Bansko’s dwelling run is reported closed at current. Additional north in Slovakia, there’s been some recent snowfall reported at Jasna the place every thing stays open. The forecast for Bulgaria is extra promising with temperatures dropping again in the direction of freezing and loads of snowfall forecast for the brand new week.

USA

Extra snowfall data have been handed within the western US over the previous week and ever extra centres, significantly on the West Coast or within the Rockies, have introduced prolonged ski seasons.  Mammoth has probably the most spectacular numbers, passing its earlier all-time seasonal snowfall so far earlier this week and reaching 700″ for the primary time in a season in its historical past. It was already posting the deepest base on this planet at over 8 metres and has prolonged its season no less than into July. The previous week has seen extra snowfall throughout the west with a number of resorts reporting a number of ft extra snow, but it surely has been getting hotter so the storms have had rain combined in and even up excessive the snow is getting heavier to ski, significantly later within the day. Extra resorts have begun closing for the season too.

Canada

One other typically good week throughout Canada with snow showers reported at ski areas on each the east and west sides of the nation. Tremblant in Quebec, the biggest within the East, says the 6.6 metres (22 ft) of snowfall it has had this season is probably the most it has ever recorded and it has prolonged its season by every week to April twenty third consequently. Most ski areas in Alberta and BC within the west are absolutely open though that is the time of yr when most go from absolutely open to closing weekend over the subsequent few weekends. Banff, Jasper and Whistler ski areas are staying open into Might although.

**** Up to date Saturday, 25 March, 2023 ****

It’s been a largely dry, sunny and as soon as once more heat week within the Alps. We’re coming as much as April and the Easter holidays after all, so it feels much less uncommon than it did earlier within the season. The heat signifies that snow cowl has been melting quick beneath about 1800 metres altitude and a rising variety of resorts are giving up on attempting to maintain slopes open all the way down to the valley. Up excessive although most ski areas are in fine condition and as that’s the place a lot of the terrain is for one of the best identified resorts and the added excellent news is that prime slopes are prone to get a number of ft extra snowfall over the subsequent few days.

Elsewhere in Europe situations are good in Scandinavia and never unhealthy in any respect in a lot of jap Europe, however sadly nearly all slopes are closed in Scotland now and there’s a battle for all however the largest centres to stay open within the Pyrenees as the nice and cozy temperatures take their toll.

Austria

Austrian ski areas have seen heat climate this week, impacting snow cowl on decrease slopes. We’re although into the ultimate fortnight of the season for lots of the nation’s decrease mendacity resorts. The nation will see cooler temperatures and snowfall over the subsequent few days, however decrease centres may even see rain and better maybe not a lot new snow as additional west. However larger resorts, well-known for his or her spring snowboarding, like Obertauern, Obergurgl and St Anton nonetheless have nice situations up excessive. The nation’s glacier resorts are additionally beginning to come into their very own, with Solden posting the nation’s deepest base.

France

There’s a better/decrease slopes divide in France with issues wanting more and more patchy beneath round 1800-2000 metres, however fairly god at larger elevations, which had some gentle recent snowfall earlier within the week and after a number of sunny days are actually being dumped on with as much as a metre extra snowfall anticipated above 3000m by Monday/Tuesday.  That may fall as rain among the time on these decrease slopes although, rushing the thaw.  Up excessive although France is posting the deepest bases within the Alps and by chance many of the huge ski areas like the three Valleys have most of their terrain up above 1800m.  Tignes pictured above.

Italy

The snowfall is arriving in Italy too, with western areas just like the Aosta Valley anticipated to see probably the most over the subsequent few days, then the snowfall persevering with east and arriving within the Dolomites on Sunday/Monday.  As with different nations within the area, the snowfall is anticipated to be heaviest within the west and on larger floor, with rain potential in valleys. La Thuile, linked over the French border to La Rosière is presently posting the deepest base in Italy at 2.6m and it appears that evidently would possibly get above 3 metres up excessive this weekend.  It additionally stories greater than 90% of its terrain nonetheless open.

Switzerland

Swiss centres have had the identical heat week as the remainder of the Alps and the shortage of snow all the way down to resort stage in valleys is getting ever extra pronounced – effectively we’re on the finish of March. However there’s snow beginning to fall throughout the nation by the weekend, anticipated to be heaviest within the west at resorts ,like Verbier, which can see one of the best a part of a metre of recent up on its glacier by early subsequent week. Nonetheless the draw back might be rain on any remaining snow mendacity beneath about 1600m. A lot of the well-known Swiss resorts nonetheless have 70-90% of their slopes open and situations above 2000m particularly stay good.  Andermatt above.

Pyrenees

It’s been principally sunny within the Pyrenees which has impacted what terrain stays open growing severely. A rising variety of the much less well-known smaller areas have known as it a day on their 22-23 ski seasons whereas the quantity of terrain open on the higher identified, greater, larger areas is usually all the way down to 50-60% with bases at 20-60cm. The largest, Andorra’s Grandvalira which incorporates Pas de la Casa, Soldeu and others, nonetheless stories 130 of its 210km of slopes open however describes the snow high quality as ‘slush’. Spain’s Masella which stories its nonetheless 100% open is pictured above.

Scandinavia

Scandinavia continues to be the place skiers on the lookout for more energizing snow situations ought to contemplate for spring snowboarding, due to colder temperatures right here. There have been snow showers throughout the area with resorts together with Trysil and Hemsedal in Norway posting 20-40cm of recent in the previous few days. The times are beginning to get very lengthy too so there’s loads of daylight to get pleasure from all of it.

Scotland

Alas the battle to maintain slopes open within the Scottish Highlands is generally a shedding one for the time being. It’s turning extra wintery over the subsequent few days however the heat climate of the previous week has eliminated loads of what had been left of the winter snowpack on all however the highest slopes (and that hadn’t been sufficient to assist any lift-served runs, besides at Cairngorm which nonetheless has half a dozen trails open). Elsewhere there’s very restricted snowboarding on all-weather machine made snow at Glenshee (Pictured above) whereas Glencoe supplies chairlift entry to ski touring terrain and classes on its sledging snow slope at its base. Nevis Vary has nothing open at current and The Lecht has closed down till the easter holidays or a return of sufficient pure snow.

Jap Europe

It’s wanting pretty good for late-March throughout Jap European ski slopes.  One of the best situations are to be discovered within the north the place Jasna in Slovakia has loved cooler temperatures than the Alps over the past week and stories its slopes nonetheless 100% open with the snow mendacity as much as two metres deep.  Additional south its hotter in Bulgaria however there have been some gentle snowfalls throughout chilly spells and  Bansko (pictured above and prime) nonetheless stories having its lengthy descent again to its resort from the bottom of the lifts open, if just a few centimetres deep on the backside.

USA

Resorts in western America proceed to interrupt their outdated data for snowfall totals and snow depths after the unbelievable winter of seemingly continuous storms. Mammoth and The Palisades in California have each introduced they’ll be staying open no less than to July. Different have prolonged their seasons too, if not fairly so dramatically. Haven’t has gone for 3 further weeks by into Might although.  The snow has saved falling the previous week hasn’t been fairly so heavy, with the upside of much less blocked roads, buried lifts and resort closures. On the east coast issues stay fairly good however heat climate has returned bringing unwelcome rain showers at instances.  Crested Butte in Colorado pictured above.

Canada

There’s been pretty good climate throughout Canada and snow showers reported on ski slopes from coast to coast.  The one actual unfavorable has been some heat climate and rain at decrease ranges on the east coast which has led to a discount of terrain obtainable in Quebec, situations greatest up excessive. Over within the west although most areas stay 100% open for every week or two extra, with ski areas at Banff, Jasper and Whistler aiming to proceed into Might.  Marmot Basin above.

**** Up to date Saturday, 18 March, 2023 ****

It’s been fairly every week within the Alps after the largely snowless earlier two months. The heavy snowfall that was accumulating as we posted final week’s report simply saved falling with some areas clocking up 1.5 metres (5 ft) of recent up excessive by the tip of the weekend. However there have additionally been yoyoing temperatures with highs attending to +17C in some resorts, resulting in quick thawing of among the snow that has fallen, and contributing to avalanche hazard ranges staying up at 3 or 4 on the dimensions to five.

Elsewhere in Europe, there’s been extra recent snowfall in Scandinavia and Scottish ski centres proceed to see promising situations, if not fairly sufficient chilly climate and snow for a lot to reopen. The Pyrenees have been heat and springlike, Jap Europe is a little more combined.

Austria

A combined image throughout Austria when it comes to snowfall with ski areas within the west and north initially seeing huge snowfalls on the weekend, then there was snowfall for a lot of the remainder of the nation (and extra for the west) on Tuesday. In between, loads of sunshine and a few moderately heat temperatures.  So there’s been a number of ft of snowfall within the Arlberg area, together with St Anton (pictured prime) with the Valluga slopes on the prime the primary within the nation to publish a 3m (10 ft) base up excessive.  Elsewhere extra like 10-40cm for many areas, among the lowest seeing rain at instances.  Hintertux this week above.

France

It’s been a outstanding week for French ski areas contemplating how little snowfall there’s been over the earlier two months. As much as 1.5-metre accumulations had been reported within the first half of this week, with Europe’s deepest snowpack at Tignes leaping greater than 4 ft (1.2m) in 4 days up on the glacier to three.9 metres – nice information for spring snowboarding and hopefully summer season snow surviving this yr too.

However snow depths jumped by a metre 0r so at many different huge areas together with Flaine, La Rosiere and La Plagne as effectively. Avalanche hazard is after all up and the snow was heavy and moist down low however all in all, a much-improved image as we begin spring.  Avoriaz above.

Italy

Italy has had an excellent week for snowfall. Issues had been very snowy within the northwest final weekend with Cervinia posting a 1.5m (5 foot) snowfall and a number of other different areas, together with La Thuile within the Aosta Valley additionally reporting greater than a metre of snowfall.  The remainder of the nation was pretty dry nevertheless and the brand new week began heat, however then one other entrance, this time masking a wider swathe of northern Italy, handed by on Tuesday.  Bormio was among the many centres posting 30cm+ of recent snowfall from that. Since then Italian areas have seen predominantly heat, dry and sunny spring climate, much like different components of the Alps.

Switzerland

Per week of fluctuating situations in Switzerland.  Saas Charge, for instance, noticed an unbelievable bounce of 1.2m (4 ft) in its higher slope base depth and hit 3 m (10 ft) on its glacier, however then noticed it drop again 20cm. Much more excessive maybe, Zermatt went from no snow within the resort for months, to 50cm falling on the weekend, after which that stat dropping again to 15cm after temperatures of 16C had been recorded at low elevations midweek. It’s sunnier and drier now and staying delicate, though in all places stays open, just about, for now.

Pyrenees

Springtime is unquestionably taking maintain now within the Pyrenees with some very heat temperatures over the past week, reaching +15C at resort basses and +10C close to the highest of the slopes on some afternoons.  The situations are significantly impacting the smaller, tower centres with a quantity deciding to finish their seasons over the previous few days.  The larger centres – together with Andorra’s  Soldeu the place the World Cup Finals are presently underway – are nonetheless managing to maintain numerous terrain open.

Scandinavia

Scandinavian ski areas proceed to report among the greatest situations in Europe proper now. There’s been extra recent snowfall reported throughout the area with Norwegian areas doing effectively once more, Hemsedal posting 20cm of recent (pictured above). Temperatures stay near freezing protecting the snow in good situation too, daylight are longer and most areas nonetheless have no less than six weeks of the season to run.

Scotland

Scotland noticed some very chilly climate this week and snowfall too however probably not sufficient of both to dramatically enhance the quantity of open terrain. Cairngorm continues to prepared the ground with greater than a dozen runs open, in the direction of half of what can open when situations are good.  There’s only a handful nonetheless at Glenshee and The Lecht with Nevis Vary nonetheless closed to skiers. Glencoe is hoping to reopen some terrain on the weekend.

Jap Europe

There’s been some snowfall in northern components of Jap Europe at resorts like Jasna in Slovakia, though there have additionally been issues right here with robust winds closing lifts. It’s again to sunny skies right here now, nevertheless. That’s additionally the sample additional south with ski areas in Bulgaria reporting sunny skies and more and more heat temperatures, making it more durable for Bansko to keep up its lengthy skinny run again to the resort from the bottom of the slopes. It’s presently reported to be all the way down to a 5cm depth.

USA

The western US continues to be the principle focus of utmost climate information past simply excited ski information tales. Snowfall totals are actually up round 7 metres (23+ ft) for the season on the snowiest centres and resorts in California have been posting photos of channels minimize by the drifts to permit chairlift chairs to maneuver by (Kirkwood pictured above).  Deer Valley in Utah is the primary to say it has now had an all-time report amount of snowfall and is extending its season later into April consequently. On the East Coast, there have been extra late-season snowfalls as one other ‘Nor’easter’ strikes in off the Atlantic, with some ski areas now reporting three ft (90cm) of snowfall within the final seven days – probably the most this season.

Canada

Good situations throughout Canada as we close to the beginning of springtime, when the northerly latitude of its ski centres helps to maintain the snow in fine condition. It has saved falling in each the east (Quebec) and west (Alberta and BC) with resorts reporting 7-day totals within the 20-40cm bracket and ever deeper bases. There are nonetheless two months of the season to go at resorts like Whistler Blackcomb and Banff Sunshine (above) and each are absolutely open and reporting nice situations.

 

**** Up to date Saturday, 11 March, 2023 ****

The place is Good to Ski or Board Proper Now?

It has been the snowiest week of the season to date in components of the Alps with some enormous weekend accumulations on larger slopes. The snow is falling throughout the mountains and a few resorts might see 2-metre accumulations in 7 days by the latter half of this week.

Alas, the snowfall has not simply floated down as gentle fluffy stuff, however has been accompanied by gale pressure winds and turned to rain at decrease ranges, the outcomes have included slope closure whereas the worst of the climate blew by and the avalanche hazard stage rising to three or 4 on the dimensions to five (appreciable to excessive). However on the plus facet depths are drastically improved up excessive at these resorts that keep open to late April, Might or past setting us up for an excellent spring snowboarding season.

Elsewhere in Europe the nice snow situations proceed in Scandinavia and Scottish snowboarding is lastly getting a little bit of a lift with very chilly climate and a few snowfall, though extra is required nonetheless to essentially enable resorts to reopen terrain. On the southern facet of the continent, the Pyrenees and Balkans have seen much less recent snowfall than additional north however stay in typically fine condition

Western North America has seen nonetheless extra “Atmospheric rivers” off the Pacific bringing ft extra snowfall though the most recent deluge has loads of moisture combined in so has brought about snow high quality points. Most centres stay absolutely open over on the jap facet of the continent, no less than within the north.

Austria

It’s combined information for Austrian ski areas because the storm develops, with most seeing a lift to their snow depths and simply the excellent news of recent cowl, but in addition some together with Kitzbuhel reporting rain in resort and on decrease slopes. Up excessive although it’s wanting good, Sölden, which has been posting the deepest snow within the nation all season is now as much as a 222cm base on its glacier, with one other Tirolean glacier, Kaunertal, becoming a member of it within the 2m+ membership.  Sportgastein in Salzburger Land can also be now at 2m, with St. Anton on 190cm and about 80% of its slopes open.  Zillertal Area pictured on Thursday above.

France

After lacking out on snow showers for one of the best a part of two months, northern French resorts have seen some enormous accumulations over the previous 48 hours and it’s nonetheless dumping. All of the snow has seen street closures, elevate closures (though that’s extra for top winds at instances) and avalanche hazard ranges as much as 4 on the dimensions …in addition to a lift to snow depths. Tignes was the primary to publish a base of greater than 3 metres (10 ft) up excessive in additional than two months, the deepest in Europe. 24 hours afterward Saturday that had leapt to three.7 metres – a 70cm enhance in 24 hours. The enhance to bases is unquestionably excellent news for the ultimate month or two of the French ski season, the one excellent query is whether or not rain at decrease ranges will trigger untimely issues to low-lying resorts and slopes. That may change into clear over the subsequent few days however most likely there’ll be a workaround, regardless of the aftermath.  Bonneval is pictured above.

Italy

Western Italy has seen among the largest snowfalls of the previous 72 hours with Cervinia (pictured above and prime) reporting it has had 150cm (5 ft) of snowfall from the storm to date.  It has one other two months of the season to run there and goals to re-open for summer season snowboarding in order that’s a giant enhance at this stage within the yr.  Much less snow to date additional east within the Dolomites however with much less stormy climate, every thing is open.

Switzerland

An enormous enchancment in snow cowl in Switzerland. Zermatt posted a video of deep snow on its resort streets on Saturday morning, which had been snowless for months. Greater up snow depth on the glacier there’s lastly enhancing which can be a step in the direction of its managing to return to 365-day operations relying on how scorching this summer season is. For the rest of the principle spring season although it seems to be all excellent news with resorts like Verbier (pictured on Friday earlier than even heavier snowfall, above) posting huge jumps in snow depths.

Pyrenees

The Pyrenees acquired one of the best of the snowfall in mainland Europe in late February and early March however has seen extra springlike climate and fewer snowfalls (though some have been reported on the French facet) over the past week. Robust winds have been a difficulty at instances although, closing larger slopes. Soldeu hosts the massive World Cup Finals racing season shut out and the Grandvalira area of which it’s half, the most important within the Pyrenees, stories 95% of its slopes are open.

Scandinavia

A combined image throughout Scandinavia with some resorts like Roldal posting powder situations after 30cm in 24 hours midweek, whereas different Norwegian resorts like Geilo have posted little or no recent snowfall within the final seven days. One other Norwegian resort, Trysil, posted 15cm of recent midweek although, as pictured above. Circumstances although, throughout Scandinavia stay, as they’ve been all season, typically good with way more of a winter really feel than we’ve had for a lot of the season within the Alps. That stated, the daylight proceed to quickly enhance and temperatures are rising to constructive numbers.

Scotland

Scotland has had its greatest week for a few months when it comes to chilly temperatures (very chilly in actual fact, as little as -16C in a single day recorded) and there was some snowfall to show slopes that had thawed to inexperienced and brown again to white. There has although not been sufficient pure snowfall but for a giant reopening of slopes, though some centres have opened extra due to snowmaking being potential. Cairngorm has probably the most runs open, a couple of third of its terrain, with Glenshee (above) and The Lecht within the East having a number of runs open every too.

Jap Europe

It’s a combined image with ski areas within the north of the area, together with Spindleruv Mlyn (pictured beneath) within the Czech Republic and Jasna in Slovakia each reporting 20-40cm of recent snow this week and wintery situations. Down within the Balkans, it has been a lot drier and extra springlike however to date Bulgaria’s largest resort, Bansko, has managed to maintain its lengthy dwelling run again all the way down to the resort open, albeit now with wafer-thin snow cowl.

USA

The large snow information within the US this week has as soon as extra seen enormous snowstorms shifting in off the Pacific, as they’ve, typically a number of instances every week, for over three months now.  On the one hand, they result in spectacular snow depth stats (extra resorts are passing 500″/12.5m and approaching 600″/15m season-to-date snowfall totals) and superb photographs of buried chairlifts (eg at Heavenly, pictured above), on the opposite they trigger if something higher issues than these ski areas within the jap US that suffered from too little snow, by blocking roads and shutting down ski resorts. Additional inland, snow within the Rockies has been drier and extra like powder, Park Metropolis has introduced a two-week extension to its season. Circumstances proceed to be among the many greatest they’ve been all in winter within the North-eastern US with extra snow falling and every thing open now at most centres there.

Canada

Good situations persist throughout Canada with typically good snow situations dominating proper throughout the nation. There’s been extra snowfall, principally gentle to reasonable showers however nonetheless an excellent slope cowl refresh, from BC to Quebec. The season nonetheless has over two months left to run at big-name resorts like Banff and Whistler and situations presently look good at each for snowboarding past mid-Might.

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**** Up to date Saturday, 4 March, 2023 ****

It’s been one other week when the Western US has made the headlines for some unbelievable snowfalls. Some ski areas have had over 3 metres (10 ft) of snowfall there within the final week alone and the world’s deepest base, additionally discovered right here this season, has topped 7.5 metres.

In Europe ski areas within the Alps and Dolomites have had some snowfall, principally within the 5-10cm bracket however somewhat extra within the southwest on the French/Italian border and northeast in Austria, right here 20-40cm have been recorded. There’s been snow too in Bulgaria and probably the most within the Pyrenees – as much as 60cm right here, with temperatures down throughout Europe – so March has began cooler than February ended.

Elsewhere in Europe Scottish ski centres nonetheless have simply very restricted terrain obtainable however issues are wanting good in most of Scandinavia with recent snowfall throughout the area, longer daylight and temperatures remaining effectively beneath freezing in most areas protecting the snow in fine condition.

Austria

It has been an unsettled week of climate throughout Austria with sunny durations interspersed with cloud and snow. The nation’s ski resorts have seen cumulative snow totals of as much as round 50cm, a lot of it falling initially of the week. Temperatures have been up round +5 to +12C at decrease elevations so among the snow has fallen as rain at instances within the valets, whereas up excessive, among the greatest snow situations for a month.  Most main ski areas stay 80-100% open. The Arlberg pictured earlier this week above.

France

Ultimately, there’s been some snowfall within the French Alps, and a second week of snow showers within the French Pyrenees, the place ski areas have seen a few of Europe’s largest snowfalls over the previous few weeks, some reporting 50cm or extra. Additional north probably the most snowfall has been within the southern Alps with Serre Chevalier posting a 12cm enhance in its higher slope base depth.  Reflecting the development throughout the Alps although, its snow cowl on its decrease runs is down by about the identical quantity, reflecting hotter climate at low elevations. That stated it’s really somewhat cooler at current than it was within the last fortnight of February. Most French ski areas have round 90% of their slopes open. La Tania this week above.

Italy

Most ski centres throughout Italy have additionally seen snowfall, however the quantity has diversified an excellent deal. The heaviest falls had been reported alongside the north-western facet of the nation. Near the French and Swiss borders, with Cervinia posting the most important accumulations – 25cm in 24 hours into Tuesday. Additional east and within the dolomites it was extra like 5-10cm accumulations, besides down within the Apennines the place 20-30cm falls had been reported.  Right here too it has been cooler and in addition many of the nation’s well-known resorts proceed to have most of their slopes open.

Switzerland

The most effective weeks shortly on Swiss ski slopes with most areas seeing some snowfall and temperatures dropping again all the way down to seasonal norms having been somewhat too heat of late. Verbier was among the many areas posting recent snow cowl, getting about 10cm, whereas larger slopes at Zermatt acquired double that and the much-thinner-than-usual snow ranges on the glacier grew somewhat for the primary time in over a month. A lot of the well-known ski areas in Switzerland proceed to have most of their runs open, though snow cowl at decrease, extra uncovered resorts continues to decrease down on the base. Zermatt gained up prime however in line with its stats misplaced on the village stage, for instance.

Pyrenees

The Pyrenees have had among the heaviest snowfall in Europe over the previous few weeks with totals of greater than half a metre for some areas from repeat falls. So it’s wanting a lot better right here than it did in mid-February, with bases deeper and most terrain open.  In truth, increasingly more centres have introduced they’re again to 100% of their terrain open within the area.  That is all clearly excellent news for skiers booked for visits through the last months of the season. Baqueira Beret this week above.

Scandinavia

Scandinavian ski centres are typically in fine condition with extra snowfall reported proper throughout the area. There’s an enormous variation in temperatures with highs reaching +5C in additional southerly resorts whereas nonetheless dipping all the way down to -30C up in Lapland. Ski areas in Western Norway are posting probably the most recent snowfall of the previous few months in Europe, one other 50cm or so this week. There are nonetheless two months of the season to go right here and situations are good with low temperatures and daylight lengthening.

Scotland

Sadly, there’s not a lot open in Scotland at current. Temperatures have dropped however heat climate for durations over the past month or so has thawed away a lot of the duvet. On the time of writing, there was nothing actually open at Nevis Vary or Glencoe on the west and Glencoe has needed to cancel its annual snow fest, though lifts can be utilized to entry excessive ski touring terrain past the centre’s personal slopes. Cairngorm has somewhat pure snow skiable on its higher slopes, in any other case, The Lecht and Glenshee have nursery slopes maintained by all-weather snowmakers. Snow and chilly climate are forecast for the subsequent few days so we may even see some enchancment.

Jap Europe

It’s been a greater week than anticipated in jap Europe with temperatures decrease than forecast and 20cm of recent snowfall on larger slopes to begin March at Bansko. As with most of Europe, snow depths are nothing to jot down dwelling about however most ski areas within the Balkans now have nearly all of their runs open and additional north within the Czech and Slovak republics and Poland the larger resorts like Jasna report they’re presently 100% open.

USA

The US has had one other snowy week from coast-to-coast with some distinctive snowfalls reported on the Pacific Coast.  Many ski areas right here have now handed the 500-inches-snowfall-total-to-date mark (that’s over 12.5 metres since final October) and The Palisades report it has had probably the most for the reason that winter of 1969-70 over 50 years in the past. Base depths at Mammoth, the deepest on this planet this season, have handed 7.5 metres and snowfall totals within the final week have been as much as 12 ft, with some areas posting as much as 3 ft in 24 hours on the top of the storms!  There’s been loads of digging out however the solar is now out once more.  Tons extra snow within the Rockies too (if not fairly a lot) and New England within the east has had a foot or so giving powder situations there as effectively.

Canada

Canada has had a quieter week than its neighbour south of the border, however most ski areas throughout the nation have seen some recent snowfall and situations are good nearly in all places. The Banff area has had greater than 50cm of snowfall within the final seven days, the season nonetheless has practically three months left to run right here. Temperatures have principally been within the vary of -20C as much as freezing. Most ski areas stay absolutely open together with Tremblant, the biggest within the East, and Whistler, the biggest within the west and certainly the entire North American continent.

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*** Replace 26 February 2023 ***

The place is Good to Ski or Board Proper Now?

Hoorah! The snow is again within the Alps, and simply as necessary, a return to chilly wintery climate …simply as springtime arrives, how sometimes ironic of Mom Nature!  The Pyrenees had been the primary in western Europe to see the return of the snow round Wednesday/Thursday however with fronts shifting north and east from the southwest and south and west from the northeast, most ski areas are set to see snowfall quickly, in the event that they haven’t already. Scandinavia is the exception in all this, it has simply saved snowing right here all through, significantly in western Norway.

Throughout in North America, the snow has been falling from coast to coast, and we’ve seen some enormous accumulations, in addition to blizzard situations in locations. There’s additionally an enormous 100-degree vary in temperature throughout the continents with some ski areas closing as a result of it’s 30+ levels beneath freezing, and different (non-ski) components within the south are extremely popular regardless of it nonetheless being winter.

Roldal in Norway is pictured prime on 25 February.

Austria

The hoped-for snow final week in Austria didn’t actually materialise past a number of flurries, however a brand new entrance, from the northeast once more, is making inroads, bringing in some cloud and cooler temperatures and even some gentle snow flurries.  Regardless of the challenges of current heat temperatures and the shortage of a lot off-piste powder remaining, on-piste situations stay pretty good throughout Austria and most slopes are open on the vacation spot resorts, however chilly and recent snow will certainly enhance issues. Wildschonau after recent snow on Saturday pictured above.

France

French ski areas are being approached by two fronts, one coming from the north, and the opposite from the south, which hopefully means most areas will see snowfall over the approaching week. How a lot stays unsure and the forecast adjustments each day from optimistic wanting 20-30cm falls, to much less inspiring however higher than nothing 3-6cm falls. In any case, the opposite excellent news is falling temperatures – not fairly again to the well-below-zero, 24-7, prime to backside temps of late January and early February, however getting that method and into double digits beneath up excessive. Down on the resort stage, particularly at decrease ranges, temperatures will proceed to get into constructive numbers within the afternoons, however not so excessive as they’ve been. A lot of the nation’s best-known ski areas proceed to have most slopes open.

Italy

Italian ski areas are seeing or ought to quickly see a slope refresh with snow clouds arriving from each the south and west and north and east by the weekend and the ultimate few days of February. Temperatures are additionally cooling again in the direction of freezing. It’s clearly excellent news though many of the nation’s greater ski areas had been 70-100% open anyway, together with the biggest, Dolomiti Superski, which is working at 97% regardless of the pretty skinny cowl. Sunshine returning and barely hotter climate from the beginning of March on Wednesday.

Switzerland

There’s some change within the air for Swiss snow centres with a entrance shifting into the East and west sides of the nation. These are bringing a lot colder temperatures than we’ve seen for the final fortnight or so in addition to snow showers to refresh slope cowl, together with much less welcome climate elements at instances together with fog and gales. Snow showers have already been reported bringing 5-20cm of snowfall within the East of the nation into the weekend they usually’re anticipated to change into extra widespread. The chilly and snowy climate ought to proceed no less than to the beginning of March however temperatures appear like they’ll climb again up above freezing, though hopefully not get as heat as they’ve been. Regardless of the current heat climate although and skinny bases at valley stage, most bigger Swiss areas stay absolutely open, or kind of so.

Pyrenees

The Pyrenees really had some snowfall a fortnight in the past when components of the northern Alps had already gone a number of weeks (and till now greater than a month), since final seeing snow. However these had been the primary mountains in  Western Europe to essentially see recent snowfall this week, with round 5cm on Thursday morning, then one other 15cm on Friday on the Spanish and Andorran facet of the vary, with resorts on the French facet reporting as much as 40cm prepared for the weekend. It’s an excellent refresh on skinny bases, though most slopes had stayed open anyway by the hotter temperatures. It ought to keep chilly with snow showers for the week forward.  Motion at Boi Taull in Spain pictured above.

Scandinavia

Scandinavia – significantly Norway – continues to publish good snowfall figures. As much as 50cm of recent within the final week and among the deepest bases. Riksgransen up within the Swedish Arctic opened for its 2023 season this weekend.  Roldal pictured above.

Scotland

It’s been colder in Scotland over the previous few days and is because of stay so into the beginning of March, however sadly, a lot of the pure snow cowl has gone from the mountains and up to date snow flurries haven’t but been sufficient to switch it. So there are presently probably not any runs open above Glencoe or Nevis Vary within the west until you rely ski touring terrain and throughout additional east Glenshee (pictured above this weekend), The Lecht and Cairngorm have simply nursery slopes open, utilizing snow made by their all-weather snowmaking machines.

Jap Europe

It’s fairly good on the main resorts throughout Jap Europe at current though the area’s smaller, lower-lying areas proceed to battle heat climate and there was rain reported once more for a lot of which fell as snow larger up. However Slovakia’s largest resort, Jasna, stories loads of recent snow and its slopes are 100% open and most runs stay open at Bulgarian ski centres.

Canada

Nice situations throughout Canada with recent snowfall reported on ski slopes in each the East and West of the nation due to storms blowing in from each the Pacific and the Atlantic concurrently. The one actual climate challenge has been a return of extreme chilly – all the way down to -30C at instances – reported once more on each side of the nation, with Sunshine in Alverta delaying opening to 10 am some mornings till issues go somewhat hotter.  Whistler pictured above on Saturday 25 February.

USA

The US is as soon as once more the place a lot of the snow motion of the previous week has been going down. Nearly each ski space within the nation has seen an excellent snowfall within the final seven days starting from a foot or two on the East Coast and Midwest by to a metre or extra for some resorts within the Rockies and on the Pacific Coast the place main snow storms have been blowing in and resorts are battling to open entry roads and dig out lifts.  Heavenly is pictured above on Saturday. The world’s deepest base at Mammoth is again up from 5.9 to six.6 metres and it’s nonetheless dumping. The information isn’t fairly all good although, ski areas within the Southeast (Blue Ridge mountains) have seen two weeks of report heat temperatures and a few have been pressured to finish their seasons early, in February. However over within the west, against this, resorts have been posting report snowfalls.

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Replace 19 February, 2023

It’s been one other sunny week for a lot of the Alps with situations feeling ever extra springlike. Some ski areas within the west of the area – significantly in components of France and Switzerland – have no longer had any recent snowfall for over a month. There was extra snow for components of Austria within the final day or two although, the place there had been heavy snowfall only a fortnight in the past.

The nice and cozy, dry climate has been dominant in a lot of the remainder of Europe too, together with the Pyrenees and the Balkans, though there’s been extra snowfall in Scandinavia in addition to in Scotland, though right here heat fronts between snowfalls have stopped a lot recent snow build up.

The large snowfalls of the final seven das have been additional afield, over in North America, significantly up within the Pacific Northwest nook of the continent, and within the Rockies, the place resorts already posting the snowiest situations on this planet this winter have had a number of ft extra snowfall.

Austria

In a small repeat of a fortnight in the past, Austria is the one nation of the Alpine huge 4 to see some snowfall previously week, with clouds shifting in on Thursday/Friday whereas the remainder of Western Europe has stayed sunny …aside from Jap Switzerland and north-eastern Italy. “Small” as a result of the snowfalls to date haven’t been nice, a number of centimetres for many areas though some in areas like Salzburgerland have reported 10cmm or extra. It’s wanting extra changeable right here although with way more cloud than additional west, gentle snow showers potential and heavier falls anticipated later this week.  Obergurgl is pictured above this week.

France

It’s been wall-to-wall sunshine for many French ski slopes over the previous week with temperatures rising to +10C at resort bases because the freezing level rises to 3000m through the day. This has not severely impacted snow cowl nevertheless with most resorts sustaining 85-95% of their slopes open through the busy French February half time period interval, however bases, significantly on decrease slopes, are fairly skinny and have diminished additional this week. Some areas within the northern French Alps together with the Portes du Soleil haven’t now seen any actual snowfall for 5 weeks.

Italy

Italian ski areas are posting related situations to ski areas to the north – heat daytime temperatures, significantly on decrease slopes, because the afternoon arrives then again to overnkight freezing lows all the way down to the valley flooring. There was somewhat thawing consequently however for almost all it’s only a few centimetres over the past week and whereas that’s not nice information with bases skinny within the first place, most centres stay 70-95% open right here as effectively. Val Gardena is posting 98% of its slopes open so is among the greatest by that measure. The deepest snow continues to be proper over on the Slovenian border at Sella Nevea the place it’s over two metres deep.  Cervinia is pictured above, this week.

Switzerland

Switzerland has had a small division over the previous few days with the dominant sunny climate of the Western Alps masking a lot of the nation, however some ski areas within the east like Arosa and Davos seeing cloudier skies and a few gentle snowfall.  In any other case issues are much like the remainder of the Alps with freeze-thaw situations impacting low-lying slopes, however not sufficient for any minimize within the quantity of terrain open to date. The approaching week ought to see extra widespread cloud, reducing temperatures and extra snow showers throughout the nation.  Davos is pictured prime.

Pyrenees

The Pyrenees have had related climate to the Alps over the past seven days with plenty of sunshine. There was snowfall right here the week earlier than although, in contrast to many components of the Alps, so the snow that’s there’s more moderen. However bases aren’t enormous within the Pyrenees this yr so heat climate in February might not be excellent news for later within the season, until we see a return to chilly and snowfall. The excellent news is that to date Pyrenean ski centres have been capable of maintain most of their slopes open and there’s certainly a return to chilly and snowy climate forecast for the latter half of the week.

Scandinavia

An actual mixture of situations in Scandinavia over the past week with sunny spells, wild winds when Storm Otto blew by on Friday and a few extra recent snow – resorts in Norway posting as much as 30cm of recent simply in time for the weekend. Myrkdalen ski space close to Voss on the Norwegian Coast is posting Europe’s second deepest base at current at 2.4m (8 ft), and that snow is far more energizing than that mendacity on the deepest – Tignes, which has 2.7m (9 ft) up on the glacier.

Scotland

Scottish centres proceed to see huge climate adjustments, heavy snowfall on Wednesday night time, violent gales on Thursday night time, temperatures fluctuating between -5C and +10C, so it’s an ongoing battle to open. Glencoe has terrain suited to superior and intermediate stage skiers obtainable on its higher slopes.  Cairngorm additionally has related terrain and a few runs suited to freshmen. For Glenshee and The Lecht its freshmen solely and Nevis Vary is presently closed for snow-sports.

Jap Europe

The chilly and snowy climate of the previous few weeks within the Balkans has ended however all of the snowfall and snowmaking has left the slopes in fine condition. Most resorts in Bulgaria and Romania are actually 80-90% open. Additional north within the Czech and Slovak Republics and Poland issues are wanting nice with every thing open at resorts like Jasna in Slovakia., the area’s largest, which can also be expexcting recent snowfall.

USA

US ski areas, significantly within the Rockies, have been posting the most important snowfalls of the previous week with some receiving as much as three ft (90cm) of recent snowfall in 72 hours, so loads of powder at current. Mammoth on the West Coast hasn’t had a lot recent snowfall however continues to publish the world’s deepest snowpack at round  20 ft (6 metres).  Jackson Gap is pictured above this week. It’s not been so good on the East coast although with a return of the nice and cozy temperature and rain that dogged the area earlier this winter, main some smaller, extra southerly areas in states like New Hampshire to quickly shut down till colder climate returns.

Canada

Fairly good situations throughout Canada, within the west the Freeride world tour was in Kicking Horse on the finish of final week and there have been extra snowfalls on ski slopes throughout Alberta and BC. Large White is pictured above this week. Within the east ski areas appear to have escaped the too-warm temperatures reported to the south within the Jap US and as an alternative posted 30-60cm (1-2 ft) extra snowfall resulting in a number of reporting they’d offered out of elevate tickets on the weekend.

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The place is Good to Ski or Board Proper Now?

Replace 11 February, 2023

It’s a sunny half-term week for a lot of the Alps with temperatures additionally rising somewhat from the very chilly temperatures of the previous month. At low valley resorts, we may even see the mercury hit +10C within the afternoons though it ought to keep cooler larger up. Within the Jap Alps, the massive snowfalls of simply over every week in the past stay pretty recent however within the west, some areas have seen little or no recent snowfall for a month. However, when it comes to ready pistes, there’s extra terrain open than there was all season with many of the huge areas like the three Vallees and 4 Valleys shut to totally open. The climate within the Pyrenees is equally sunny however right here there was somewhat recent snowfall in lots of areas final week. Within the Balkans, it’s an enhancing image nonetheless and it’s staying chilly to date. Scotland continues to face challenges from heat, windy climate and Scandinavia retains getting dumped on and possibly posting the deepest snow in Europe by this time subsequent week because it’s set to hold on there.

Throughout the Atlantic, the very chilly climate within the Northeast has eased and it’s simply 10 beneath freezing with recent snow falling. It retains snowing within the west too the place the snowpack is the deepest on this planet this winter.

Austria

After all of the snowfall within the week as much as every week in the past, issues have turned sunny and somewhat hotter throughout Austria. Actually the situations are among the many greatest within the Alps right here at current, with the snow solely every week outdated, in comparison with practically 4 weeks outdated in some components of the western Alps. The avalanche hazard has dropped somewhat in most areas too, from 3 or 4 to 2 or 3 – nonetheless appreciable however not so unhealthy.  Most Austrian ski areas stay absolutely open and after a metre of snow for some every week in the past, bases on larger runs are actually among the many greatest in Europe, with Solden amongst these posting over 2 metres.

France

France has seen a sunny week once more and the week forward, one of many busiest of the season as half-term weeks get underway, seems largely sunny once more. Nonetheless the chilly climate of the previous month, which noticed meals and scorching drinks go chilly inside minutes for anybody sitting exterior on a terrace to take in the rays, has lastly ended, for now no less than, and we’re seeing resort-level temperature highs within the afternoons of +5 to +10C. That’s not impacting the snowpack a lot although and many of the huge ski areas have 85-95% of their slopes open for the height February Half time period weeks forward with the three Valleys having the added pleasure of the Alpine snowboarding World Championships at current.

Italy

Sunny climate for Italy too and among the warmest temperatures forecast at resort stage for some decrease Italian ski villages too – probably seeing +15C within the afternoons by Wednesday! However most will see highs staying in single figures and lows remaining beneath freezing. Anyway, most Italian slopes are open and most of the people snowboarding them are glad to be doing so within the sunshine.  The enormous Dolomiti Superski area has greater than 90% of its slopes open, for the Milky Means on the French border it’s extra like 75%.

Switzerland

Swiss slopes are sharing within the sunshine that’s presently shining throughout the Alps. A lot of the nation’s ski areas are working at 80-90% open, the 4 Valleys round Verbier on the larger finish of that./ It’s only a week since ski areas within the east of Switzerland, particularly, noticed good snowfalls, however some within the west haven’t had recent snow for practically a month and the floor is getting fairly drained and in want of a refresh,  although sadly there’s nothing actually within the forecast.  It’s getting somewhat hotter too, once more like the remainder of the Alps, with temperatures getting to five or 10 levels above freezing in resorts within the afternoon and a level or two into constructive numbers larger on the mountain too.

Pyrenees

There was some snowfall – about 15cm – reported in Grandvalira (Soldeu, Pas de la Casa) in Andorra within the center and latter half of final week giving a pleasant refresh to the slopes. In any other case, it has been much like the Alps with loads of sunshine and warming temperatures. Ski areas stay 75-90% open to date, nevertheless, though bases are usually not that deep.

Scandinavia

With the snowfall largely ending within the Alps, Scandinavia, and significantly western and northern Norway, is as soon as once more the place the snow has been dumping over the previous week. It seems like ski areas round Voss may very well be posting the primary 3 metres (10 ft) base in Europe this winter by subsequent weekend if it retains falling as forecast over the subsequent seven days. Myrkdalen presently has 2.4m (8 ft) mendacity.

Scotland

Scottish ski centres are battling to open terrain for the February half time period however whereas someday there’s recent snowfall, the subsequent temperatures spike and gales blow in wiping away loads of the positive aspects. Glencoe nonetheless has some excessive terrain open on the time of writing, with most different areas working a handful of runs utilizing their all-weather snowmaking machines.

Jap Europe

It’s an ever higher image in Jap Europe the place temperatures have stayed low and never climbed in the best way they’ve this weekend within the west. So it’s nonetheless principally sub-zero. Within the north of the area, Slovakia’s Jasna has hit a 1.8m Base depth and is 100% open. In Bulgaria, which had a horrible heat and no snow begin to the season, it continues to get higher with Bansko now about 80% open. Robust winds have been an issue this previous week however are reported to have eased off

USA

Pretty good situations throughout the US following the very low temperatures, significantly in New England within the east, every week in the past. It has saved snowing within the Rockies, the place ski areas in Utah proceed to publish one of the best situations, and within the east and ski resorts on the West Coast proceed to publish the deepest snowpacks on this planet, led by Mammoth Mountain with the snow mendacity 6.2 metres (practically 21 ft) deep up prime.

Canada

After the ultra-cold temperatures simply over every week in the past, which noticed temperatures as little as -50C and centres closing for security causes, Canada has “warmed up” to a extra acceptable freezing all the way down to -15C vary. There’s additionally been extra recent snowfall throughout the nation. Circumstances are most likely one of the best they’ve been all season, significantly within the East the place every thing is now absolutely open, or practically so, after a problematic first half of the season. The chilly and snowy climate has been extra dependable within the west and Whistler now has north America’s largest ski space 100% open.

 

 

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The place is Good to Ski or Board Proper Now?

Replace 6 February, 2023

It’s been an fascinating week within the Alps with heavy snowfall all week in Austria – some ski areas seeing greater than a metre of snowfall over the past 7 days – however many of the remainder of The Alps getting nothing, staying dry and sunny. Together with snow Austria acquired robust winds and ensuing excessive avalanche hazard main, sadly, to a number of incidents and a lot of deaths amongst off-piste skiers and boarders. The hazard stage stays very excessive away from opened, ready runs.

Just like the western Alps, the Pyrenees have additionally been principally dry however right here, as in France, Italy and Western Switzerland situations do stay largely superb, on the groomed runs no less than, due to earlier snowfalls leaving nearly every thing open.  Cortina in Italy is pictured above.

In Bulgaria and south-eastern Europe, there was extra catching as much as do after a poor season begin there however they’ve now had increasingly more snow and ever-improving situations. One thing of the reverse in Scotland alas the place rain, wind and heat climate have severely broken the snowpacks, though the previous few days have seen some restoration. Scandinavia, in the meantime, stays chilly and snowy because it has been all winter.

Throughout within the US, the massive challenge was ultra-low temperatures within the northwest of the continent over the tip of final week which shut down ski areas in Quebec and New England for security causes as lows acquired into the -40s C/F, however since then situations have stabilised and it has been snowing once more from coast to coast.

Austria

Austria has been the place to be for recent snowfall over the previous week, it has been dumping right here whereas the remainder of the Alps have remained largely dry. As much as a metre of snowfall has been reported in some areas, although for many it’s extra like 1-2 ft. The information isn’t all nice within the brief time period although, there have been robust winds that closed lifts at instances and a few areas together with the Arlberg round Lech and St Anton hit very excessive avalanche hazard ranges because of the mixture of situations. This led to a excessive variety of deaths amongst off-piste skiers on the weekend in a number of incidents.  Pitztal glacier pictured above.

France

(Bonneval pictured above)

France has had one other largely dry and sunny week with temperatures somewhat hotter although, getting again into plus temperatures at bases.  Some areas have simply reported a number of centimetres of snowfall up excessive.  So it’s a little bit of a holding sample, bases are dropping barely and slowly because it settles with a little bit of thawing at low elevations however principally every thing stays absolutely open (or practically so). Avalanche hazard has dropped however sadly so has the prospect of discovering a lot recent powder left.

Italy

Italy has had a principally dry week, like France, though gentle snowfall was reported in some northern areas and within the Dolomites. Truly, although among the final heavy snowfall within the Western Alps befell slightly below a fortnight in the past at resorts like Sestriere so among the situations stay at one of the best within the nation right here. However actually, issues are fairly good nearly in all places with most runs open and on-piste situations fantastic. It’s simply off-piste powder that’s laborious to search out.

Switzerland

Jap and central Switzerland noticed among the snowfall that lined neighbouring Austria over the previous week and sadly among the off-piste avalanche deaths as effectively. The west of the nation, aside from an occasional snow flurry, stayed largely dry, nevertheless. Glacier 3000 close to Gstaad is now posting the nation’s deepest snow at 1.8 metres (6 ft) however base depths are effectively down on the highs of 4-6 metres we’d usually see on excessive slopes throughout the Alps by February. Most swiss resorts have nearly all of their terrain open although.

Pyrenees

It has been again to dry, principally sunny climate over the previous week within the Pyrenees, however the late-January snowfall and chilly have re-set the season to some extent and most ski areas stay 80-95% open, though bases are moderately skinny for the time of yr. The Freeride World Tour was in Andorra on the weekend.

Scandinavia

It has continued to be chilly and snowy in Scandinavia at the same time as temperatures rise somewhat from the -20s and -30s in current weeks and daylight lengthen. Some Norwegian ski areas have reported up to90cm (three ft) of snowfall previously week and Myrkdalen (140/240cm / 56/96”) close to the west coast has placed on greater than half-a-metre of snow depths within the final seven days to take the ‘deepest reported snow depth in Scandinavia this week’ title.  Norway’s Trysil pictured above.

Scotland

Sadly, delicate climate within the Highlands has severely impacted the snow cowl on Scottish slopes. Most centres nonetheless have a number of runs open however they range an excellent deal. Glenshee has decrease runs open maintained with all-weather snow, at Glencoe it’s extra intermediate/superior terrain left. Issues have turned somewhat colder and snowier for the reason that weekend.

Jap Europe

It’s been one other good week in Jap Europe for skiers, with snowfall reported throughout the area bringing ever-improving situations. Issues had been already pretty good within the Czech and Slovak Republics however they’ve shared within the snowfall from the north that impacted Austria and now every thing is open with recent snow. Ever extra snowfall in Bulgaria too and enhancing situations there with decrease runs to Bansko now open.

USA

The Northeastern US largely shut down on the finish of final week and the beginning of the weekend as temperatures dropped all the way down to the -40s Fahrenheit, unsafe for equipment to function and for people to be open air for lengthy. It’s since warmed up and began snowing once more giving among the greatest situations of the season to date within the east and persevering with to be wonderful within the west.  Copper Mountain pictured above.

Canada

(Massif du Sud, Quebec, on Sunday)

Good situations had been reported on ski slopes throughout Canada with nearly every thing open. The one downsides have been a really excessive avalanche hazard within the BC backcountry and excessive chilly,  on the weekend, in Quebec within the East, which closed down most areas because of harmful ranges of chilly – moving into the -40s, which can lead to frostbite in minutes.  Issues have warmed up somewhat since then although and we’re seeing loads of snowfall on slopes throughout the nation.

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The place is Good to Ski or Board Proper Now?

Replace 29 January, 2023

It’s been one other largely chilly and sunny week within the Alps, no less than after recent snowfall in southern France and alongside the Austrian/Italian border eased in the course of final week. However issues are beginning to change, no less than within the north and east initially, with extra snowfall arriving in Austria and Jap Switzerland from the north.  Elsewhere in Europe, there’s been chilly climate and a few recent snowfall within the Pyrenees and down in Bulgaria too, so it’s an enhancing image there additionally.

Throughout in North America, the climate extremes appear to have settled somewhat in North America. The previous few days have seen wholesome snowfalls on each the east and west sides of the continent, however the heat climate spikes which have plagued the east and the violent gales within the west have been a lot much less.

Within the wider world ski areas in Japan have been reporting the return of “Japow” there after a reasonably common begin to the season with some centres reporting a metre of powder dumping in simply 48 hours on the weekend. Myoko Kogen, beneath, one in every of them.

Austria

The chilly temperatures which have dominated in Austria for the previous fortnight are persevering with into February, however after every week that noticed numerous sunshine and the odd snow bathe, snowfall is now again as Arctic Air strikes down from the north and it’s a wintery-looking week forward. A lot of the nation’s main ski areas had been already working 80-90% of their slopes however situations proceed to enhance with Kitzbuhel asserting that extra valley runs had been opening for the weekend.

France

French ski areas have been having fun with some sunny days for a lot of the previous week however the climate is beginning to change with recent snowfall anticipated this week. It has been chilly – typically beneath freezing and getting as little as -25C up excessive – for a fortnight now and that’s enabled many of the decrease ski areas that had issues opening a few of their runs to open most of their terrain now, whereas larger areas like the three Valleys are as much as about 95% open, the many of the season to date. Avoriaz is posting the deepest snow in Europe at over 3 metres (10 ft) up excessive.

Italy

Italy has additionally had one other chilly week with heavy snowfall within the west that’s drastically improved situations alongside the French border, the Milky Means (Sauze d’Oulx, Sestriere) doubling its base depths and now about 2/3 open. There was snow for the Dolomites too but it surely’s now again to chilly, sunny climate and that’s the sample right here for the week forward. Additional north and west although, the snowfall shifting in from northern Europe seems set to make an influence with some vital accumulations by the latter half of this week.  Livigno pictured above.

Switzerland

Swiss ski slopes are, on the entire, in nice form. Components of the nation, and a few well-known resorts together with St Moritz and Zermatt, haven’t had an excellent season for snowfall to date, however they’ve nonetheless acquired most of their terrain open and the excellent news is that recent snow is now anticipated throughout a large space over the approaching week. The snowfall will more than likely be heaviest within the jap half of the nation with some ski areas anticipated to obtain greater than 60cm (two ft) by the weekend if issues play out as per the present forecast. Within the meantime, it stays chilly and most Swiss ski areas are principally open. The 4 Valleys has about 90% of its runs open now.

Pyrenees

An enhancing image for the Pyrenees too due to chilly climate and recent snowfall.  A rising variety of resorts in France and Spain are reporting their ski areas are 100% open finally with recent snow. Baqueira Beret has been staging Freeride world tour occasions over the previous few days.

Scandinavia

Scandinavia is the place winter was hiding earlier this month and it’s nonetheless there, regardless that the times are getting longer and temperatures warming just a bit on the -20s and even -30s Celsius some areas have been posting over the previous few weeks.  Essentially the most snow continues to be in Western Norway the place bases are nearing 2 metres on the snowiest spots close to Hemsedal and Voss. Much less snow however every thing is open additional east in Sweden and north in Finland and Lapland.  Idre Fjall pictured above.

Scotland

Scottish centres have needed to cope with the same old ups and downs of the climate with temperatures too heat over the previous week to keep up a lot of the decrease terrain on the 5 Highland centres in skiable form, aside from areas the place the machine-made snow has been piled excessive. Most do nonetheless have some larger runs open nevertheless and the forecast is for colder situations over the approaching week.

Jap Europe

It’s been one other way more constructive week for snow in Jap Europe after the horrible begin to the season in nations like Bulgaria, Romania, Bosnia and Greece. It’s stayed chilly and lots of resorts like Bansko have reported durations of heavy snowfall.  Consequently most ski areas within the area now have no less than half of their slopes open from subsequent to nothing initially of January. Additional north it’s been chilly and snowy too with the biggest centre Jasna, which had been about 2/3 open already, now absolutely open.

USA

There have been some respectable snowfalls proper throughout America over the previous week because the extremes of climate that noticed an excessive amount of snowfall (if such a factor is feasible!) and violent gales within the west and too little snowfall and heat, moist climate within the East each settled all the way down to one thing extra dependable and chilly on all sides of the nation. So Jay  Peak in Vermont and Discovery in Montana each posted about two ft (60cm) of recent snowfall on the weekend they usually had been typical of what’s been occurring over a large space.  Sunday River pictured above, Windham prime.

Canada

Pretty good situations throughout Canada, with resorts together with Panorama in BC (pictured beneath) reporting powder days on the weekend whereas on the East Coast ski areas throughout Quebec reported chilly and snowy situations, with base depths persevering with to develop there.  Whistler Blackcomb is into its second full week of being absolutely open having probably the most terrain in North America presently skiable.

 

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The place is Good to Ski or Board Proper Now?

Replace 24 January, 2023

It’s one of the best week of the season to date nearly in all places throughout the snowboarding world due to various factors elsewhere.

For a lot of Europe – the Alps, Dolomites, Pyrenees and Balkans – the massive enchancment is persistently low temperatures (beneath freezing) following recent snowfall, permitting decrease slopes to open and creating nice snow situations on larger runs.  Circumstances had already been good in Scandinavia.

In North America the place the western facet of the continent has seen one of the best of the world’s snowfall over the primary half of this season, it’s really excellent news that the seemingly countless cycle of violent storms that piled snow as much as 6 metres (20 ft) deep on the mountains of California have eased and resorts there can take a breather, dig out and open extra terrain underneath sunny skies. It’s additionally an enhancing image on the east Coast which has confronted related points to decrease resorts within the alps – heat and moist – within the early winter. Right here New England and Quebec have been extra persistently chilly and snowy.

Additional afield an enormous storm is presently hitting northern Japan bringing very low temperatures and heavy snowfall.  Listed below are the small print.

Austria

The snow saved falling in Austria for longer than it did additional west and one other 20cm had landed (and was nonetheless coming down) by the point of the 83rd working of the Hahnenkamm above Kitzbuhel on Saturday. However the time Dave Ryding scored his silver 24 hours afterward Sunday although it was wonderful blue skies. There are nice situations now with many of the nation’s ski areas open, typically with 60-95% of slopes skiable and sharing within the low temperatures presently prevalent throughout the Alps.

(Skiwelt pictured above this week, Lech in Arlberg pictured prime)

France

It’s been principally dry and sunny in France for the reason that huge snowstorm that dumped as much as a metre of snow there ended final Wednesday/Thursday. On account of that the majority resorts are actually nearly absolutely open, together with people who had been reported closed or nearly utterly closed through the “no snow within the Alps” media storm earlier this month.  French resorts like Avoriaz and Flaine are posting the deepest snow within the Alps up at across the metres/10 ft mark up excessive.

Italy

Italy is on a little bit of a dividing line for climate techniques within the Alps at current with extra northerly and westerly resorts within the nation sharing within the dry and sunny climate following the snowfall, however extra southerly and easterly areas in Trentino and the Dolomites having fun with a snowy begin to the week with 20-40cm accumulation totals anticipated by Friday. Circumstances are good throughout many of the nation both with current snow and sunshine or recent snowfall each day although and most slopes in The Dolomites are open.

Switzerland

Nice situations throughout Switzerland following all of the snowfall final week, it’s now principally sunny however as with the remainder of mainland Europe, remaining chilly, attending to the minus 20s up excessive, nearer to freezing in resort. Large areas just like the 4 Valleys are 80-90” open and snow depths – whereas nonetheless beneath common beneath 2000m altitude as they’re throughout the Alps, are nearing two metres at resorts like Glacier 3000, Andermatt and Saas-Charge. Low-altitude areas like Gstaad and Villars that had been highlighted in media stories earlier within the month for restricted snow slopes open within the heat climate are actually in a lot better form.

Pyrenees

There’s a giant enchancment in situations within the Pyrenees which had been dealing with related points to the Alps on decrease slopes with heat climate thawing skinny cowl and diminishing quantities of terrain open. That’s fortunately now all modified although with plenty of recent powder and persistently chilly temperatures. Large resorts like Soldeu / Pas de la Casa (Grandvalira) and Spain’s Baqueira Beret have gone from having dropped to solely half of their terrain capable of open to 70-80% once more now.

Scandinavia

Staying wintery in Scandinavia with the deepest snow reported in Norway at resorts like Hemsedal and Voss the place it’s mendacity 1.5 – 2 metres deep.  The daylight and now growing pretty quickly and every thing is open.

Scotland

After a promising begin to the season and begin to 2023 with final week chilly and snowy,  the common curse of Scottish snow sports activities is with us – delicate and windy situations coming in from the West this week.  The 5 centres had nice situations on the weekend and hopefully have snow cowl to see them by till colder climate returns. At the moment, it’s ‘comfortable snow’ although and the quantity of terrain obtainable is diminishing.

Jap Europe

It’s a much-improved image throughout Jap European ski slopes with some huge snowfalls reported over the previous few days. The largest enchancment is in Bulgaria the place there was little open because of the heat climate till a number of weeks in the past, Bansko and Borovets now have a couple of third to a half of their terrain open.  Additional north it’s nonetheless enhancing within the Czech and Slovak Republics with the biggest space Jasna reporting ever higher situations.

USA

There’s been a lull within the sequence of giant snowstorms which have been hitting the Western facet of the US, a lot to the aid of resorts there. They’re all sat on huge snow depths now however have had issue opening a lot terrain usually as each time they dig out from one storm the subsequent strikes in. So much less snowfall is definitely excellent news within the west now and the present drier situations, sunny in California, are being welcomed. Within the East, there’s additionally an enchancment with decrease temperatures and extra snowfall. In New England, it has been too heat and moist so far, however this week, colder, snowier climate has introduced one of the best situations of the season to date.

Canada

Pretty good situations throughout Canada with persistently chilly temperatures from coast to coast, if not a lot recent snowfall not too long ago. North America’s largest ski space Whistler Blackcomb is nearly absolutely open and it’s been snowing closely within the East in New England and Quebec which had beforehand been struggling related heat temperature points to the Alps throughout the ocean in Europe. Now although they’re having fun with one of the best situations of the season to date.

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Replace nineteenth January, 2023

It’s a a lot brighter image within the Alps this week than it has been all season.

There’s been heavy snowfall within the Western Alps (France and Western  Italy and Switzerland) and good snowfall, if not a lot, additional east in Austria and Jap Italy and Switzerland.

Some larger French resorts have reported their higher slope snow depths up by greater than a metre on every week in the past with a quantity, together with Alpe d’Huez (above) and Avoriaz (beneath), now saying they’ve over 3m/10 ft of snow mendacity up excessive.

However the actually excellent news is for low mendacity ski areas which have been on the centre of the frenzy of “no snow within the Alps” tales which have been filling world media, ignoring the truth that larger slopes have had common cowl or higher all winter.

Most low ski areas have had 30-60cm (1-2 ft) of snow resulting in widespread and ongoing reopening of runs. Essentially the most dramatic change might be at Les Will get which had been pressured to totally shut its ski space through the heat spell when most others managed to maintain a tragic run or two open.  It went from nothing to totally re-opened on Wednesday, together with the Portes du Soleil hyperlinks.

Maybe somewhat sarcastically, or simply how it’s, it is usually instantly posting a “excessive” (stage 4 on the dimensions to five) avalanche hazard stage which is an more and more frequent hazard ranking, significantly of observe to freeride off-piste skiers and boarders throughout the western Alps at current, with most areas posting stage 3 (“appreciable”) if not at 4.

Whatever the quantity of snow that’s fallen a typical and welcome change throughout the Alps , and certainly a lot of Europe, is a giant temperature drop to one thing extra regular for winter within the mountains. Meaning the freezing level dropping effectively beneath resort stage for many areas and temperatures getting as little as -20C up at about 3000m.

Though the forecast is for the snowfall to ease off in most areas, and it already has in most components with the solar breaking by for the weekend within the west, temperatures ought to keep low and general situations ae wonderful, one of the best they’ve been all season to date.

Elsewhere in Europe

There have been related enhancements within the Pyrenees, not a lot snowfall however some no less than and decrease temperatures. Larger resorts like Grandvalira and Baqueira Beret now have greater than half of their terrain again open once more. 20-30cm of recent snowfall broadly reported in the previous few days.

There have additionally been enhancements within the Balkans with chilly climate and a few recent snow after resorts in Bulgaria might hardly open a run with no pure snow and temperatures too heat for a lot snowmaking.  It’s now enhancing, although nonetheless with loads of catching as much as do and Bansko is hoisting World Cup competitors this weekend. Additional north in resorts like Jasna situations haven’t been so unhealthy and are actually a lot improved by recent snowfall.

Scottish ski centres are additionally seeing their greatest situations of the season to date after a chilly and snowy week right here. Glencoe is nearly absolutely open, Cairngorm about 50% open, the remainder reporting a 3rd or so of  their runs open. Alas temperatures look to be warming from the weekend however hopefully not an excessive amount of harm shall be executed.

In Scandinavia it stays chilly and snowy because it has been all month.

North America

Extra superb data being set on the North American West Coast and Rockies the place increasingly more ski areas are passing the ten metres (400 inches) of snowfall season-to-date complete. Mammoth’s world deepest snowpack has now handed 6 metres (20 ft) and additional north of the Pacific Coast Whistler has reached 2 metres on its highest runs.  The East Coast continues to lag behind for snow cowl sadly and heat temperatures proceed to be a difficulty in New England but it surely’s extra persistently chilly and snowy additional north in Quebec.

Keystone, Colorado, pictured above and prime.

 

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The place is Good to Ski or Board Proper Now?

Replace 10 January 2023

The snow is lastly right here throughout the Alps. It started falling within the west, within the French, Italian (Bardonecchia pictured prime and beneath) and Swiss Alps on Sunday and has continued shifting north and easterly over the previous 48 hours, bringing snowfall to most areas.

Naturally the snowfall is heaviest up excessive, with 60cm (2 ft) accumulations reported up at 3,000m already at some areas and with the snow anticipated to proceed by midweek earlier than easing off, some may even see a metre of snowfall by Thursday.  It ought to stay colder than it has been with extra snow showers later within the week.

In fact areas above 2000m had been already in fairly fine condition with ski areas like Paradiski above la Plagne and Les Arcs and the three Valleys about 75% open because of all their excessive altitude terrain, so the main focus id on decrease altitude ski areas like Les Will get and Gstaad which have been laborious hit by the nice and cozy and typically moist climate over Christmas and New 12 months. They’ve all been reporting snowfall all the way down to low ranges and from the photographs posted it seems like 10-30cm moderately than the metre up excessive, as you’d count on. It’s additionally chilly sufficient to fireplace up the snow cannons.

It’s too quickly to understand how a lot the brand new snow will enhance issues, that’ll change into clear later this week, but it surely’s wanting promising for no less than some re-opening of terrain.

The avalanche hazard ranges are already creeping up nevertheless. Areas within the Western Alps have hit stage 3 on the dimensions to five, thought of probably the most harmful stage in some respect as extra skiers and boarders are inclined to ignore the hazard, resulting in accidents, at stage 3 than at 4 or 5.

Elsewhere the Pyrenees, which have been dealing with related issues to the Alps, have additionally had some recent snowfall and a drop in temperatures, though not fairly such a dramatic change as additional north and east within the Alps.

It’s additionally excellent news within the Balkans the place ski areas in Bulgaria too are no less than seeing a temperature drop and snow showers hopefully enabling them to quickly open extra terrain too from the very restricted quantity that has to date been potential.  Bansko is pictured beneath on Tuesday.

Snowy climate in Slovakia, Poland and the Czech Republic can also be enhancing the situations there, permitting extra resorts to open extra terrain.

Additional north Scandinavian ski centres proceed to publish probably the most ‘wintery’ situations in Europe as they did by the nice and cozy spell additional south. Norway has executed significantly effectively with recent snowfall previously seven days heading in the direction of the metre mark up excessive at resorts like Geilo and Hemsedal with extra forecast.

Not fairly such dramatic snowfalls however an enhancing image in Scotland too the place most centres have no less than a number of runs open and there’s extra chilly climate and snow forecast.

North America

In Western Canada nonetheless extra enormous storms have been shifting in off the Pacific coast, the place ski areas in California, Oregon and Washington had already been posting by far the world’s deepest snowpacks after months of the identical. Mammoth has the world’s deepest at practically 5 metres. The snowfall has continued west so the Rockies are in nice form too, with Park Metropolis in Utah, America’s largest space, absolutely open.

West Coast resorts would most likely recognize the snowfall easing somewhat now because the countless storms make it troublesome for them to really open terrain, because of the work concerned digging out, making entry roads protected and decreasing avalanche hazard.

Additional north not fairly a lot snowfall in Alberta and BC, Canada, however most ski areas within the area are full open

A much less snowy image within the East though there was some recent. However as with the Alps on the opposite facet of the Atlantic ski areas in New England and even north of the border in Quebec have been battling durations of heat climate and rain and few are absolutely open.

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Replace 2 January 2023

In the event you’re on the lookout for recent snowfall (and who isn’t?!), the place to search out it in abundance continues to be Western North America the place nonetheless extra mega snow storms have been shifting in off the Pacific, dumping a number of ft extra snowfall with Mammoth Mountain persevering with to publish the deepest snow on this planet. The Palisades (above on Jan 1st, 2023) posted 95cm (3 ft 2 inches) of recent snow in 24 hours to begin the New 12 months. There’s been tons extra snowfall within the Rockies too with Steamboat reporting its snowiest December in over a decade and Park Metropolis up in Utah, with America’s largest ski space, absolutely open.

The information isn’t all good although sadly with the snowfall pushed in on gales of as much as 100mph and typically accompanies by freezing rain. Ice construct up, deep snow and temperature fluctuations have additionally led to excessive avalanche hazard amongst different storm associated points. .

Europe

In Europe Scandinavia is the place to go for recent snowfall (Hemsedal above on 31 December, 2022) because the Alps proceed to be divided by altitude, predominantly, with pretty good situations on slopes above 2,000m (which fortunately most giant vacation spot resorts have loads of), however more and more difficult at decrease ranges. The three Valleys for instance have three quarters (about 450km) of their 600km of terrain open. Different huge areas sometimes have 60-80% of their terrain open too, nevertheless it’s decrease at these just like the Portes du Soleil down at Les Will get and Morzine or on the separate areas round Megeve and La Clusaz.

There was extra rain on the weekend down beneath and the freezing level rose to 3000m to begin the New yr but it surely has since acquired somewhat cooler and there have been gentle snow showers up excessive.

Sadly there’s no clear signal of something a lot altering within the coming week after we actually need a correct begin to winter right here finally.

The Pyrenees have had some snowfall however are dealing with related difficult situations to the Alps.

It’s additionally not excellent news in additional southerly components of Jap Europe with heat, dry and sunny climate dominant and ski areas in Bulgaria, Bosnia, Serbia and close by solely capable of open very restricted terrain – a run or two with machine made snow – to date. Additional north within the Czech and Slovak Republics and Poland it’s a way more promising image.

The Dolomites proceed to be one thing of an exception with just about every thing open in any respect altitudes and not one of the rain points right here. Circumstances aren’t good however they’re not far off at resorts like Val Gardena.

Elsewhere in Europe it does really feel like winter in Scandinavia the place many resorts have been seeing -5 to -20C temperatures and loads of recent snowfall.  Not fairly so chilly in Scotland but it surely was fairly a chilly December general and there’s been extra snowfall previously week. 4 of the 5 Highland ski centres have some terrain open, albeit not but very a lot at any of them, principally due to the restricted areas they every have lined by all-weather snowmaking machines with the pure cowl elsewhere not but deep sufficient.

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Replace 28 December 2022

Alas, the present situations within the Alps are a really combined bag moderately than the proper finish of yr/begin to 2023 we’d all hope.

An enormous a part of the issue is altitude – larger slopes are typically in fine condition – above 2,000m (Avoriaz is pictured on Tuesday this week, the Molltal Glacier in Austria beneath) – however at decrease altitudes heat climate and rain has severely impacted the snow cowl.

Regardless of these challenges most main ski areas even have extra terrain open than every week in the past, opening all they will for the busiest weeks of the season and most vacation spot resorts have 60-80% of their terrain open.

There was recent snowfall up excessive, with some resorts posting 30-60cm (1-2) ft of recent snowfall up above 2,000m, sadly although there’s been rain for a lot of resorts at decrease ranges.

Consequently some decrease resorts like Les Will get are providing elevate move reductions because of having restricted terrain open. Some others like Laax are warning that a few of their runs are slender.

The Dolomites are reported to have among the greatest situations, principally as they’ve missed the rain that impacted a lot of the Alps to fairly excessive altitudes on the weekend.

The Pyrenees are dealing with related points to the Alps and though most resorts are open, most solely have 30-50cm (12-20 inches) of snow mendacity and the quantity of terrain open has been dropping. Spain’s Baqueira Beret has dropped below100km of slopes open for the primary time for the reason that begin of the season there over a month in the past.

(Stranda, Norway)

One of the best situations in Europe are presently up in Scandinavia the place stories have posted as much as 50cm of recent snow  since Christmas and temperatures have been effectively beneath freezing.

Throughout the North Sea Scottish ski centres are additionally seeing improved situations. Not sufficient snow but to essentially open up however machine-made snow on brief runs, topped up with pure cowl, has allowed Cairngorm, Lecht and Glenshee to open, with Glencoe and Nevis Vary aiming to affix them asap

It’s really an identical situation on the opposite facet of Europe down within the Southeast with ski areas within the Balkans most severely impacted by the nice and cozy climate. Bulgarian resorts have scraped a number of brief runs along with in a single day snowmaking and new package deal vacation vacation spot Sarajevo stories only a 500 metre slope open.

(Eaglecrest, Alaska)

North America

It’s a really completely different image throughout the Atlantic the place yet one more sequence of main storms slamming into the West Coast of North America with as much as eight ft (2.5 meters) of snowfall potential by the beginning of subsequent week.

The area presently has the deepest snowpacks on this planet, with over 3 metres mendacity at some resorts. However all of the snowfall is inflicting some points – burying lifts and bringing excessive avalanche hazard, limiting the terrain open whereas the storms blow by. There have additionally been very robust winds, with gusts of as much as 100mph reported. However between these climate extremes, situations are nice.

This newest snowfall comes after Storm Elliot blew by on the weekend, bringing exceptionally low temperatures throughout the continent and main snowfalls to the Midwest and East Coasts which had been missing a lot cowl till now.  However there’s been powder snowboarding within the East since (Jay Peak, Vermont, pictured beneath this week).

 

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Replace 21 December 2022

We’ve reached the winter solstice so the times are drawing out any more and we’re into wintertime by each the astronomical measure of the seasons and the meteorological one.

However what in regards to the snow? Nicely (as so usually), it’s a combined image!

Within the Alps and lots of different components of Europe many of the main vacation spot ski resorts are open now and the bulk have about 30-60% of their slopes open and shall be aiming to open extra for the busy Christmas and New 12 months’s weeks arising.   So on the entire issues are pretty good as long as you wish to ski on the groomed pistes and significantly in case your resort is kind of excessive altitude.

The issue working in opposition to progress in opening extra has been beneath common snowfall and, significantly this week, above common temperatures. This has significantly hit decrease altitude ski areas the place its been tougher to create cowl.

However nonetheless, there’s rather a lot open. Over 300km within the 3 Valleys for instance and lots of the different huge areas round Verbier, Zermatt, Grandvalira, Baqueira Beret, the Skiwelt, Ischgl-Samnaun (pictured above this week) Alpbach, Dolomiti Superski (the listing goes on…) have no less than 100km of slopes open already and in lots of circumstances double that.

Much less Good Information

The European area doing the worst at this early stage within the season is down within the southeast the place Bulgarian ski areas are scuffling with heat climate to open a lot in any respect. Bansko and Borovets every have managed only a run a bit opening previously few days.

Scotland is dealing with its normal battles with borderline climate situations. The primary half of December was very chilly and double-digit sub-zero temperatures had been recorded, but it surely was additionally very dry so snow for runs was principally machine made when a number of areas opened on the weekend. Precipitation did arrive initially of this week, together with gales, however there was additionally the ten+ diploma bounce in temperature so loads of it was snow-destroying rain and heat winds that closed areas once more. Temperatures are dropping and ski centres are re-opening with restricted terrain.

Elsewhere in Europe

It’s an identical image to The Alps in The Dolomites and Pyrenees, in additional northerly areas of jap Europe – nations just like the Czech and Slovak Republics and Poland it’s a a lot better image than additional south and there’s increasingly more terrain open.

Circumstances in Scandinavia, the place resorts within the north are actually in 24-hour polar night time and temperatures within the -20s have been reported, are way more wintery. A lot of the area’s main areas are actually open embody Are, Hemsedal and Trysil.

North America

The principle ski information tales in North America this week are an honest dump of snowfall, finally, on the East Coast (Sunday river pictured prime final weekend, Whiteface above after issues have settled and grooming don), which has dramatically improved the beforehand poor early-season situations there. It’s been drier within the west after the successive snow storms there by November and December however right here probably the most snow on this planet is mendacity, Mammoth Mountain in California remaining the one resort reporting a base of greater than three metres (10 ft) at current.

The opposite huge ski vacation information story has been very low temperatures in components of Western Canada into the -30s. Together with recommendation to cowl up uncovered pores and skin, layer up and watch mates for indicators of frostbite, skki areas within the Alberta/Jap BC ski areas have been closing extra uncovered lifts and in some circumstances whole resorts, till issues heat up a bit – anticipated by the Christmas weekend.

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The place is Good to Ski or Board Proper Now?

Replace 14 December 2022

As the beginning of the principle ski season is nearly upon us, it’s good to have the ability to report typically  good situations in nearly all main ski areas.

Europe

It’s an ever enhancing image within the Alps with a number of fronts shifting throughout the vary from the south and west. Ski areas within the French Alps and in Western Switzerland and Italy have executed significantly effectively with two snowstorms for the reason that weekend bringing as much as two ft (60cm) of recent snow.  Chatel, a type of that acquired significantly heavy snowfall, is pictured above.

Together with ever enhancing snow depths the snowline ranges have been dropping all the way down to valley flooring which means higher situations for low-lying ski resorts and valley runs, in addition to these up excessive.

There’s been snowfall too within the Pyrenees, at Sierra Nevada in southern Spain and over in Northeastern Europe for ski centres in nations just like the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland.

In Scandinavia it’s getting darker, with solar dropping beneath the horizon at Finland’s largest ski space of Levi earlier this week and never because of re-appear till January 1st, however floodlit slopes maintain issues shifting for these glad to be snowboarding on pristine powder at -10 to -30C.

Scotland’s first ski slopes opened for 22-23 on Monday with Glenshee taking benefit of the present chilly climate within the UK to open a number of runs. The opposite 4 Highland ski centres plan to open this weekend on subsequent week.

Actually the one space that has been reporting hotter temperatures than they’d like is Bulgaria, the place Borovets delayed its deliberate opening final weekend, however issues are enhancing right here too.

North America

There have been extra unbelievable snow storms in western North America, with as much as 5 ft extra snow reported in California.

Mammoth Mountain (pictured above on Tuesday) is the primary ski resorts on this planet to report a ten ft/3 metre base on its higher slopes already this season.

All of the snow within the Rockies and on the Pacific Coast has set the continent up for your complete ski season forward.

Nonetheless it stays a really completely different image within the East sadly with hotter, drier climate upto now making even snowmaking difficult. Right here too although chilly climate and a few pure snowfall is now within the forecast.

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Replace 9 December 2022

As we attain the second weekend in December about 90% of the world’s main ski areas have already opened for the season (or will do that weekend).

In most areas situations are pretty good for this early level within the season. Western North America is having a tremendous begin with a speedy sequence of storms dumping enormous quantities of snow, with extra on the best way.  It’s very completely different on the Jap facet of the continent although the place its extra of a battle to open runs every time the climate is chilly sufficient for snowmaking.

That’s an identical image for low-lying ski areas in Europe, which haven’t had a lot snowfall but. Fi the larger, larger ski areas although it’s an ever enhancing image at current with one other 1-2 ft of snowfall anticipated this weekend.

North America

Western North America continues to see implausible early-season situations with some resorts within the Colorado Rockies already reporting over 100 inches (2.5 metres) of snow has fallen this season already whereas in California Mammoth Mountain is posting the deepest base on this planet at 2.7 metres (9 ft).  All of the snowfall is inflicting short-term logistical points opening entry roads and with excessive avalanche hazard in locations resulting in some resorts closing on some days because the worst of it’s managed.

Europe

The snow has began falling within the Alps once more after a largely dry and sunny week, with simply gentle snow showers.

Temperatures shall be beneath freezing all the way down to low ranges too so snowmaking techniques ought to be capable to work. Extra huge identify resorts are opening this weekend together with Meribel and Les Menuires finishing the hyperlinks within the 3 Valleys.

Most ski centres are actually open within the Pyrenees and have in actual fact been posting probably the most terrain ope in Europe to date with Baqueira/​Beret the one one to go above 150km of runs open already and Andorra’s Grandvalira not far behind on over 100km.

Lots of Scandinavia’s ski centres have now opened for the season with bigger centres like Are and Hemsedal among the many newest to take action.

It has been chilly and (significantly within the East) snowy in Scotland with centres utilizing all-weather snowmaking techniques to create small snow areas. Glenshee (pictured beneath on Wednesday) they intend to open the weekend after subsequent, others might comply with swimsuit.

Jap Europe’s ski areas have been having fun with among the coldest and (for comparatively low mendacity mountains in comparison with the Alps), snowiest, December climate, no less than on their larger slopes, and centres have begun to open right here too.  Slovakia’s Jasna has probably the most open to date with Bulgaria’s ski season anticipated to begin this weekend.

 

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Replace 1 December 2022

The ski season continues to collect tempo throughout the Northern Hemisphere with the North American Rockies seeing one of the best situations to date and other people starting to ask when was it final this good this early within the season?  Many resorts have had one other foot or extra of snowfall previously few days.

(Crested Butte. Colorado, 29 November, 2022)

Lots of of ski areas are open coast-to-coast throughout the continent, in actual fact in contrast to Europe or Asia, extra big-name resorts are already open for the season in Canada and the US than are but to open.

They embody the most important within the US, Park Metropolis in Utah, which already has over 100km of slopes open, and the most important in Canada and north America,  Whistler Blackcomb in BC, though it hasn’t opened a lot of its huge terrain as but.

Europe

Good to Ski Proper Now?

There are about 100 ski areas open already in Europe, most within the Alps however with a couple of quarter in Scandinavia and the primary for 22-23 – Baqueira Beret – open within the Pyrenees since final weekend.

These numbers will double, maybe triple this coming weekend as many extra open together with huge French names like Alpe d’Huez, Les 2 Alpes and Val d’Isere.

There’s additionally a battle to open extra terrain for early skiers and boarders. Ischgl – Samnaun on the Austrian-Swiss border solely opened final weekend however already has greater than 100km of slopes open and Cervinia – Zermatt (pictured beneath) on the Italian – Swiss border has introduced it should additionally provide greater than 100km from this coming weekend.

There was extra snowfall, heaviest up excessive, earlier this week and extra forecast subsequent week, however presently its principally dry, continuously sunny however nonetheless chilly for many areas.

Tons extra resorts plan to open within the Pyrenees this weekend in addition to within the Dolomites and the primary for the season in Jap Europe, together with Slovakia’s Jasna.

Scotland has seen chilly however dry climate with nowhere identified to be planning to open quickly, in Scandinavia some huge identify resorts will open this weekend.

Asia

Good to Ski Proper Now?

Sadly it hasn’t been that snowy but in Japan and a lot of areas that had deliberate to open this weekend have determined to postpone, some saying for every week, others till they know issues are wanting higher.

The excellent news is that the climate does now seem like altering with Japan’s regular continuous snowfall by winter displaying indicators of getting underway.

 

 

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Replace 26 November 2022

Good to Ski Proper Now?

The previous week has seen tons of of ski areas open for the 22-23 ski season and loads of snowfall too.

For many areas it’s now wanting fairly promising for the season forward after the nervous wait by warfare, dry situations in October and the primary half of November. Together with the pure snowfall it has been chilly sufficient for snowmaking techniques to be set to work constructing bases.

(Bonneval, France this week)

Europe

Good to Ski Proper Now?

In Europe there are actually about 50 ski areas open, greater than half of them in Austria and Switzerland, however we’ve additionally seen the primary resorts open in France at Tignes and Val Thorens and extra big-name Italian centres open together with Cervinia, and Courmayeur.

Most have had no less than a foot of recent snowfall over the previous week and snow all the way down to low ranges as effectively.

It’s not simply the Alps although. The season is underway in Dolomiti Superski in Italy at Cortina d’Ampezzo and a number of other different resorts and the primary centre has opened for the season within the Pyrenees, Baqueira Beret on the Spanish facet of the mountains.

Some big-name ski areas have been opening in Scandinavia as effectively, together with Norway’s Kvitfjell and Geilo, becoming a member of already open Finnish centres like Levi, Ruka and Yllas. Right here it’s a really wintery image with plenty of snow falling.

There’s been snow too in locations the place resorts haven’t opened but, however shall be quickly, together with throughout jap Europe in nations like Bulgaria, nearer to dwelling in Scotland and even nations with only one or two ski centres like Croatia, Algeria and Portugal.

North America

Good to Ski Proper Now?

It’s over within the USA and Canada the place over 100 centres have now opened, helped by principally low temperatures and a few good pure snowfalls. Aiming to open forward of the massive US Thanksgiving vacation weekend was an additional incentive for a lot of.

One of the best of the snowfall has been within the West the place Mammoth in California stories they have already got 2 metres mendacity on their highest slopes. Lake Louise needed to cancel the primary Males’s Downhill ski race of the season deliberate for there on Friday because of heavy snowfall.

Most big-name resorts throughout the nation are actually open with the biggest, Canada’s Whistler Blackcomb, opening on Thursday.

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Replace 17 November 2022

North America

Good to Ski Proper Now?

Canada and USA proceed to have one of the best early season situations. Resorts proceed to open early for the 22-23 season throughout the continent with some reporting as much as six ft (1.8 metres) of snow previously three weeks.

A lot of the snowfall to date has been within the West the place the primary BC resorts open in Canada final weekend and Large White and Silver Star and others will be a part of them this weekend.

Kicking Horse gained’t open for some time but however posted the image beneath of the powder those that hiked up might get pleasure from.

Temperatures have now dropped on the Jap facet of the continent too with not a lot snow but (although loads forecast now) however snowmaking techniques fired up. The primary centre in Quebec opened for 22-23 yesterday and Sunday River is the primary in New England, pictured prime, opening in the present day in Maine.  Stowe and Killington in Vermont plan to open this weekend.

We estimate there’ll be at least50 and maybe as many as 100 North American ski areas open coast-to-coast this weekend.

Europe

Good to Ski Proper Now?

Some snow all the way down to about 1500m and persistently colder this week however extra snowfall is required.

It’s a fantastic line – the French season has been put an additional week again with Val Thorens delaying its deliberate opening this weekend to subsequent, however Obergurgl in Austria has managed to open and regardless of solely having 5-20cm of snow mendacity, has opened 30km of runs.

Additionally opening this weekend are Andermatt and Kitzbuhel, each due to snow farming, whereas Obertauern seems to have delayed their opening too.

The forecast seems unsettled, however chilly, so all of us must hope for greater and higher snowfalls quickly.

Scandinavia seems extra wintery. Levi in Lapland hosts Alpine World Cup ski racing this weekend and extra main Finnish ski areas together with Pyha and Yllas are because of open.

Within the wider world it has been more and more snowy in Japan and temperatures in Scotland have dropped from report November highs every week in the past to the probability of snow above about 300 metres this weekend.

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After a mere 2 years, 8 months pandemic break, our common snow updates are again!  It’s wanting good in Western Canada and the US and we’re attempting to not get too tense as we look forward to extra snow within the Alps. 

About 40 ski areas in 9 nations on three continents are already open for his or her 22-23 ski seasons…  

North America

Good to Ski Proper Now?

(The Palisades, California)

One of the best of the snowfall to date this month has been in Western North America.

Ski resorts within the Rockies have reported as much as a metre (over three ft) of snowfall over the previous fortnight resulting in a number of opening early for the season.

A couple of dozen centres are already open in Canada and the USA and extra plan to affix them within the subsequent few days.

Already open areas embody Mammoth in California, which reported a powder day on November ninth after greater than two ft of snowfall within the earlier 24 hours, its first of 22-23.

Winter Park and Arapahoe Basin are already open in Colorado (as is Loveland, pictured prime) with Breckenridge, Copper Mountain and Vail because of be a part of them within the subsequent few days. Additional north Utah’s Solitude say they’ll open early too.

In Canada the season is already underway at Lake Louise and Sunshine close to Banff in Alberta Canada. Marmot Basin close to Jasper to the north opens on Thursday tenth and Large White say they’re opening early from the seventeenth, probably the primary to open in BC.

It’s been hotter within the East however temperatures are actually dropping and snowmaking techniques working in a single day.

Europe

Good to Ski Proper Now?

There are about 20 ski areas open in Europe already for the 22-23 ski season, most of them providing high-altitude glacier snowboarding.

After some recent snowfalls in current weeks situations on glaciers are fairly good, however with the beginning of the principle season just a few weeks away, resorts are hoping for colder, snowier climate very quickly now.

Austria has probably the most centres open – seven to date – together with the Solden, Stubai, Hintertux, Kitzsteinhorn and a number of other different glaciers.

It’s also possible to ski at Murren, Zermatt, Engelberg and Saas Charge in Switzerland with Verbier and glacier 3000 close to Gstaad opening this weekend.

Most centres have solely small areas open up excessive to date. There’s just one centre open in Italy and none in France as but.  Val Thorens possibly the primary to open there in simply over a fortnight, though Tignes might open quickly too.

In the event you’re on the lookout for winter in Europe look as much as Lapland. The 2 main Finnish ski areas of Levi and Ruka have been open a month already.  They began in early October by utilizing snow-farming, re-using snow from final season saved underneath cowl by the summer season, to create new runs. Nevertheless it’s been chilly sufficient for recent snowmaking and there’s been pure snowfall on prime.

Most different ski areas iN Europe just like the Pyrenees, Dolomites, Scottish Highland and Balkans have all had some autumn snowfall however don’t have any areas open but – it’s a bit too early.

 

******************************************************************************************************************

Our final report earlier than the primary of the pandemic lockdowns in March 2020 is beneath, however now we’re again child! See above…

It has been one other of the strangest ski season weeks of all time.  After most of Europe and North America’s ski areas shut personal every week in the past, among the few nations that had been nonetheless principally open – together with Scotland and Finland – have closed, and the previous few ski areas nonetheless open in Canada and the US have shut down.

However, on the time of writing no less than, you may nonetheless ski in Sweden, Iceland and Japan, when you’re there already. And one bit of sunshine on the finish of the tunnel, ski areas in China started re-opening after they ended their lockdown nearly two months to the day after it started.  You want a well being certificates to be allowed to ski at most areas there for now although.

If, and it’s a giant if, we’re in for a two months shutdown it might imply the said hope of some ski areas which are normally open in late Might or June or later, like Killington, Hintertux and Breckenridge, to re-open later this season, might nonetheless occur.

Anyway, no matter that dream, it’s, after all, the beginning of Spring! In regular years tens of millions of skiers and boarders could be having fun with the longer days and spring sunshine on the slopes.

This week although has been snowier greater than sunny in lots of areas with recent snow reported within the Alps, Pyrenees, Dolomites, Japan, Rockies and in Scandinavia. So a wintry begin to the season for a lot of.

Snowfall this morning in Grandvalira, Andorra…

 

Sweden

Good to Ski Proper Now?

With Finnish ski areas opting to finish their seasons this week, Sweden is the one main ski nation left in Europe the place you’ll be able to nonetheless hit the slopes at most resorts. Retailers and eating places additionally stay open (at time of writing) with the onus on social distancing and hand hygiene.  Most resorts there have reported recent snowfall previously week, with round 40cm for northerly Riksgransen, the place it’s nonetheless dumping.  Close by Bjorkliden (pictured above and prime), which has additionally had plenty of recent snow, is pictured above and prime.

Japan

Good to Ski Proper Now?

The ski season continues as regular in Japan regardless of an on-going state of emergency over the virus. Though the slopes are open, the variety of infections and new circumstances within the nation appears very low at current, regardless that the virus has been recognized within the nation for a number of months.   Niseko reported that Wednesday marked its final night of night time snowboarding (beneath) however stated it deliberate to maintain the slopes open by to Might sixth.  There’s been loads pf recent snowfall reported previously week in Japan too – excellent news for this late within the season.

China

Good to Ski Proper Now?

We reported earlier this week that ski areas in China had been starting to re-open in lots of components of the nation after the nationwide lockdown was eased.  Some gained’t as their season usually ends late March anyway.  The nation’s indoor snow centres have additionally re-opened.

Nonetheless one of many oldest and largest, Yabuli, has re-opened however with the type of limitations on social proximity and elevated cleanliness necessities exercised in Sweden at current.  Retailers, eating places, theme parks, nearly every thing has restarted in China.

And the place’s not open?

Recent snow at Sunshine, Banff, this week.

Nearly in all places, sadly.

The final ski areas open in Canada and the USA have closed since Sunday and the entire ski areas in Scotland and (we predict) all in Finland – which had been all nonetheless open every week in the past – have additionally now closed.

As talked about above, Scotland and Finland are among the many newest European nations to finish snowboarding previously week.

They be a part of all ski areas within the Alps, Dolomites and Pyrenees to have closed.  Most now approaching the tip of their second week in lock down, for Italy the third week.

There was recent snowfallinf many areas although with ski areas in Italy’s central Appenines mountains reporting among the largest falls – round 30cm previously few days.

Jap Europe noticed among the largest snowfalls of the previous week with as much as 50cm in Slovakia and 25cm in Bulgaria. Right here’s quarantined Bansko in Bulgaria in the present day courtesy of the Bansko Weblog.

 

Over in North America lots of the nation’s mountains have been seeing recent snowfall.

**************

Report Under from weekend Ending 19 March, 2020

Good to Ski Proper Now?

Nicely, there has by no means been every week final this previous week within the snowboarding world. However while the virus has introduced many ski resorts to a standstill, the snow continues to be falling on the slopes and the unhappy reality is that the majority could be superb to ski proper now – it’s simply that they’re not open and in the event that they had been you couldn’t get to them and in any case they haven’t been ready.

Nicely that’s most locations, not in all places, and we might as effectively rejoice the resorts which are nonetheless open, if solely to offer us one thing to encourage ourselves with and to be jealous of the fortunate people who dwell in resort and are nonetheless capable of exit snowboarding and boarding in the event that they wish to.

So the place IS open this week (even when we will’t, or shouldn’t, get there!)  and the way is it wanting?

Scotland

Good to Ski Proper Now?

All 5 Scottish Highland centres are open and persevering with to get pleasure from among the greatest situations of the previous few seasons.  Glencoe within the West had extra recent snow on Wednesday night time and Glenshee additional east (pictured above this morning) started working one in every of its lifts for the primary time this winter on Thursday. All centres stress stringent cleanliness procedures and social distancing initiatives. All say they may shut at any time because of more and more strict authorities necessities.

Finland

Good to Ski Proper Now?

Finland appears to have taken a place to date that it’s Okay for ski centres to maintain working and all the principle centres stay open on the time of writing. What’s extra they’re posting nice situations with somewhat recent snowfall and every thing open.

Sweden

Good to Ski Proper Now?

While Norwegian ski areas determined to shut due to restricted medical services in the event that they do have an epidemic, Swedish centres are to date staying open.  Riksgransen within the north now has the deepest snow on this planet, for an open resort, with 4.4 metres mendacity. It, like many Swedish resorts, has additionally had some good snowfalls previously few days with a foot (30cm) or so of recent snow.

Canada

Good to Ski Proper Now?

Canadian ski areas have now nearly all closed, however a number of in BC within the West had been nonetheless working yesterday.  Earlier within the week a number of resorts like Marmot Basin up close to Jasper had been stressing they hoped to remain open to Might as deliberate saying they’d vast open areas and a really wholesome setting to supply, however the Albertan authorities shut-down all still-open ski areas midweek, following a transfer from Quebec earlier within the week.  Manning Park, above, was one of many final to shut for the season.

USA

Good to Ski Proper Now?

The US has seen some nice snowfalls previously week, significantly within the West with ski areas in California like Squaw Valley (above) seeing a number of metres of snowfall.  There’s extra on the best way over the subsequent few days too, rightly throughout the nation.

The resort closures right here started days after Europe and it’s a extra fragmented image with first companies, then some states and at last particular person resorts deciding to shut. T this level about 95% of US areas are closed however a dozen or so nonetheless function, stressing their lack of crowds, well being safety measures and that they suppose snowboarding is sweet for folks.

Japan

Good to Ski Proper Now?

Japan has taken a unique strategy to many of the remainder of the snowboarding world and all Japanese ski areas stay open.

It hasn’t been one of the best of ski seasons there so far after all, too usually too heat and moist however the previous week has really been colder, and snowier, on the entire, to the delight of snowboarding locals.  Appi Kogen is pictured above.

Anybody else attempting to fly there from exterior Japan now has a two week quarantine awaiting on arrival.

And the place’s now NOT open?

All resorts within the Alps, The Dolomites and The Pyrenees and Norway in addition to most ski areas in Jap Europe, Canada and the USA are all shut down because of the virus.

In lots of European nations now any outside exercise together with ski touring, cross-country snowboarding or related the place you would possibly injure your self and want to make use of hard-stretched medical services are additionally banned.

Nobody is aware of when ski areas will be capable to re-open in these locations, however some hope that it might be potential in late Might or June at some which have glaciers and usually open in late spring and summer season.

 

***(Report Under on thirteenth March, 2020) ***

With coronavirus dominating the information chances are you’ll be forgiven for forgetting that the ski season continues (besides in Italy and now giant components of Austria and Norway in addition to restricted areas of Switzerland and the Spanish Pyrenees) and the snow retains falling.

*** Please observe when it comes to open ski areas this report was posted at lunchtime on Friday 13 March, 2020 and issues are altering quick) ***

In truth it has been a moderately good week, once more, or snowfall, with ore huge dumps within the alps in addition to vital snowfall within the Pyrenees, Jap Europe, Scotland, Scandinavia and certainly the now ‘closed’ Italian Dolomites.

True it has warmed up somewhat not too long ago, and there have been complaints of rain to excessive altitudes earlier this week, an occasional drawback this season, however it’s getting cooler and snowier once more now in most locations.

Let’s hope that we will proceed to get to most ski areas for the rest of the season.

Austria

Good to Ski Proper Now?

Austria has some nice snow situations for the time being, even after temperatures climbed at some resorts to double-digits above freezing within the latter half of this week. Large snowfalls final week and earlier than these in February, imply most areas have good base depths (greater than 4 metres on the deepest, St Anton, in actual fact, and a few larger altitude areas like Solden have been reporting 20cm+ of recent snowfall when others have had some rain.  Sadly these two are among the many resorts in Salzburgerland and Tirol that shut early for the season this weekend.  At time of writing on Friday morning, ski areas like Schladming in Styria and Dangerous Kleinkirchheim in Carinthia had been nonetheless open. – The Dachstein Glacier, one of many resorts there, pictured above.

France

Good to Ski Proper Now?

France has seen extra huge snowfalls within the Alps over the previous week and in addition the most important snowfalls of 2020 to date down within the Pyrenees, the place Cauterets reported over three ft(95cm) of snow into final weekend. Within the French Aps situations are typically wonderful with every thing open though through the sudden heat snap within the latter half of this week some rain was famous as much as excessive altitudes, it’s getting cooler once more now although and the snow has saved falling with many larger areas reporting 10-30cm extra previously day or two.  La Plagne and Val Thorens amongst others have reported 20-25cm or so of snowfall within the final 24 hours.

Italy

Good to Ski Proper Now?

Italy has had one in every of its snowiest weeks of the season and was reporting wonderful situations in most areas when all ski areas had been pressured to shut on Monday this week. The Dolomites, which had not had a lot snow this yr, acquired as much as 90cm (In Cortina d’Ampezzo) on the finish of final week.

Switzerland

Good to Ski Proper Now?

It’s been an excellent week for snowfall in Switzerland too, with the Lotschental area reporting one other metre plus of snowfall previously week and the deepest base in Europe proper now at about 4.6 metres. There was snowfall right here earlier within the week and once more previously 24 hours as temperatures have cooled once more after a heat spell mid-week.  A lot of the nation’s ski areas are absolutely open, together with Andermatt, pictured above this morning.

Pyrenees

Good to Ski Proper Now?

The Pyrenees are seeing among the greatest situations of the yr to date after plenty of snow fell final week. Resorts in Andorra posted as much as 70cm of recent snow and on the French facet the falls had been even greater with 95cm reported by Cauterets (pictured above final weekend).  One other huge snowfall is anticipated on the Spanish facet of the mountains over the weekend with as much as 50cm extra snow anticipated for resorts like Formigal which sadly is among the many ones closing.

Scandinavia

Good to Ski Proper Now?

It’s somewhat ironic that simply because the Norwegian resort of Roldal posted the deepest snow on this planet this week, reaching a 5.4 metre (178 foot) snow depth and overtaking the deepest snow stage in North America, it has closed for the season, together with most Norwegian ski areas, because of coronavirus considerations.  Usually although situations are good throughout Finland and Sweden, the place ski areas are nonetheless open for now. Most areas there have had some recent snow and have all slopes open. Ruka is pictured above and prime this week.

Scotland

Good to Ski Proper Now?

Scottish ski centres proceed to get pleasure from among the greatest situations for years, and as of Friday thirteenth Narch there had been zero reported coronavirus constructive checks within the Highland area the place they’re largely positioned.  The standard points with robust winds and occasional rain or sleet when temperatures rise have come up over the past seven days however the present 48-hour interval is sunny, pretty nonetheless, and comes after extra recent snowfall midweek. Glenshee is pictured above this morning.

Jap Europe

Good to Ski Proper Now?

The coronavirus influence has closed ski areas within the Czech and Slovak Republic however ski areas in Bulgaria are to date remaining open, regardless of a ‘state of emergency’ being declared on Thursday because of the virus.  That’s excellent news for skiers as there’s been among the greatest snowfalls of the season right here previously week – 60-8-0cm in actual fact, and extra huge falls are forecast this weekend after a heat and sunny few days.  Borovets pictured above this week.

Canada

Good to Ski Proper Now?

There’s loads of snow on Canadian slopes at current, with the West getting extra respectable dumps previously week.  Resorts on each side of the nation have reported as much as 20cm of snowfall previously few days. There was a hiccup within the east earlier within the week with a return to unseasonably heat climate and rain, however it’s got colder and snowier once more now.  Banff Sunshine pictured.

USA

Good to Ski Proper Now?

The USA does have the coronavirus and Aspen has in actual fact been declared a little bit of a scorching spot with a number of doubtless constructive circumstances however ski areas there are usually not displaying any indicators of shutting down to date, only a few bigger occasions cancelled. What might shut ski areas in California down for a number of days is a large snowstorm forecast to hit the West coast over the weekend, probably bringing a number of ft of snow. It’s been snowing, extra, within the Rockies (Breckenridge pictured above). Within the East, which did have a heat and moist spell earlier within the week, it has been colder and snowier in current days.

 

**** Report From 06.03.2020 Under ****

The place is sweet to ski proper now? 

Snow, snow and extra snow has been the order of the day for a lot of the previous week within the alps – and certainly many areas of the snowboarding world.  Resorts have reported as much as 1.5 metres (5 ft) of recent snow previously seven days, giving nice powder situations at many areas, and in addition a a lot wanted slope refresh for the ultimate weeks and months of the season too.

A lot of the alps had after all seen numerous snow in February anyway, however most noticeable this previous week is that areas that missed out final month to a big extent – the Southern Alps, the Pyrenees and the Dolomites have seen good snowfall to begin March this time.

Additional afield there’s been snowfall in Jap Europe as effectively and nearer to dwelling, situations in Scotland are about pretty much as good as they’ve ever been this weekend with nearly every thing open and sunny skies.  Scandinavia has seen snowfall over a wider space than it has a lot of this winter too.

So all in all it’s a constructive image to the beginning of springtime as far as snow situations are involved.

Throughout the Atlantic it’s wanting good too. The largest information of the previous week has been heavy snow within the east additional enhancing situations in New England and Quebec, however the Rockies are nonetheless wanting good with extra recent snow and a few resorts posting report February accumulations. Additional west there’s been recent snow in California (one other of these areas that missed out earlier within the yr) with the world’s solely 5m+ snow bases nonetheless within the Pacific Northwest.

Austria

Good to Ski Proper Now?

Snowy throughout Austria for many of this previous week with St Anton turning into the primary resort within the nation to achieve a 4 metre snow depth there, forward of the nation’s glaciers, which have only a few centimetres much less and look good for his or her late spring and summer season ski seasons. There have been sunny durations in between the snowstorms however typically a really white image throughout the nation to the delight of skiers, boarders and resort operators.

France

Good to Ski Proper Now?

It has been exceptionally snowy in France with little respite all week. La Plagne has moved to publish the deepest base in Europe at 4.9 metres, which can also be third deepest on this planet at current. France now has extra ski areas, together with Avoriaz, Flaine and Les Arcs too, with greater than 4 metres (13 ft) mendacity on their larger slopes than another nation.

Italy

Good to Ski Proper Now?

Italy could also be battling a notion drawback with coronavirus at current, but it surely’s additionally seeing a few of its snowiest situations of the season to date. It’s been dumping once more on areas prefer to Aosta Valley with Courmayeur reporting probably the most snow on this planet over the past week – a complete of 1.5 metres (5 ft), however maybe extra worthy of observe within the nation is a few good snowfalls too in areas that haven’t had a lot this yr, just like the Dolomites and Piedmont to the south.  Resorts at each had been principally ‘OK’ due to be early season falls, however shall be happy with all of the recent snow now.  Bardonecchia pictured above after a 50cm fall there.

Switzerland

Good to Ski Proper Now?

Swiss ski areas have largely dominated snowfall totals over the previous week and in the previous few days there have been reported snowfalls right here of as much as 60cm (two ft).  Over seven days that doubles to 1.2 metres (4 ft) for some components of the 4 Valleys.  So it’s typically an excellent image throughout the nation for the beginning of March. Andermatt has lastly misplaced its standing as having the deepest snow within the alps, with the Lötschental area, after 58cm of snow previously 48 hours, going as much as 4.6m, ten  centimetres greater than Andermatt. Crans Montana, which stories 50cm of recent snow, is pictured above.

Pyrenees

Good to Ski Proper Now?

The Pyrenees are in snowy mode in March after the ‘principally dry’ previous few months.  There’s been as much as a metre of snowfall reported within the French Pyrenees and smaller however nonetheless vital falls on the Spanish facet and in Andorra. It’s an excellent refresh to slopes that haven’t had a lot recent snowfall since late January – though on the principal centres all of the snow mendacity from that and earlier falls meant every thing was open anyway.  Extra heavy snowfall is forecast by the weekend.  Cauterets is pictured above.

Scandinavia

Good to Ski Proper Now?

Western and Northern Scandinavian ski areas have largely had an excellent winter 19-20 however not as way more central and southerly areas which have suffered at instances from hotter temperatures than regular. The excellent news there this week robust has been snow over a much bigger space, together with these areas, resulting in among the first powder alarms for 20cm+ of recent snow they’ve had all season.

Scotland

Good to Ski Proper Now?

Circumstances have saved getting higher in Scotland and are actually amongst one of the best they’ve been at any time previously few seasons. It has saved snowing and though gales do nonetheless trigger centre closures, it’s not as fixed because it was in February. Increasingly more runs are open throughout the 5 centre and most now have snow mendacity a number of ft deep on higher runs, with Glencoe claiming over two metres there. It’s nearly filly open, the opposite centres have all or most of their terrain open too now.  Glenshee pictured above earlier this week.

Jap Europe

Good to Ski Proper Now?

It has most likely been the snowiest seven days of the season to date in lots of ski areas in jap Europe – only a little bit of a pity we’ve needed to wait till the beginning of spring for the actually good snowfalls!  Ski areas in Bulgaria reported a foot (30cm) of recent snow on the finish of final week and nice powder snowboarding on the weekend when the solar was the dominant issue of 2020 till then, returned. It stayed sunny for the primary half of this week earlier than a second wave of heavy snowfall started bringing nonetheless extra powder. Bases are actually buried as much as two metres in snow at some areas so it’s wanting good for the ultimate weeks of the 2020 season.  Borovets pictured above.

Canada

Good to Ski Proper Now?

 

There are one of the best situations of the season in Jap Canada at current after some enormous snowfalls in Quebec and Ontario final weekend gave many ski areas there a least 50cm of recent snow.  Mont Sutton in Quebec within the video above this week.  Approaching prime of some respectable snowfalls within the few weeks earlier than that it seems just like the final half of the season there’s going to play out much better than the primary half. Over within the west situations have been much better all winter anyway and the previous week has seen extra small to reasonable snowfalls protecting issues recent.

USA

Good to Ski Proper Now?

Snowy instances for a lot of the US too with some huge snowfalls on the east Coast over the weekend, adopted by some good dumps in California, Colorado and Utah initially of this week too.  Maybe the 2 areas most value speaking about are California – with snow as far south as Mammoth, as they hadn’t had a lot to date this yr (although every thing was open due to good falls on the finish of 2019) and the East which began badly however has acquired higher and higher as increasingly more snow has fallen over the previous month.  Smugglers Notch in Vermont is pictured above and prime.

****

The place is sweet to ski proper now? 

Report Under on 28 February 2020

The large information within the snowboarding world this week – when it comes to snowfall no less than – is the massive snowfall presently underway within the Alps. Some resorts have already had a metre of snow within the first 48 hours of the snowfall and while there’s a little bit of a lull anticipated into the weekend, it’s wanting like it should keep snowy over the approaching week, more often than not.

 

Resorts are warning of the inevitable elevated avalanche danger with all of the snow although, and lots of areas are absolutely or partially closed because of poor visibility and at instances robust winds linked to the snowstorm.

However again to the excellent news and there’s extra recent snow too within the Dolomites, Pyrenees, Jap Europe and Scotland – all of which want a top-up, and Scandinavia is staying snowy too.

In North America, the East Coast is presently being dumped on, after the Rockies on the weekend and right here too most areas are in fine condition for the beginning of March.

Pictured prime: Val Thorens 26 February 2020

Austria

Good to Ski Proper Now?

The snowstorm is impacting Western Austria probably the most, with southern and jap components of the nation seeing little or no snowfall to date. A lot of the nation will get some over the subsequent few days although, though it might solely be 10-20cvm for some areas, while it seems like The Arlberg, dwelling to Lech and St Anton and already one of many deepest bases within the nation at 3.5 metres, might get as a lot as a metre extra.

France

Good to Ski Proper Now?

France is presently in the course of a giant snowstorm which seems set to ship greater than a metre of snow to some areas by the weekend. It’s in actual fact anticipated to ease off in lots of areas by Friday and Saturday earlier than ramping up once more for the beginning of March. Numerous areas have had 30-70cm of snowfall to date. La Plagne, which already had the nation’s deepest base, nonetheless does, with one other 45cm to date taking it as much as 3.7m. It’s a related image in all places within the French Alps although.  Tignes pictured above in the present day.

Italy

Good to Ski Proper Now?

Italy is within the information extra for the coronavirus outbreak in Lombardy and Veneto areas that for its snowfall at current, however snow it’s getting and the forecasts are that the nation will get extra this time than many of the current February dumps which tracked north and missed giant swathe of the Italian mountains. This time although, 30-60cm is broadly forecast in all however probably the most southerly resorts and even the Dolomites expect an excellent dump.  Livigno pictured above earlier this week.

Switzerland

Good to Ski Proper Now?

Swiss resorts have posted the most important snowfalls of the most recent storm system to date (A metre within the first 48 hours for Crans Montana), and nonetheless have the deepest bases within the Alps (4.5 metres at Andermatt), and there’s way more snow forecast. Circumstances are good throughout many of the nation, Verbier, for instance, has greater than 40cm of recent snow to date, a 3.5-metre base and (as soon as the storm clears) nearly the entire 410km of the 4 Valleys open – so wanting good for the beginning of spring and the final two months of the season.  Davos is pictured above earlier this week.

Pyrenees

Good to Ski Proper Now?

 

They’re getting excited within the Pyrenees at current because it’s snowing right here for the primary time in a month for a lot of locations. In reality the shortage of recent snow hasn’t been an enormous challenge (apart from powder hounds maybe) as huge December and January snowfalls set the realm up and every thing has remained open, however then everybody likes a recent snow prime up from time to time. About 30cm (a foot) is anticipated in most areas by the weekend.

Scandinavia

Good to Ski Proper Now?

It ‘s been a snowy week in Scandinavia, probably the greatest within the season to date with most areas throughout the area seeing recent cowl.  Roldal in Western Norway has actually been sticking its measuring stick in deep and now stories a 4.5-metre base, equalling the deepest in Europe at current reported by Andermatt in Switzerland.  Riksgransen up within the Swedish Arctic (pictured above prepping for the season earlier this week) opens for its 2020 season – which runs by snowboarding underneath the midnight solar in Might to midsummers snowboarding in June, this Friday.  The snow there’s reported to be the deepest in a long time for the beginning of the season.

Scotland

Good to Ski Proper Now?

Circumstances proceed to enhance in Scotland with the gales of the previous three weeks easing over the previous few days, however the snow nonetheless falling with the winds swinging round to easterlies, and temperatures on the mountains staying beneath freezing since final weekend, not struggling the temperature rises which are continuously an element.  Consequently, the 5 Highland ski areas have increasingly more terrain open, and the forecast is presently for situations to remain chilly and for extra snow to fall over the approaching week. Glencoe presently has probably the most terrain open with nearly the entire mountain skiable, the opposite 4 centres have extra restricted terrain open.

Jap Europe

Good to Ski Proper Now?

 

Right here’s been recent snow falling in Bulgaria over the previous 24 hours as temperatures drop about 10 levels beneath zero – 20-30cm is forecast by the tip of Friday.  This appears to be a little bit of a blip in in any other case normally heat and sunny climate although, and it seems like we’ll be again to that for the weekend – however with pretty recent snow.

Canada

Good to Ski Proper Now?

There have been some good snowfalls in Canada over the previous week with first the West of the nation and previously few days, the east seeing some vital accumulations of 30-50cm.  Issues have calmed down now although and it seems like a reasonably quiet week forward for snowfall.  However the image stays good throughout most of Canada with respectable depths in all places and recent snow too, significantly marked within the East after the lengthy look forward to good situations there, all resolved now.  Solar Peaks in BC pictured above.

USA

Good to Ski Proper Now?

It’s presently snowing in New England and the broader Jap facet of the US, with resorts in Vermont and Maine anticipating as much as 40cm/16 inches of snowfall by the weekend. Circumstances listed here are nice after the shaky begin to the season, with every thing op. Over in Colorado Breckenridge set a February snowfall report and hit 7.5 metres (300 inches) snowfall this season so far stat earlier this week because the Rockies noticed one other huge snowfall.  Additional west it’s described as “springlike” in California (effectively it’s practically spring), which means dry, heat and sunny although. However bases ought to see the areas right here by the rest of the season. Additional north it has saved dumping on Alaska and the Pacific Northwest, nonetheless the one are reporting a 5 metre plus snow base (521cm at Alpental in Washington State).  Sunday River in Maine pictured prime.

 

*****

The place is sweet to ski proper now? 

Report beneath printed 20 February, 2020

It’s been a quieter week within the Alps after three huge snowfalls over the earlier three weeks.  There was some recent snow initially of this week for many areas, however simply 5-20cm, not the massive 50cm+ falls of these earlier dumps. Now although the solar is out nearly in all places It seems like a sunny (and typically moderately heat) weekend earlier than cooler and extra unsettled climate returns subsequent week.

Not in all places although, it has been, and continues to, dump down in Scotland and far of Scandinavia and there’s snow anticipated down in Bulgaria over the previous few days of this week too.

Over in North America it’s an excellent image nearly in all places. The Northwest and the Rockies have seen the most important snowfalls of the previous week, once more, with 50-120cm reported there however issues look ever higher within the Straightforward too – New England and Quebec.  Not a lot as additional West however good 10-30cm prime ups now every thing is open there.

Austria

Good to Ski Proper Now?

There have been nonetheless some recent snow stories in Austria as much as Thursday morning, with the Arlberg and Silvretta area amongst these posting 20cm of recent snow then, however the weekend forward seems completely sunny, and at instances somewhat warfare, in Austria.  Snow situations proceed to look good throughout the nation with the deepest up on glaciers (round 3.7 metres now mendacity on the Stubai and above Solden), while the massive areas just like the Arlberg, Saalbach (pictured above this week) and the Skiwelt are absolutely open.

France

Good to Ski Proper Now?

The sunshine is out now in France but it surely was reasonably snowy in lots of components to begin the week, and certainly proper by to Wednesday.  Chamonix posted 11cm of recent on Monday, Avoriaz, 15cm on Wednesday morning. Base depths stay good from prime to backside at many of the nation’s vacation spot resorts with every thing open. Though its’s wanting unseasonably heat on the weekend, they need to get by that and there’s cooler climate following subsequent week.  Meribel is pictured above and prime.

Italy

Good to Ski Proper Now?

 

There’s not loads of change on Italian ski slopes this week in comparison with final, with little or no recent snowfall once more, only a few centimetres on Tuesday/Wednesday.  The solar is out now once more right here too and it’s wanting somewhat hotter than it must be at the moment of yr on the weekend, earlier than colder climate returns subsequent week. A number of the nation’s smaller, decrease extra southerly areas are struggling within the heat, dry situations however many of the giant, vacation spot resorts are absolutely open and in fine condition. Some areas did see rain earlier within the week, which left slopes icy the subsequent day, however as soon as groomed after which with the recent snow on prime, all is wanting a lot better once more. Cervinia, La Thuile and Madesimo have among the deepest snow within the nation.

Switzerland

Good to Ski Proper Now?

 

It’s typically good situations throughout Switzerland at current with every thing open and a few recent snow. Certainly the snow saved falling longer than anticipated, with Glacier 3000 close to Gstaad reporting 20cm on Thursday morning when sunshine was being forecast only a day earlier than, and snow might now proceed to fall in to Friday, earlier than hotter, sunnier climate arrives.  Crans Montana hosts three days of world cup racing from Friday in order that they’ll need the clear skies.  Andermatt nonetheless has the deepest base within the Alps at 4.5 metres.

Pyrenees

Good to Ski Proper Now?

The Pyrenees noticed some colder climate and recent snowfall to begin this week and had been eager to advertise the actual fact after a video of a helicopter dumping snow to patch up a run at one of many area’s smaller, decrease resorts went viral.  The fact although is that the snow is fairly god and every thing open in any respect the larger areas in Andorra, Spain and most spots in France. The very largest, Grandvalira, stories each run open and each elevate turning with all 240km of groomed terrain skiable.

Scandinavia

Good to Ski Proper Now?

Loads of recent snow in Scandinavia over the previous week and plenty of social media posts of skiers and boarders having fun with the powder. Certainly the area, particularly Western Norway, once more posted probably the most snow in Europe, with as much as 1.5 metres (5 ft) extra there.  However proper as much as Lapland many of the area’s vacation spot resorts are reporting they’re absolutely open with good snow situations and quickly lengthening daylight.

Scotland

Good to Ski Proper Now?

Scotland has seen some huge snowfalls over the previous week, particularly heavy within the west, however sadly additionally gale pressure winds (particularly robust within the west) which has closed slopes extra usually than they’ve been capable of open.  The week forward seems like an identical image once more.  There’s much less snow and fewer runs with enough snow cowl to open within the Central and Jap Highlands however Cairngorm and Glenshee have been capable of open runs extra usually. Cairngorm has needed to shut its slopes to extra skiers on a number of events in actual fact because it has reached capability.  Glencoe is pictured above on ‘the nice day’ final Thursday.

Jap Europe

Good to Ski Proper Now?

There’s been extra recent snowfall in Bulgaria over the previous few days and there’s extra on the best way over the subsequent few days too, earlier than blue skies return, if the forecasts are appropriate. It’s nonetheless not a classic winter, with inexperienced valleys and one of the best situations up excessive, however many of the centres are principally open at current.

Canada

Good to Ski Proper Now?

Good situations from East to West coasts in Canada for the time being. That’s maybe most noteworthy in Quebec after the poor begin to the season there, however common snowfalls over the previous few weeks have left powder snow there.  It’s wanting good nonetheless in Alberta and BC as effectively.

USA

Good to Ski Proper Now?

A lot of the US stories good snow situations on ski slopes at current. The nation’s Northwest nook, together with Alaska, has once more seen the heaviest snowfall of the previous week and continues to report the world’s deepest snowpack in Washington state the place it’s mendacity as much as 5.2 metres (over 17 ft) deep.  However there’s been extra good snowfalls within the Rockies too and on the east coast the place in all places, no less than the main vacation spot resorts, are absolutely open with recent cowl.

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Report beneath from 13 February 2020

It has been a snowy week for many of Europe over the past seven days. Storm Ciara additionally introduced robust winds between Monday and Wednesday, however even with out the storm, the snow has saved falling and while most areas look set for a dry weekend, the snowfall is anticipated to return initially of subsequent week to many areas.

Away from the alps it has been snowy too in jap Europe, Scotland (The place situations are presently one of the best they’ve been all winter) and far of Scandinavia. Not a lot on the southern facet of Europe – the Pyrenees and Dolomites.

It’s been a principally good week throughout North America too with the stand out snowfalls in Colorado and Utah – as a result of there was simply a lot snow – as much as 1.5m (5 ft) in 72 hours reported, and in Quebec, simply because they’d had a lacklustre first few months of the season there but it surely now seems way more ‘regular’ finally.

Austria

Good to Ski Proper Now?

 

Austrian ski areas acquired among the largest snowfalls from the storms initially of this week, with a number of areas reporting greater than three ft (90cm) of snowfall, while most others posted 30-60cm (1-2 foot) accumulations.  A lot of the nation’s ski areas are absolutely open and there’s extra snow anticipated initially of subsequent week after a dry, sunny (and maybe at instances somewhat too heat) weekend for many.

France

Good to Ski Proper Now?

It’s wanting good throughout the French Alps this weekend after one other foot or so of snowfall for many through the storms earlier this week. It wasn’t fairly so good for these really in resort because the storms hit, as a result of many slopes had been closed, and in some circumstances together with Avoriaz whole ski areas, however now every thing is open once more, it’s wanting good. Bases are even deeper too, with La Plagne now reporting 1.5m (5 ft) at it’s base, three metres (10 ft) mendacity up excessive.  It’s snowing once more in lots of areas to finish the week so it seems like bases will get even deeper.

Italy

Good to Ski Proper Now?

Little change for Italy in comparison with every week in the past with little recent snowfall besides up on the nation’s northern borders, because the storm system handed somewhat to the north, though some resorts had been impacted by robust winds. Circumstances stay good for main resorts throughout Italy although due to the respectable bases constructed up fro m earlier falls in December and January.  Most resorts are absolutely open. Pila is pictured.

Switzerland

Good to Ski Proper Now?

Swiss ski areas did do effectively from the current snowstorms this week, no less than once they re-opened slopes after the wind-eased. Some centres reported as much as 60cm of recent snow, subsequent greatest after Austria, though others did report rain at instances.  It’s now snowing once more however typically the image is excellent throughout the nation and Andermatt continues to have Europe’s deepest base though it’s down one other 10cm (regardless of reporting 10cm of recent snowfall) to 4 metres

Pyrenees

Good to Ski Proper Now?

The Pyrenees haven’t had lots of the storm points confronted within the Alps to the north and east, nor the snow that has include it.  What they’ve had is about three weeks of principally sunny situations now, and all of the bigger resorts are absolutely open due to the massive snowfalls acquired in January and December.  It’s a little heat although and a few recent snow could be good once more now. At the moment it seems like there must be somewhat recent cowl initially of subsequent week – only a few centimetres/inches refresh.

Scandinavia

Good to Ski Proper Now?

Though some ski areas within the alps posted ore than a metre of snowfall this previous week, Western Norway’s Voss went higher once more, posting a complete of 1.8 metres (six ft) of snow within the final seven days – much like totals each week this season to date.  This week although most of Scandinavia is posting loads of recent snow – not simply the West and North as has been the case some weeks. As the times get longer situations simply maintain getting higher and higher.

Scotland

Good to Ski Proper Now?

It’s one of the best situations this season, and equalling one of the best for the previous few seasons, on Scottish ski slopes at current. After the slopes had been closed by gales from storm Ciara till Wednesday as soon as crews might entry the hills they discovered plenty of snow had been left by the storm too and now greater than half of the nation’s 100+ ski runs are open for the primary time this winter… Glencoe is nearly absolutely open. Extra snowfall forecast this weekend and temperatures staying low.

Jap Europe

Good to Ski Proper Now?

Snowy instances in jap Europe as situations proceed to enhance.  Bansko, the most important resort in Bulgaria snow was reported on Thursday proper all the way down to the village and the opposite main ski areas within the nation, together with Borovets and Pamporovo, have been posting ‘winter wonderland’ photographs all week.

Canada

Good to Ski Proper Now?

The snow is mendacity as much as three metres deep in Wester Canada and there’s been extra snowfall there previously few days, however the principle information was a 30cm+ snowfall for Quebec within the east (as forecast final week), one of the best of the winter to date and enabling areas like Mont Sainte Anne that had been struggling to open to lastly absolutely open all runs this week.

USA

Good to Ski Proper Now?

Snow, snow and extra snow for a lot of the US the previous week. Not at all times excellent news as some resorts struggled with opening terrain (Vail needed to apologise for the huge elevate queues when it might solely open one key entry elevate), avalanche hazard and different points like excessive wind chill and tree effectively hazard in varied places.  However, general, excellent news after all with the Rockies actually dumped on with as much as 5 ft of snow reported for areas like Alta and Breckenridge. Ski areas within the Pacific Northwest nook acquired much more, once more, and have the deepest snow on this planet, nonetheless, at over 5 metres. Circumstances within the northeast proceed to look good with low temperatures and extra recent snow there.

 

 

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Report Under From Week Ending seventh February, 2020

The Alps are in wonderful situation following heavy snowfall on Tuesday and Wednesday that introduced as much as a metre of recent cowl throughout many of the area.

The snow – the second huge fall in every week – marked a unbroken swap to extra changeable situations in February, then January, though earlier than the recent snow rolled in there was the draw back of that – a quick interval of very heat climate and rain to begin the week.

The solar is shining once more now although and most areas have close to good situations for the weekend, though a 3rd successive weekly snowstorm is forecast to roll in in the course of subsequent week. Hopefully it gained’t get too heat in between instances this time.

(La Plagne on Wednesday)

Elsewhere, the Pyrenees have been dry and somewhat too heat however bases are holding up. Scandinavia stays divided in to good (north and west) and unhealthy (south and East), Jap Europe has had some good snowfalls and its and enhancing image (once more) in Scotland after the most recent reset.

In north America it’s a typically good image throughout the continent with the world’s deepest base reported passing the5 metre mark in the previous few days, extra recent snow and a giant storm because of convey much more over the weekend.

Austria

It has been a curler coaster week in Austria.  Following recent snow then nice situations every week in the past the nice and cozy weekend climate introduced rain to many areas, because it did throughout the Alps, earlier than heavy snow moved in from Monday to Wednesday. The outcome, now the solar is shining is once more, is nice situations throughout the nation – one of the best of the season to date for a lot of.  Mayrhofen is pictured above on the top of the snowstorm on Tuesday.

France

Nice situations within the French Alps after 20-50cm extra recent snow reported right here, serving to to construct on already well-established bases.  A lot of the nation’s main areas now have 2 metres plus mendacity on larger runs and every thing open. Even low-lying valley resorts have snow all the best way down, albeit somewhat skinny down low. Off piste avalanche hazard is mostly at stage 3 “appreciable” nonetheless however on the piste the solar is out and situations are nice (Val thorens pictured prime and above this week).

Italy

Italy’s Westerly and northern ski areas noticed the most important snowfalls from the midweek storm, selecting up 20-40cm of snow. Cervinia reported probably the most.  Much less snow elsewhere though the Dolomites picked up a number of centimetres and the SellaRonda was briefly closed by low visibility points. Sunny once more now throughout many of the nation although, right here too some snow is anticipated in the course of subsequent week.

Switzerland

Nice situations for Switzerland after the nation picked up among the heaviest snowfall within the midweek storms. The solar is out once more now and skiers are having fun with enjoying in as much as a metre of recent snow as slopes progressively re-open as lifts are dug out and avalanche hazard assessed.  Andermatt now has the deepest snow in Europe at 4.3 metres. it’s the primary time base depths have gone up above 4 metres on the continent for six weeks.

Pyrenees

It has been too heat within the Pyrenees over the previous week or two with temperatures staying largely above freezing and someday touching double figures, but it surely’s not a giant drawback on the slopes, fortunately, as the massive snowfall a fortnight in the past and earlier huge December snow storms means the bottom is mostly good and every thing is open. Colder climate within the forecast now and possibly somewhat snowfall subsequent week.

Scandinavia

Ski areas in western Norway proceed to publish common snowfalls, as they’ve all winter when it was dry within the Alps, and bases have now reached the two metre mark at a lot of centres – very deep for Scandinavia. There’s additionally been some good snowfalls throughout the area though situations stay greatest within the west and north of the realm.

Scotland

It’s nonetheless not an excellent winter in Scotland however there was some recent snowfall and temperatures have stayed low so after final weekend’s irritating thawing of snow that fell every week in the past earlier than it may very well be skied as storms closed lifts, it’s wanting extra promising for the tip of this week – though there are extra storms on the best way after all. Glencoe, Nevis Vary (pictured above on Thursday sixth Feb) and Glenshee all have extra than simply the small areas maintained by all-weather snowmaking open.

Jap Europe

One of the best week of the season to date with heavy snow finally for Bulgarian slopes, remodeling situations there. Within the Tatra mountains additional north in Slovakia there have been some huge 50cm+ accumulations at prime resorts like Jasna too – so all in all of the area has been reworked after the snow shortages initially of the season.

Canada

Nice snow situations within the West, once more, with resorts in Alberta and BC reporting as much as 50cm of recent snow in 24 hours over the previous few days. And its not like they’ve not been reporting related falls all winter to date. Extra troubled instances nonetheless within the East with restricted snow in Quebec though an enhancing image on only a few weeks in the past. The excellent news is a big snow storm is forecast within the subsequent few days which might convey a ‘transformative’ 30cm+ to many areas there.

USA

Nice situations in most components of the US, no less than when it comes to the principle worldwide ski areas. Within the West there’s been extra snow for the Rockies and Mt Hood Meadows in Oregon posted a 5m+ base depth – the deepest on this planet at current. On the East situations stay one of the best they’ve all season following current falls and a giant new snowstorm is about to dump extra snow over the weekend right here.

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Report Under to 3o January 2020

The Alps have been the main focus for snowfall information this week with some huge accumulations over the previous 72 hours – most resorts have had no less than 30cm (a foot) of snow, some as a lot as 60cm, (two ft) and some have gone past 90cm (three ft) and even over the metre mark. It’s the most important snowfall within the area since earlier than Christmas and it come after even greater falls for components of the Pyrenees final week.  The heaviest falls to date have been within the Western Alps however the snow is falling in all places and the beginning of February I beginning to look a lot snowier after the largely sunny, dry January – though it’s early days.

Elsewhere in Europe it’s stayed snowy in Western Scandinavia and Scotland’s West coast ski slopes are in among the greatest form they’ve been this season.  There’s been somewhat snow down in Bulgaria too.

Throughout the Atlantic the snow has stayed heavy on the Pacific Coast with some resorts there reporting greater than a metre of snowfall and the world’s deepest base (4.5m/15 ft) at Mt Baker in Washington State. Snow too on the east which is sweet information for each Quebec and New England.

Austria

Austria has had a snowy few days with the Arlberg area amongst these seeing the most important falls since Tuesday – with greater than 60cm (two ft) reported there. It has now eased off and there are some nice situations with the recent snow, however the week forward is wanting like a extra combined image with snowfall some days and sunny days others.  So it’s early days however February might show completely different to dry February. A bit earlier this week:

France

French ski areas have seen among the largest snowfall of the previous few days and with the solar now shining once more it’s a case of every thing open, deep recent snow and close to good situations in most areas. Bonneval posted the most important fall – 90cm/3 ft in three days though La Rosiere say they’ve had a bit extra previously week in complete. The French Pyrenees which acquired as much as 1.5 metres (5 ft) final week additionally acquired one other 30cm (Foot) earlier this.  However briefly, it’s good just about in all places. Les Menuires within the 3 Valleys pictured.

 

Italy

Italy has had some recent snow too – simply not a lot as additional north in most areas. The exception is the Aosta Valley (Cervinia, Courmayeur and others) alongside the French/Swiss border the place resorts have reported as much as 60cm of snowfall to date, and it’s doubtless somewhat extra earlier than the storm absolutely ends. However most areas have had maybe 10-30cm of snowfall proper throughout the nation over to the Dolomites within the east and that has given an excellent refresh to the already fully-open ski areas with no need space to close runs or shut utterly because of too heavy snow and gales.  Campiglio pictured above on Wednesday.

Switzerland

It’s been a really snowy few days in Switzerland too with lots of the nation’s ski space closed – no less than partially and in some circumstances utterly – because of the mixture of robust winds and heavy snow inflicting blizzard situations at instances. By the shut of Wednesday a number of ski space within the nation’s western Valais canton had posted 90cm (three ft) accumulations, among the biggest anyplace in Europe.  However even the place the falls haven’t been so huge, most of Switzerland’s slopes have had an excellent refresh. They’re additionally heading towards the deepest bases in Europe once more with Andermatt again as much as a 4 metre base.  Saas Grund pictured.

Pyrenees

The situations are typically thought to be one of the best they’ve been all winter within the Pyrenees following the massive snowfalls final week. Bases have nearly doubled at some areas, there’s nonetheless recent powder off piste, the solar is again out and every thing is open, an excellent begin for February.  Andorra’s Grandvalira, the most important ski space within the area with 210km of slopes, all presently open, is pictured above in the present day.

Scandinavia

It’s a combined image in Scandinavia with Western Norway persevering with to publish probably the most recent snowfall within the area, because it has since Christmas (in actual fact most weeks it had probably the most snow in Europe). A much less glad image at decrease, extra southerly ski centres within the area (typically it has too usually been heat and moist moderately than chilly and snowy) though many of the huge resorts are full open, or practically so.

Scotland

As most weeks, Scottish ski areas have seen solar, rain, cloud, blue skies, gale pressure wind, nonetheless durations, subzero temps and unseasonably heat temps, it’s an excellent achievement that the centres handle to maintain working. This week the resorts on the West – Glencoe and Nevis vary – have needed to better of the snowfall and have been capable of open numerous terrain, though each had been closed by the gales midweek. Nonetheless the weekend, regardless of temperature rising once more, is believed to be wanting good. There was much less snowfall and consequently there’s much less open within the East, with little past the areas created by all-weather snowmaking skiable on the nation’s different resorts to date.

Jap Europe

It’s nonetheless not one of the best of winters in jap Europe with little or no pure snowfall to date this season for a lot of resorts. That stated nearly all of the area’s greater centres have most of their runs open thanks partly to heroic snow administration and snow motion efforts. There’s additionally been somewhat recent snowfall in Bulgaria. Temperatures persevering with to range between effectively beneath and effectively above freezing.  Borovets pictured above on Wednesday.

Canada

The main focus has been on western Canada for many of this season with moderately troubled instances within the East (Quebec and Ontario) with usually heat or moist climate within the early season, then freezing rain moderately than snow. However the previous few weeks have seen huge enhancements and now most areas are largely and even absolutely (within the case of Mont Sutton) open with skinny bases rising due to recent snow. It had been the identical on the nation’s Pacific Coast however there have been enormous snowfalls there all January with previous week no exception and Whistler is now absolutely open. Alberta and Jap/Central BC have had an excellent winter for the reason that tart and its been one other good week right here with extra snow.

USA

Circumstances are good throughout a lot of the US at current. The heaviest snow has continued to fall on the Pacific Northwest nook of the nation the place Mt baker has the world’s deepest snow at current (4.5 metres/15 ft), however there’s been plenty of snow in areas extra generally visited by worldwide travellers too together with Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and Vermont.  Stowe is pictured above this week.

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This Report from 23 January 2020

After practically a month with little change within the climate in Western Europe there was snow within the Alps and the Pyrenees within the final week.

The snowfall within the Pyrenees has been significantly dramatic with ski areas on the French facet of the mountains reporting as much as 1.5 metres (5 ft) of snowfall this week.  Within the Alps the falls final weekend had been extra like 20-60cm in most areas.

Elsewhere it has saved snowing in Western Scandinavia and there was snow in Scotland too, though sadly very heat climate quickly after.

Apart from the Pyrenees, the heaviest snowfall on this planet this week has once more been in North-western North America with ski areas on the Pacific Coast reporting metre-plus accumulations for a 3rd week in a row.

Austria

The sunshine is again out once more in Austria after a snowy weekend, the heaviest falls reported on Sunday.  It has turned sunny once more for the reason that weekend so we’re again to the way it was – every thing open in any respect the massive resorts, a bit too heat at instances, however with a recent coat of snow! Extra snow is forecast, though most likely lighter, on the weekend and subsequent week seems extra changeable with snow anticipated later within the week.

France

There was some snowfall within the French Alps final weekend giving an excellent refresh of the slopes. Alpe d’Huez reported one of many largest snowfalls with 40cm of snow, but it surely’s the French Pyrenees that has been making snowfall headlines with among the largest dumps of the season utterly remodeling situations there. The solar is out once more although now and there are good situations on the groomed runs and a little bit of off piste powder in locations nonetheless too.

Italy

Italian ski areas didn’t see fairly a lot snow as ski areas in Austria, France and Switzerland on the weekend however most areas acquired some no less than and there was fairly heavy snowfall at resorts within the Westerly Piedmont area.  As with the remainder of Western Europe many of the nation’s huge resorts are absolutely open and there are early indicators of some huge snowfalls, significantly within the west of the nation, across the center of subsequent week.

Switzerland

 

An identical story in Switzerland to the remainder of the Alps with some recent snowfall on the weekend giving a pleasant refresh to the slopes, which had been all already open at nearly all areas. Because the weekend it has been again to wall to wall sunshine for many areas although and somewhat heat at decrease elevations, however typically wonderful situations. Extra snow is anticipated right here in the course of subsequent week.

Pyrenees

 

The Pyrenees was the place the snowfall has been at over the previous 72 hours with enormous snowfalls proper throughout the area. The volumes of snow mixed with stormy climate at instances, led to a lot of centres closing for a time, however most have now re-opened with outstanding powder situations.

Scandinavia

Western Norway was snowy as soon as once more this previous week, if lastly eclipsed by the Pyrenees after being the snouiest spot in Europe for the earlier month. Vosss now has a base of practically two metres and most different ski areas are wanting good within the areas. Additional east and south in to Sweden its not fairly such an excellent image with dry and heat climate impacting ski areas there.

Scotland

The week began effectively in Scotland, significantly on the West coast the place Glencoe and Nevis Vary had loads of terrain open following final week’s snowfalls. However then heat climate arrived once more melting a lot of it. Subsequent week seems good once more although, significantly on the west as soon as extra, with loads of snow forecast.

Jap Europe

One other week of principally dry, usually sunny climate in a lot of Jap Europe, and temperatures somewhat too heat once more. Bansko (pictured above) has most of its terrain open however different Bulgarian areas have extra restricted terrain skiable. Some snow up within the Slovak Republic on the weekend so issues there are wanting higher at largest resort, Jasna.

Canada

The largest snowfalls in North America this week have been in Western Canada with a quantity f resorts reporting over a metre extra snow. Whistler Blackcomb has gone from having solely a fraction of its runs open for Christmas to all 200+ in the present day. Inland resorts like Revekstoke (pictured) have had snowy instances since November and northing has modified there. Colder and drier over in Alberta however resorts there have loads of snow mendacity. Excellent news too for the east of the nation the place there’s been an honest dump, finally, in Quebec.

USA

It’s been one other snowy week for a lot of the US. Once more the snowfall was heaviest within the Northwest nook because it has been since Christmas, and a number of other areas acquired a metre extra, additional constructing bases which are already presently the world’s deepest at greater than 4 metres. The West Coast snowfall moved additional south this week and after a dry spell Mammoth Mountain was again to being full of powder turns and pristine groom runs after 9-10” in a single day on Friday. The snow situations had been adopted by bluebird skies within the forecast. The mountain is reporting a present season complete at 135” at Principal Lodge and 158” on the summit.  There was snowfall too over on the East Coast additional enhancing situations there with some 10-20 inch accumulations.

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Report beneath from 16 January, 2020

It’s been dry for a fourth week within the Alps. That’s not unhealthy information for many skiers glad to ski freshly groomed runs within the sunshine every morning as many of the continent’s well-known resorts stay absolutely open due to all of the snow they acquired within the autumn, which continues to be mendacity on their slopes. It’s much less excellent news for anybody after powder or for smaller, low mendacity resorts which didn’t get a lot snow and the place it has usually been too heat for snowmaking if they’ve the gear.

It wasn’t dry throughout Europe this week although. After three weeks the Pyrenees acquired some snow on the weekend and it has stayed snowy in a lot of Scandinavia. It has additionally acquired colder once more with some recent snow in Scotland turning hills white once more.  There may be additionally snow forecast throughout a lot of the Alps this coming weekend, finally.

Within the USA it’s nonetheless dumping within the West, significantly on the Pacific Coast which had such a heat moist autumn. After a second successive week of five-foot plus snowfalls there it’s now dwelling to the deepest snowpack not solely in North America but in addition overtaking the deepest within the Alps for the deepest on this planet.  There have been some good snowfalls too additional inland on the Rockies once more in addition to over on the East Coast.

Austria

It’s been one other dry week in Austria with situations little modified on every week in the past., The principle vacation spot resorts stay in typically fine condition with all runs open however recent snow, significantly on decrease slopes, is required now after practically a month. The excellent news is there’s some forecast – most likely 20-40cm, all being effectively, throughout the nation from Saturday.  Saalbach pictured prime, St Anton above.

France

It has been one other sunny week in most French mountains, with snow depths dropping somewhat as they normally would within the spring because the snow settles and thaws, however nonetheless, for many vacation spot resorts on-piste situations stay nice, with all runs open and all lifts working. Solely smaller, decrease resorts that by no means had a lot snow within the first place proceed to endure. Not a lot off-piste snow left both though the avalanche hazard is fairly low.  There was snow within the French Pyrenees on the weekend, nevertheless, freshening issues up there. The French Alp and Pyrenees are lastly because of see a change this coming weekend with 20-40cm of snow forecast throughout the nation. Avoriaz pictured above initially of this week.

Italy

 

Italy has seen little change within the dry and sunny situations this week too however slopes right here as effectively are principally wanting good due to autumn accumulations staying intact and once more practically all the key centres are absolutely open. Snow is forecast right here too this weekend however maybe not fairly a lot as additional north and with only a few centimetres for the Dolomites.

Switzerland

It’s been sunny once more in Switzerland too and after a chilly begin to the week somewhat heat previously few days too, though right here in addition to a giant temperature drop and snow is anticipated by the weekend, with 20-40cm anticipated in most areas. Within the meantime right here too base depths are principally good, larger slopes greatest and every thing is open on the greater resorts.  Verbier pictured this week above.

Pyrenees

The Pyrenees did get some recent snow final weekend to refresh cowl with 5-15cm for many areas, they usually’re because of get a second weekend of snow this coming weekend too with, hopefully, somewhat greater than final weekend. In between, dry, sunny, and somewhat too heat right here too, however once more many of the area’s principal ski areas are absolutely open and on-piste situations typically wonderful.

Scandinavia

One a part of Europe has seen plenty of snow while the remainder has been dry and sunny and that’s Western Norway.  The previous week has seen snowfall right here simply get heavier with ski areas round Norway’s coastal city of Voss (above) reporting as much as 1.3 metres (over 4 ft) of snowfall previously week. Different areas within the area have had much less snow, however nonetheless, most have had some.

Scotland

Scottish slopes are in about one of the best form they’ve been for practically a month due to chilly temperatures on the mountain and hill snow. Resorts have been closed by the week by extreme gales and people winds have blown snow off the highest of the mountains however areas together with Glencoe say they’ve fairly good mid-mountain snow cowl they usually hope to open terrain this Friday on.

Jap Europe

One other dry, sunny week within the east of Europe too, a bit too heat down within the valleys. So the snow has been there an extended whereas now and is essentially machine-made on decrease slopes with one of the best situations up excessive. Bansko (pictured above this week) is because of stage World Cup racing subsequent week and has maintained its prime to backside ski run.

Canada

There’s been plenty of snow in western Canada, and a few for the East too, with a typically good image now throughout the nation. Beginning within the Far West, the place it was too heat and moist as much as Christmas, resorts like Whistler are actually greater than half-open. It has additionally continued to dump down inland, the place it has been snowy all winter in Central and Jap BC in addition to in Alberta, and now nonetheless extra snow has left deep powder mendacity.  Nevertheless it has been chilly too, Marmot Basin close to Jasper is presently closed for security causes as temperature hit -35C  Additional east, the place Quebec additionally had a nasty a season begin, it’s now a lot better, with bases lastly constructing, though there have been issues with freezing rain once more.  Solar peaks in BC pictured above this week.

USA

There have been extra unbelievable snowfalls within the US west for a second successive week which means a number of resorts have now had greater than 2 metres of snowfall this yr already, Jackson Gap has had greater than three metres, a report for the beginning of a yr.  There’s been snow within the east too, on larger, extra northerly slopes, though decrease and extra southerly areas have had extra rain and are struggling to open a lot terrain.  Sunday Rover in Maine pictured above.

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Snow report beneath printed tenth January, 2020

Europe has seen its second principally sunny week in a row, leaving most individuals out snowboarding for New 12 months’s week fairly pleased with what they discovered.  There have been bumper crowds so the principle grievance was busy slopes and elevate queues however with practically each run open and the solar shining, many stated it was their greatest New 12 months week in years, or ever.  Now these vacation crowds have gone and situations stay good due to the November and pre-Christmas December snow. 

True, decrease slopes are struggling somewhat (in a number of locations rather a lot) from above zero temps and little or no snow cowl, however for many vacation spot resorts the slopes are open top-to-bottom.  Those that like their powder could also be hoping for extra recent quickly although, however sadly there’s not rather a lot within the forecast at current with extra of the identical anticipated for the week forward.

Scandinavia has really posted the most important snowfalls in Europe of the previous week with as much as 60cm (two foot) of latest snow in Norway. Scottish areas are battling heat, moist, windy climate and there’s an enhancing image in Jap Europe.

Issues are additionally wanting ever higher in North America the place the northwest has seen some enormous snowfalls (over 150cm/5 ft in a single case) and practically in all places has had no less than some recent snow!

Pictured prime: “ghost searching” in Solar Peaks, BC, Canada on Jan 8, 2020.

Austria

 

It’s been a largely heat and sunny week in Austria the place the entire nation’s main ski areas are absolutely open.  The moderately heat January temperatures has led to some rain down on decrease slopes however has fallen as snow up excessive.  General the image is sweet on the groomed runs although, particularly now the New 12 months crowds have moved on and the week forward guarantees extra of the identical.

France

Splendid situations throughout the French Alps for a 3rd week and now all the brand new yr revellers have moved on the slopes are empty too. As with the remainder of the Alps, nearly all main centres are absolutely open with good snow depths prime to backside, however one of the best situations up excessive. It has clouded over somewhat to finish this week and 5-10cm of snow is forecast for Friday/Saturday which ought to freshen issues up.  La Plagne pictured this week.

Italy

 

Italy has additionally had a dry, principally sunny week throughout the nation. As with the remainder of western Europe skiers are largely glad to search out nearly all terrain open and nice situations, solely powder hounds could also be lacking the diminishing quantity of off piste powder to be discovered now that a number of weeks have passed by for the reason that final snowfall in lots of areas. There’s no snowfall within the forecast at current both, maybe only a few centimetres alongside the French border on Friday.

Switzerland

It’s an identical story in Switzerland – in all places open, respectable snow depths, however snow up excessive, principally sunny situations however the likelihood of a small snowfall to finish this week earlier than a return to extra of the identical. Any snow will more than likely be in central and western components of the nation, not the East.  Andermatt (pictured above) stories a 4 metre base up prime – joint deepest on this planet with Trentino’s Presena glacier.

Pyrenees

 

The Pyrenees have had one other largely dry week with no recent snow to report and there’s not a lot signal of any within the forecast both.  However most resorts within the area are absolutely open – meaning greater than 160km of runs skiable at Spain’s Baqueira Beret and greater than 200km at Andorra’s Grandvalira shared by Soldeu El Tarter and Pas de la Casa.  There’s no snowfall within the forecast at current.

Scandinavia

Scandinavian ski areas have seen probably the most recent snow this previous week, with constant snowfalls throughout the area, a number of areas reporting 20-25cm in 24 hour durations. So it’s a snowy image right here and positively the place to be at current when you like your snow newly fallen!  Ruka in Lapland above.

Scotland

It has been snowing once more on Scottish mountains to finish the week after one other topsy turvy week with double digit temperatures and gale pressure winds at instances. All 5 highland centres are nonetheless open although due to their particular snowmaking machines which might create snow even when it’s above freezing. The open terrain is proscribed prime nursery slopes and some brief runs at current although till issues get extra persistently chilly and snowy.  Cairngorm pictured 9 Jan above.

Jap Europe

There’s been recent snow in components of Slovakia this previous week with Jasna reporting about 50cm of reports snow for the reason that begin of the week. In Bulgaria it has been snowmaking permitting resorts to open extra terrain this week because it has been sunny however typically chilly. Some recent snow is anticipated right here on Sunday although.  Borovets pictured above on Jan ninth.

Canada

In Canada Whistler Blackcomb has posted probably the most snow this week with practically a metre (39 inches) of recent snow.  Right here too it had been a really unhealthy begin to the winter and the resort, with North America’s largest ski space, had solely been capable of open a small a part of it as much as Christmas because it was too heat and moist. It now stories a 1.7 metre base and is shifting in the direction of having half of its terrain open.

Additional inland situations in Central and Jap BC and in Alberta have, in distinction, been good for months already. Issues are additionally enhancing over within the East in Quebec with colder temperatures and recent snow finally.  Large White, pictured above this week, with 30cm (a foot) extra snow previously few days now has the nation’s deepest base at 2.1 metres (seven ft) with Revelstoke in second spot on 201cm.

USA

Snow depths have handed the three metre (10 foot) mark in Western USA after heavy snowfall hit the area. Ski areas have reported as much as 2.3 metres (practically eight ft) of snow previously 7 days, the most important accumulation reported by Mt Baker, in northern Washington state near the US border.  It’s also posting the deepest base on the continent at 3.1 metres (10.3 ft).

Mt Baker holds the report for probably the most snow ever reported in a single season, and for probably the most snow on common every season (each unofficial data); 29 metres / 95 ft set in winter 98/99 and 16.3m / 54 ft respectively. Nevertheless it, and the remainder of Northwestern North America, had had a poor begin to the season and little or no snowfall as much as Christmas, with many within the area delaying opening. So it’s a aid there that situations have improved dramatically. Jackson Gap has posted the second most recent snowfall with 108cm (practically 4 ft) of snow this week.

Circumstances are enhancing on the east Coast too with as much as 50cm (20 inches) reported by resorts in Vermont this week.  Smugglers Notch there pictured above.

****

Publish Under from 3 January, 2020

It has been predominantly sunny climate within the Alps, Pyrenees and Dolomites for the previous week giving wonderful situations for these fortunate sufficient to be within the mountains for New 12 months.  The climate is altering somewhat now with some gentle snowfall to freshen issues up because the slopes now quieten down after the busy vacation interval.  Saalbach is pictured prime this week.

Elewhere in Europe it’s a a lot improved image within the Balkans and Tatras with low temperatures permitting snowmaking techniques to fireplace up and resorts in Bulgaria have way more terrain open now.

In Scandinavia it continues to look good with extra recent snow while Scottish centres have used their all-weather snowmaking machines to maintain some terrain open throughout a report heat finish to December.

Over in North America it’s an enhancing image on east and northwest coasts which had had a heat begin to the winter however are seeing loads of snow now, while the Rockies are getting dumped on as soon as once more however north and south of the border.

Austria

It has been an excellent week for skiers and boarders in Austria with loads of sunshine after the pre-Christmas snow. A lot of the nation’s ski areas are actually absolutely open (or practically so), with respectable snow depths, the deepest up on the glaciers.  There’s some recent snowfall anticipated in to the weekend which ought to clean up snow cowl. Image above, Saalbach by Mr G Williamson.

France

Splendid situations within the French Alps and Pyrenees this week with nearly all areas absolutely open, nice snow depths and sunny skies. Val Thorens within the 3 Valleys is in actual fact now posting the world’s deepest snow depth of over 3 metres on decrease slopes, over 4 metres up excessive.

Italy

Italy too has had a largely sunny week with nice on-piste situations., The one actual grievance has been elevate queues with so many skiers and boarders attempting to get out on the slopes to get pleasure from it. Nearly all runs are open within the enormous Dolomiti Superski area and the snow is mendacity as much as 4 metres deep on the nation’s glaciers.  Nationwide hero Dominik Paris turned the 4 time winner of the Bormio World Cup downhill on the weekend.

Switzerland

It’s been  a good looking week on Swiss lopes with solar shining, chilly temperatures and recent snow. A lot of the nation’s areas are absolutely open, or practically so, and Andermatt says it now has a 4 metre snow depth on higher runs, the deepest within the nation. There was some recent snow (10-230cm) to finish final week and it seems like an identical quantity ought to clean up cowl throughout the nation this weekend too.  Zermatt is pictured prime throughout a snow bathe on the finish of final week.

Pyrenees

 

The Pyrenees have had a principally dry, sunny week as effectively and right here too the snow that fell persistently earlier than Christmas in December and again in November signifies that many of the area’s bigger ski areas had been capable of open just about all of their terrain for some nice situations to begin the brand new yr. Grandvalira (Soldeu and Pas de la Casa), the most important space there, has greater than 200km of runs open.

Scandinavia

It’s wanting pretty good throughout Scandinavia as we head in to the brand new yr with most resorts someplace between 60-100% open, reporting recent snowfall, and affordable base depths. There have been small to reasonable recent snowfalls right here over new yr and its set to remain chilly and infrequently snowy over the week forward. Are, the area’s largest resort, has a 60vcm (two foot) base and about three-quarters of its runs open.  Iso Syote is pictured above.

Scotland

Alas it isn’t wanting good in Scotland at current after report heat temperatures to finish the yr noticed double digits above freezing and far of the hill snow within the nation disappear.  It’s getting cooler now and there are hopes of latest snowfalls if it does get chilly sufficient however within the meantime what’s open is proscribed to principally newbie areas created utilizing the centres’ all-weather snowmaking machines.  Cairngorm is pictured above.

Jap Europe

An enormous change for the higher in jap Europe in comparison with every week in the past. Borovets that was hardly open at Christmas is now absolutely open and Bansko (pictured above) has opened its snow street down from the ski space to the resort. That is all due to snowmaking made potential by very chilly temperatures.

Canada

The Canadian Rockies have seen nonetheless extra enormous snow falls with Solar Peaks in Jap BC additionally getting dumped on – reporting greater than 60cm (two ft) of snow in 48 hours this week. The nation’s pacific coast, the place resorts together with the continent’s largest Whistler Blackcomb have had a poor begin to the season (heat and moist) are actually seeing snow and are making up for misplaced time. The east has additionally had a difficult begin and freezing rain this week hasn’t helped however extra not too long ago it has been recent snow.

USA

It has been yet one more very snowy week within the US Rockies with some resorts reporting a metre of snowfall over seven days as much as the center of this week, and now after a number of quiet days it’s dumping as soon as once more with one other 20-40cm reported in Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and many others.  The week began much less effectively on the east coast when freezing rain coated lifts with ice, however right here too there’s been as much as a foot of recent snow previously few days so it’s wanting a lot better there now.

**********

Report beneath from 27 December, 2019

It’s wanting like an excellent begin to 2020 subsequent week in a lot of the snowboarding world. The previous week has seen extra huge snowfalls throughout the Alps with some resorts reporting greater than a metre extra snow and most no less than 30cm (a foot).

The one necessary observe to make is that on account of all of the snow, and someday windy and delicate durations too, the off-piste snowpack is unstable and the avalanche hazard typically excessive to very excessive.

The Dolomites, Pyrenees and Scandinavia all look good too, and even in Jap Europe, the place it had been too heat and lots of areas had been pressured to postpone opening, it has now acquired colder and snowier.  Up in Scotland all 5 centres are open, albeit with restricted terrain and after Glencoe suffered a Christmas hearth at its base buildings.

Throughout the Atlantic there was loads of snow too within the West with once more some areas getting greater than a metre (it’s significantly good in Alberta and Jap BC) and most a number of ft of snow. the northwest nook, the place resorts like Whistler Blackcomb was struggling a poor begin to the season (once more too heat and moist), can also be seeing enhancing situations now too.

Austria

 

Austria has had a really snowy Christmas interval and while the snowfall within the western Alps was largely over by Christmas Eve, right here it saved snowing by to Boxing Day, with Saalbach Hinterglemm reporting one other 20cm for Boxing Day. Usually situations look good throughout the nation with as much as 3 metres of snow mendacity on the glaciers however snow all the way down to valley flooring 1000’s of metres beneath now too.

France

It seems like this week ought to finish with tons extra snowfall, similar to the previous two weekends in France. Certainly final weekend was one of many snowiest of the season but with most resorts posting no less than 30cm of recent snow and a few together with larger slope at Les Arcs reporting greater than a metre over 72 hours. Les Contamines is pictured above. All in all its wanting like an excellent begin to 2020 within the French mountains with bases on larger slopes approaching three metres now.

Italy

Italy too noticed some huge snowfalls within the run as much as Christmas and lots of areas within the West of the nation have seen 5-15cm extra snow previously 24 hours. Usually situations are actually nice throughout the nation with most terrain open and recent snow too.  Livigno, pictured above and prime, opened a run for powder snowboarding solely simply in time for Christmas with 30cm of recent snow on it. The run is left ungroomed when situations are good like they’re presently. The avalanche hazard is larger right here additionally although -m typically round stage 3 – so going off piste will not be suggested for now.

Switzerland

Swiss ski areas have seen among the largest snowfalls of the previous week with Belalp claiming 172cm (practically six ft) of now has fallen there previously week.  That typically means nice situations and nearly each slope within the nation open, but it surely does imply excessive avalanche hazard too, which was witnessed at Andermatt at Christmas when an avalanche crossed a groomed piste there.  Andermatt has the deepest base within the nation too at 3.8 metres. Disentis is pictured above.

Pyrenees

An ever enhancing image within the Pyrenees the place most resorts now have bases above the metre mark. The area’s largest ski space, Greandvalira in Andorra (pictured above) has greater than 100 runs open now including as much as most of its 200km+ of trails now skiable.

Scandinavia

Largely gentle snowfall throughout Scandinavia over the previous week following heavier snowfall earlier within the month. Right here bases sometimes construct by centimetres, with the normally fantastic powder snow at these latitudes compares to the 10cm at a time with heavier snow within the Alps. However one resort, Vaset in Jap-Norway, has handed the metre mark with 1.1 metres of snow now mendacity. Usually although it’s wanting good throughout the area with most runs now open for brand spanking new yr.

Jap Europe

A a lot improved image in Jap Europe over the previous week with colder temperatures and loads of recent snowfall, heaviest as normal on larger lopes. In Bulgaria Bansko has opened extra terrain and Borovets, which had delayed opening although a lot of December, has now opened some terrain – it’s not good however rather a lot higher than it was. Chilly however dry now so snowmaking techniques are laborious at work.

Scotland

You couldn’t declare situations are good in Scotland, however due to chilly climate, some pure snowfall and snowmaking with all-weather machines, all 5 of the nation’s Highland centres are open for the Christmas and New 12 months holidays. Most have nursery slopes, snow play areas and in some circumstances small terrain park characteristic obtainable. A number of together with Glencoe, Glenshee and Nevis Vary a number of longer ‘correct’ ski runs too with skinny cowl.

You couldn’t declare situations are good in Scotland, however due to chilly climate, some pure snowfall and snowmaking with all-weather machines, all 5 of the nation’s Highland centres are open for the Christmas and New 12 months holidays. Most have nursery slopes, snow play areas and in some circumstances small terrain park characteristic obtainable. A number of together with Glencoe, Glenshee and Nevis Vary a number of longer ‘correct’ ski runs too with skinny cowl.  Glencoe (pictured above) had a giant set again with a base hearth over Christmas however is heroically re-opening none the much less.

Canada

Good to Ski Proper Now?

Most of BC and Alberta have had one other nice snowy week with a number of resorts (Panorama in BC and Sunshine in Canada) posting 1m+ snowfalls in 7 days.  Additional west on the Pacific Coast which has had a really poor begin to the winter (too heat and moist) it’s colder and has been snowing too though Whistler nonetheless has some approach to go to get again on monitor.  Within the East it’s colder finally however there’s nonetheless not a lot snow, or a lot forecast, however no less than snowmaking techniques can now function.

USA

Good to Ski Proper Now?

It has been a snowy week in a lot of the western Us with Mountain Excessive in Southern California reporting 1.3 metres of snowfall within the final seven days. Ski areas additional north have additionally seen some good snowfall and are persevering with to regain floor after a heat begin of the season delayed openings pre-Christmas.  Numerous snow additional east within the Rockies too with a number of ft of snow reported within the final 72 hours in Colorado. Mammoth nonetheless has the nation’s deepest base at 2.3 metres.

******Report Under From 19 Dec 19

It’s wanting like probably the greatest Christmas/New yr vacation fortnights within the alps to date this century as snowfall after snowfall has bolstered bases over the previous two months, so the snow is mendacity 1-2 metres deep at 2000 metres and as a lot as 4 metres deep up at 3000m. 

OK, it’s not good, it’s too heat at instances which has meant a lot much less snow low down and typically destabilising rain on snow, there have been gales too and one other huge storm is hitting Western Europe this weekend, however the begin of Christmas week must be very nice in most locations with a foot or two of recent snow too. What’s most noticeable in comparison with previous years is simply how a lot terrain is open already with many areas already absolutely open when some Christmases they’ve struggled to open a dozen or so runs.

Elsewhere its wanting good within the Dolomites, Scandinavia retains getting dumped on and in most of North America.  Scotland’s 5 centres  have all opened, however with skinny cowl to date. The much less good space over there embody Quebec and coastal BA, which had heat climate till not too long ago. It’s now sunny however dry in Quebec however it’s dumping on BC’s Pacific Coast.  So Whistler is on catch up there. Throughout the Pacific Japan is having a reasonably disastrous season begin, once more too heat and moist, however regular Japanese snow is now forecast from about Christmas Eve.

Austria

Good to Ski Proper Now?

It has been a moderately worryingly heat week in Austria with among the nations greater, decrease altitude ski areas like Saalbach-Hinterglemm (pictured above this week), the Skiwelt and Kitzbuhel, battling temperature of +5 to +10C at resort stage and typically effectively above zero on the prime of the slopes too. They’re doing an excellent job although, protecting plenty of terrain open and the excellent news is its because of get colder. The snow is far deeper, as you’d count on, up[ on the glacier. More snow is forecast for parts of the country, particularly the south and east, this weekend, as well as up high on those glaciers again.

France

Good to Ski Right Now?

It has been a fairly dry week in the French Alps, often overcast, following snowstorms last weekend, but more snow will start falling from Saturday through to Monday which should see 30-60cm of Fresh now on top of what are already good bases for this early in the season at most French resorts. The stormy conditions that the snow will arrive on may mean a number of ski areas are closed at the weekend for periods, particularly on Saturday.  It’s looking good from Monday on though with sunny skies and fresh snow for Christmas week.  Lans en Vercors, pictured top, will start its 19-20 season on Sunday rather than Saturday because of the forecast storm.  Val Thorens pictured above on Wednesday.

Italy

Good to Ski Right Now?

Italy missed out on some of the big snowfalls of the past few weeks, except at the resorts on the French and Swiss borders, but that wan’t really a problem due to accumulated snow from the big November falls. Some of the deepest snowbases ion the world at present are in Italy. Anyway the next 72 hours should see the snow back across northern Italy from east to west with higher slopes expecting several feet (60cm+) before the weather calms down from Monday just in time for Christmas.  Livigno pictured top.

Switzerland

Good to Ski Right Now?

Swiss ski areas have seen some of the biggest snowfalls of the past week with Belalp claiming 172cm (nearly six feet) of now has fallen there in the past week.  That generally means great conditions and almost every slope in the country open, but it does mean high avalanche danger too, which was witnessed at Andermatt at Christmas when an avalanche crossed a groomed piste there.  Andermatt has the deepest base in the country too at 3.8 metres.  Disentis is pictured above.

Pyrenees

Good to Ski Right Now?

 

It’s looking good in the Pyrenees after more snow fell this week – with more forecast into the weekend. Most resorts in the region ate now operating almost at capacity as we enter the Christmas/New Year fortnight. Ski resorts on the French and Spanish sides have up to 1.7 metres of snow lying now, in Andorra its up to a metre and nearly all runs open at Grandvalira (Soldeu/Pas de la Casa) and Vallnord (Pal Arinsal).  Video is from Piau Engaly in the French Pyrenees.

Eastern Europe

Good to Ski Right Now?

It has, unfortunately, been rather warm in much of Eastern Europe, particularly in Bulgaria where temperatures have reached double digits above freezing. Ski areas have continued to operate with bases built up through the autumn, although obviously the best snow is to be found high up at present. Winter is supposed to return early next week with some fresh snow deliveries expected in time for Christmas.  The pic above was taken very carefully at Bansko a few days ago.

Scandinavia

Good to Ski Right Now?

It’s staying snowy in Scandinavia with plenty of fresh falling, particularly in Western Norway where Voss in particular (pictured above this morning), keeps reporting 10-20cm more almost daily. The days are very short here now but start getting longer again from Sunday, and in the meantime the floodlighting does a good job!

Scotland

Good to Ski Right Now?

All five Scottish ski areas have been open this week following another week of mostly low temperatures and more fresh snow. Terrain open so far is limited but all five areas have beginner slopes and snow fun areas thanks to all weather snowmaking systems and some, including Glencoe (pictured above earlier this week), have enough natural snow cover to open more terrain.  Unfortunately it has warmed up since  Thursday with Glenshee closing so far to preserve remaining snow cover.

Canada

Good to Ski Right Now?

A mixed picture in Canada with great conditions inland in BC where it keeps dumping at resorts like Fernie and Revelstoke a well as over the Alberta border in Banff and Jasper.  It’s less good news further West though where coastal BC resorts like Whistler have had a very warm and wet autumn BUT the lack of snow cover is now, hopefully, ending as temperatures have dropped and snow is rolling in and this is expected to continue (one of these, Cypress Mountain) is pictured. It was a similar problem in the East for Quebec and unfortunately here it’s still pretty bad as although temperatures are now sub-zero it is also clear and sunny with little natural snowfall still so far.

USA

Good to Ski Right Now?

There’s deep powder in the Rockies this week following the big snowfalls in recent weeks. There have been off-piste avalanches in Colorado (Steamboat) and Park City (Utah), the latter resulting in a fatality as freeriders are tempted to head off the groomed slopes in to the out-of-bounds powder.  Most of the country’s slopes are in good shape for Xmas with snow in the East too (if not so much) to freshen up the slopes and in California. The country’s Northwest corner which had warm and wet conditions until this week is currently receiving huge snowfalls expected to add up to more than a metre by the end of the weekend.

*********

Report Below from 13 Dec 2019

It has been a largely snowy-seven days in most of the skiing world as we build up to the start of the main 2019-20 season which really begins this weekend by which time nearly all of the world’s leading ski area will have opened and the first tour-operator charter flights will be heading off to the Alps.

After a fairly dry fortnight up to 70cm of snow fell in the Alps on Monday and Tuesday and similar falls are forecast over Friday/Saturday to end this week meaning some area will have had more than a metre of snowfall in a week by Sunday.

Elsewhere… the Pyrenees have also seen 20-50cm more snow this week and up in Scandinavia it has been snowy too with 20-50cm for many area but more than a metre of snow reported at one Norwegian area.

Scotland has had a thaw, the storms, but the past few days have been snowy and several centres will open this weekend. In Eastern Europe the season started to get underway last weekend with dozens of areas opening there.

In North America it is currently dumping big time in the west of the continent, with California and Colorado getting several feet more snow. The snowfall is especially needed up in the pacific northwest – one of thew few major ski regions not to have seen much so far this autumn. Whistler Blackcomb wasn’t looking great but has now had at least 10cm of snowfall and counting.

In Asia Japan’s season has also started slowly with temperatures too warm but there has been a lot of snow in the north (Niseko) this past week, still some falling as rain further south though.

Austria

Good to Ski Right Now?

Austrian ski areas had a snowy start to the week with the Arlberg area (pictured above) of Lech and St Anton reporting up to 50cm of fresh snow. the snow also fell down to low elevations, great news for lower, newly-opened ski areas like Saalbach.  There’s more snow due in Austria over the next 72 hours meaning it’s looking like a really great start to the main season here.

France

Good to Ski Right Now?

20-40cm of fresh now to tart the week in France and here too the snow fell right down to the valley floor, so improved cover from top to bottom on slopes that had been becoming rather hard packed. the last of the country’s big ski areas including La Plagne and Les Arcs are due to open for their 2019-20 seasons this weekend.

Italy

Good to Ski Right Now?

Italy was the only country in the Alpine big four that did not really post major snowfalls to start the week. That was a big contrast to November when Italy saw the biggest falls of all, leaving it with some of the deepest bases on the planet at present, including the only reported 4m depth on the Presena Glacier in Trentino.  However the country should get big snowfalls too over the next 72 hours through the weekend – particularly in the Northwest – the Dolomites, it is forecast, not so much.

Switzerland

Good to Ski Right Now?

Switzerland reported the biggest snowfalls in the Alps in the Monday-Tuesday snowfalls at the start of this week. Verbier is pictured above but it was the Gstaad region that reached a 70cm snowfall total, and another 40cm of snowfall is forecast there this weekend meaning its 7-day accumulation i s likely to pass the metre mark. but there’s been plenty of snowfall almost everywhere in Switzerland this week.

Pyrenees

Good to Ski Right Now?

Conditions are looking pretty good in the Pyrenees following more fresh snowfall.  Actually the biggest falls (30-50cm) this week have been reported on both the French and Spanish sides, rather than in Andorra, but Grandvalira still has a huge amount of terrain open already, despite reporting the snow base only at 30-50cm so far. Baqueira Beret in Spain is nearly fully open with almost 160km of runs open.

Eastern Europe

Good to Ski Right Now?

Lots of the main ski areas in Eastern Europe opened last weekend with Jasna in Slovakia and Bansko in Bulgaria two of the bigger names. The season has also got underway in the Czech Republic, Poland and even Bosnia, among other countries though. Typically this early in the season the best snow is up high with Bansko reporting an 80cm base on upper runs.,

Scotland

Good to Ski Right Now?

After a warm spell at the end of last week followed by several stormy days to start this which closed ski centres before the season had started, it has been cold and snowy in Scotland the past few days and Cairngorm, Glencoe and The Lecht all plan to have some terrain open this weekend – if only limited areas with thin cover so far.  It’s a start!

Scandinavia

Good to Ski Right Now?

It has been a good week for Scandinavian ski centres with up to a metre of fresh snowfall reported (at Voss on Norway’s West coast, pictured), that’s more than anywhere in the Alps has reported this week.  Other resorts have had plenty of snow too if not quite so much. With low temps the powder is in prime condition.

Canada

Good to Ski Right Now?

Great conditions in Eastern BC and Alberta in Canada where there’s been another half metre of so of snow since this time last week. The only part of Canada that had been suffering is the Pacific coast where Whistler Blackcomb is located and it had only about 5% of its terrain open due to lack of snow. That does seem to be changing now though, at last, with 10cm of snow so far and counting. Pictured in Cypress Mountain to the south. Another resort in the region, Red Mountain, had been due to open for the season today but has delayed.

USA

Good to Ski Right Now?

Conditions are looking increasingly good in the US with more snow falling across much of the country. Loveland, pictured above, in Colorado, expects several feet (60cm) of fresh snow by the end of the weekend.  Mammoth Mountain in California has the most terrain open in the country so far, over 2,000 acres.  It’s looking good in the East too.

********

Published 5 Dec 2019:

After the very snowy November in the Alps, the tap seems to have been temporarily turned off this week, in most areas at least.  That said several centres got another 50cm or more at the start of the weekend and many are now showing the latest round of snowfall just starting.

It’s been snowier in Scandinavia and across the Atlantic where last weekend saw snowfall across much of the US with California and Utah ski areas doing especially well, seeing as much as 1.5 metres (five feet) of snowfall in 48-72 hours.

More and more big name resorts are opening in both Europe and North America and the best of the snow on both continents remains on higher slopes this early in the season.  In the Alps, above about 1800 metres, things are looking very good for the start of the main season.

Austria

Good to Ski Right Now?

It has been mostly clear and sunny this week in the Austrian Alps and looks set to remain so through the weekend before snow arrives at the start of next week, bringing 20-40cm to mot areas. Base depth are great above 2000 metres, less good lower down but it is early – Saalbach (pictured above today), which he the biggest area in the country, opens this weekend.

France

Good to Ski Right Now?

Like Austria it has been a fairly dry, sunny week for most French ski area that are already open. Val d’Isere was one of the big name resorts opening last weekend. Avoriaz, pictured above and top, opened for a preview weekend and will do again this coming weekend ahead of its main opening on the 14th because, they say, the snow is so good.  In fact everywhere in France above 1800 metres the snow looks to be good.  The next wave of snowfall is expected in France too early next week.

Italy

Good to Ski Right Now?

Things have quietened down  a little in Italy after the heavy snow of November, although most areas did get another 20-50cm of fresh snowfall over the past week. The country also continues to claim the deepest base in the world at present – 4 metres lying on the Presena Glacier near Passo Tonale. More major areas including most in the Dolomites opened at the weekend and conditions are generally good for this early in the season across the country.

Switzerland

Good to Ski Right Now?

Swiss slopes are in good shape in common with the rest of the Alps and especially higher up.  The upper slope bases at resorts like Andermatt and Engelberg above 3000 metres is already at more than three metre. Glacier 3000 near Gstaad say they’re opening their famed 7km long black run this weekend and Zermatt/Cervinia already has more than 200km of slopes open, probably the biggest area in the world skiable so far this season. Pictured above is Zermatt where the Mont Fort should be skiable from this weekend.  Snow expected here too from Monday on.

Pyrenees

Good to Ski Right Now?

After a dry week or so it is snowing again in the Pyrenees, and some ski areas on both the French and Spanish sides of the mountains have reported 10-20cm of fresh in the last 24 hours. Andorra’s ski centres did open at the weekend and have a moderate amount of terrain open with 20-50cm of snow lying so far.  Snow depths are deeper at some resorts in France and Spain with Baqueira Beret reporting over 100km of slope open already.

Scandinavia

Good to Ski Right Now?

More and more Scandinavian centres have opened in the past few weeks and those that are open already are adding more and more skiable terrain. The good news is it has been snowing here through the week in many area when it stopped in the alps so though the dumps here are almost never as big as down in the Alps, the cold temperatures keep the snow in great shape. Sweden’s Are, the region’s biggest area, has nearly doubled its base to around 70cm.

Eastern Europe

Good to Ski Right Now?

Eastern Europe’s season is nearly upon us with several resorts due to open this weekend including big names like Jasna in Slovakia whilst most others, including Bulgaria’s Bansko, plan to wait until the 14th. The snow did keep falling,. Lightly, east of the alps over the past few days. Currently snow depths are typically 40-60cm above about 1600 metres, below that there’s not yet much but snowmaking systems are powering up when temps are low enough.

Scotland

Good to Ski Right Now?

Scotland’s five Highland ski centres expect to open over the next few weeks, in fact Cairngorm is ‘kind of’ opening this weekend.  The problem is that it has been very warm and wet the past few days so there’s not much natural snow left. The good news though is that all five centres now have all-weather snow machines so there is some snow, and the coming week looks much colder and snowier so hopefully things will look a lot better by this time next week.

Canada

Good to Ski Right Now?

It’s a mixed picture across Canadian slopes – too warm and wet in the Far West with Whistler only able to open a small part of their terrain so far.  At least 30 degrees colder at times further east in  Alberta where Lake Louise, currently staging world cup Downhill racing, has over 100 runs open.  More BC resorts have opened in between the two posting conditions that are also somewhere between the two – in other words more snow and runs open than Whistler so far, less than Lake Louise. Jasper to the north reported 19cm of snowfall on Wednesday and there’s much more forecast.

USA

Good to Ski Right Now?

The US saw some of the biggest snow storms this autumn over their Thanksgiving holiday period at the end of last week.  The snow fell on slopes across the country but the heaviest was in California and Utah where several centres reported nearly 1.8 metres (Six feet) of snowfall.  Thanks to thanksgiving there are more US areas open than any other country by some distance but most so far have only limited terrain open for the early season.

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Where is good to ski right now? 

Update below posted 29 November, 2019

The snowy November in the Alps has continued for another week with heavy snowfall at the weekend in the Western Alps, then snow falling again since Wednesday after a  few days’ lull. Bases have now reached 4 metres and some resorts have had more than 3 metres of snow up high this month. So it’s looking like a good start to the season – albeit with the bests now up high.

Elsewhere in Europe some of the bigger areas in the Pyrenees have now opened and the coming weekend sees a lot more areas in the Dolomites open.

Scandinavia is looking good after more snowfall there and the first Eastern European centres should open for 19-20 this weekend too.

Across the Atlantic there’s a great improvement after the mostly warm and dry or west November and ski areas in California, Colorado and Utah have reported up to 60cm (two feet) of fresh snowfall in the last few days. This is good timing as the big Thanksgiving public holiday long weekend is underway and more than 100 US areas have opened.

North of the border the first areas in BC including Sun Peaks and Whistler Blackcomb, have opened.

The ski season is getting underway in Japan now but it’s a slow start with below average snowfall so far and some areas like Niseko have delayed opening.

A bit of novelty snow news before the individual country reports. It’s the start of the southern hemisphere’s summertime on Sunday but there was fresh snow reported at closed ski areas in Australia and Chile on Wednesday and a New Zealand area, Whakapapa (pictured above last weekend), plans to open a slope for the first day of summer, and its last day of operations too.

Austria

It has warmed up a little on Austrian slopes this week, with above zero temps down low, but there was more heavy snowfall last weekend so overall, things look great!  St Anton and Ischgl are among the big name resorts starting their seasons this Saturday whilst Saalbach will unveil its latest mega-gondola lift.

France

Plenty of fresh snow for France, so much so that Avoriaz has announced it will open some terrain this weekend – a fortnight earlier than planned. Meanwhile Tignes has seen several days of 20cm+ snowfalls so things are looking great there, and several more resorts have opened for winter 19-20 including Alpe d’Huez, Montgenevre and Val Thorens./ Some, like Avoriaz, just at weekends for now though.  Vars is pictured above.

Italy

Italy saw the biggest snowfalls in the world last weekend with ski areas reporting up to 145cm (nearly five feet) of snow in 48 hours. The heaviest snow was in the West of the country at Ski areas like Cervinia, Sestriere (which is pictured above on Monday and is opening some terrain early this weekend as a result) and Prato Nevoso. Italy’s Presena glacier is posting the deepest base in the world at present – the first to reach 4 metres so far in winter 19-20.

Switzerland

Swiss ski areas are in great shape too and can claim both the biggest lift-served vertical open in the world so far – 1800 metres at Saas Fee, and the largest ski area open so far – 138km at Zermatt over in to Italy at Cervinia. There was more heavy snowfall there last week with some stormy winds too that closed roads, lifts and caused some damage to buildings on a few mountains.  It has calmed down since but stayed snowy with Zermatt reporting 20cm of fresh on Friday morning.

Pyrenees

The season is in full swing in the Pyrenees with ski areas in Andorra as well as more big resorts in Spain including Baqueira Beret now open. Further south, Sierra Nevada (pictured above on Monday), has also opened for 19-20.  Over all things are looking good with most areas reporting at least a metre of snow lying already on upper slopes. More French areas will open this week including Grand Tourmalet and the main ski slopes above Cauterets, which already has the deepest base in France at 1.8 metres.

Scotland

Alas, warm and wet weather in the first half of the week has washed off much of the snowcover built up[ through the first three weeks of November on Scottish hills. However all five Highland areas now have all weather snowmaking systems and these have been working away to produce snow despite the plus temps, and lower temps and natural snow is reported to be on the way so some early December openings may still be possible.

Scandinavia

The ski world focus was on Levi (pictured top and above) last weekend for the FIS World Cup slalom racing.  Then, and ever since then, it has mostly been snowing in Scandinavia.  Several dozen ski areas are now open across Finland, Norway and Sweden with many reporting fresh snow on their bases and great conditions for the start of December.

Eastern Europe

Fresh snow in Eastern Europe last weekend raised spirits in the region and the first centres are expected to open this weekend, though most not until closed to Christmas.  There’s been more fresh snow since on higher slopes but it has been too warm at times down at resort level for anything but rain to fall.

 

Canada

BC’s ski season has got underway with first Sun Peaks then Whistler Blackcomb ski areas opening this week. Big White, Silver Star and Fernie are also opening. They’ve joined already open areas around Banff and Jasper in Alberta where temperatures are now double digits below zero. There’s been some fresh snow and Lake Louise is gearing up to stage World Cup racing this weekend, the first downhills of the season.

USA

After something of a ‘limbo’ month in November with little snowfall, it has finally been dumping the past 48 hours in the west, following some good snowfalls at the weekend – so some areas have now had more than two feet (60cm) of snow.  Over 100 US areas are now open, many opening earlier than they might as this is the big thanksgiving holiday long weekend.

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Post Below on 22 November, 2019

Where is good to ski right now?

It has been a remarkably snowy November in the Alps and there have also been some big snowfalls in the Dolomites and Pyrenees.  Scandinavia is also looking good.

Runs up to 9km long over more than 1,800 metres of vertical are already open.  So all in  all it’s looking pretty good for the start of the season.  Chamonix and Val Thorens open this weekend.

It’s a rather different picture in North America so far. There was heavy snow in the Rockies in October but since then it has been rather warm and dry in the West.  It is now snowing again there now, if lightly so far. In the east October was warm and dry but it’s now colder and there’s been some natural snowfall.

Altogether more than 100 ski areas have opened worldwide.  More big snowfalls are forecast for the Alps this weekend.

Pictured top is Luz Ardiden in the French Pyrenees (image (c)Luz Tourisme), a region that is seeing great early season snow with several areas already open ahead of the previously planned season start date.

Austria

Austria has seen some of the biggest November snowfalls with some resorts receiving more than two metres of snowfall this month so far and bases up above 2.5 metres at a number of areas.

The Stubai glacier, pictured above, has some of the deepest snow. Unfortunately more extreme weather forecast there this weekend means a World Cup competition planned there has had to be cancelled although the resort should still; be open for recreational skiing and boarding.  About a dozen Austrian areas are already open for the 19-20 season.

France

Half a dozen ski areas are now open in France after some smaller areas in the Alps and Pyrenees opened early to join already open glacier centre Tignes. The first of the big guns to join Tignes will open this weekend though with Chamonix and Val Thorens (pictured above earlier this month) opening terrain, the latter reporting a 90cm base up high already.  More ski areas are planning to open in the french Pyrenees too, including Cauterets.

 

Italy

Italy too has had its share of big November snowfalls, in fact some of the biggest in the world. Cortina d’Ampezzo, which opened for the season early, is pictured above. More big snowfalls are forecast for the coming weekend too with some areas like Prato Nevoso in the West of the country likely to see up to 1.5 metres (five feet)( of snow in 48 hours of forecast are correct.

 

Switzerland

Swiss ski areas have seen still more snowfall in the past week and many are in line for another metre or so over the next 72 hours, forecasters are predicting. Around a dozen Swiss areas are now open for the season with Saas Fee now having more than 40km of runs open including the longest on the planet so far open for 19-20, a 9km long, 1800 vertical metre descent.

The Pyrenees

A mixed picture across the Pyrenees although most areas have 50-100cm, of snow lying and half a dozen areas on the french and Spanish side of the mountains have already opened, as has Sierra Nevada to the south on the Spanish coast.  Ski areas in Andorra should be opening in a week’s time.  Cauterets, opening this weekend, has a 1.8 metre base already, the deepest reported in France.  La Mongie in the French Pyrenees, which also opens in a week’s time, is pictured above.

Scandinavia

It’s getting darker and colder in Scandinavia as we move towards mid-winter in a month’s time./ More areas are opening and up to 50cm of fresh snowfall was reported this week in Norway. However the weekend focus will be on Levi in Finland (pictured above today) where the first World Cup slalom races of the 19-20 season are due to take place.

Eastern Europe

There’s nowhere really open in Eastern Europe yet but the snow has been falling on and off over the past month, the latest accumulations in just the past 24 hours, so with snowmaking systems fired up, it’s looking promising.  Centres are expected to start opening over the next few weekends although the majority not until nearer Christmas.

Scotland

Scottish hills have been white and snowmaking systems fired up for most of November but as yet the country’s centres are saying there’s not enough snow cover yet to open.  Some people have been hiking up to ski down however.  Temperatures are set to rise a little but hopefully not so much that there’ll be a thaw and fingers crossed that forecast precipitation over the coming week falls as more snow, not rain.

Canada

Most of the snowsports centres so far open in Canada are in Alberta, where all three Banff centres are open along with Marmot Basin near Jasper (pictured above earlier this month).  They’ve had fresh snowfall this week too. Mew areas opening have been in Ontario and Quebec but there’s still so far only about 10 areas open across the country.

USA

With Thanksgiving a week away, which in the US is still a bigger holiday than Christmas, there’s been a push for ski centres to open, despite rather lacklustre snow conditions at present.  More than 60 areas are already open – that’s more than half the world total at present – with many more set to join them over the next 48 hours ahead of the holiday weekend next week.

It has been a warm, dry November in the West so there’s been some excitement at the arrival of colder, snowier weather over the past 24 hours and up to 23cm of snowfall has been reported in the Colorado Rockies as well as smaller falls in California. But it’s the most snow for a month.

In the East resorts like Stowe are the latest to open.  It has been colder here with some fresh snowfall too.

 

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Post Below on 27 April, 2019

Where is good to ski right now? 

Winter 2018-19 is drawing to a close with 95% of the northern hemisphere’s ski areas closed after Easter Sunday.

But more than 150 are still operating to this weekend and more than 50 will remain open next week into May.

The centres that are still operating mostly offer high altitude skiing and the good news in the Alps and the Pyrenees this week has been some quite wintery weather above 2000 metres (with rain below), so almost all of Europe’s glaciers have been dumped on and it’s actually looking like an end-of-season powder weekend for some.  Cervinia and Zermatt have reported plenty of fresh snowfall and the nearby Monterosa region in Northwest Italy, where a few lifts are still operating on higher slopes, up to 90cm of snowfall has been reported in the past 72 hours up high!

This will be our final weekly report of winter 2018-19 so here’s a quick list of the ski areas staying open to May 1st: Are, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Ischgl, Kitzbuhel, Livigno, Oberstdorf, San Isidro, Sunday River, Finland’s Yllas and Germany’s Zugspitze.

A lot more areas remain open to this coming weekend and will close on April 28th.

And here are the ones staying open beyond that to include the first weekend in May before closing at the end of Sunday the 5th: Alpental, Andermatt, Cervinia, Chamonix, Gstaad Glacier 3000, Heavenly, Hemsedal, Jay Peak, Kanin, Lake Louise, Levi, Loveland, Marmot Basin, Masella, Mt Hood Meadows, Pitztal Glacier, Ruka, Sierra Nevada, Solden, St Moritz – Diavolezza, Sugarbush, Sugarloaf, Tignes, Val Senales, Val Thorens, Slovenia’s Vogel and Poland’s Zakopane.

There are others open now and staying open beyond May the 5th. In Europe they include the Hintertux, Kitzsteinhorn and Stubai glaciers in Austria right through May and the Kaunertal and Molltal Glaciers until the 12th; along with the Presena glacier in Italy and Engelberg (which still has snow lying 7 metres deep on its glacier, the deepest in the Alps) and Zermatt in Switzerland.

Sweden’s ‘Spring Skiing Capital of Europe’ Riksgransen will hopefully be open into June as will Norway’s three glacier ski areas although only one of these has opened so far, Folgefonn, the other two (Galdhoppigen and Stryn) opening next month.

Across the Atlantic there’s some fresh snow in Western Canada and more snow due in the North East after a warm, wet spell which closed ski areas in Quebec over the Easter weekend.

Resorts in the US due to stay open to the end of May or later include Arapahoe Basin and Breckenridge in Colorado; Mammoth Mountain and Squaw Valley in California’ Mt Bachelor and Timberline in Oregon and Killington in Colorado.

In Canada’s Banff Sunshine Village closes after staging its annual Slush Cup celebration on the 20th And Whistler a week later on the 27th, although it will re-open in early June for Summer glacier skiing and boarding.

For all these resorts whether in Europe or North America expect changeable conditions this week and in to May as winter tries to hold on At these northerly latitudes and high altitudes but late spring inevitably increases its grip day after day.

So there may be summer-type days of full sun when the slopes only skiable in the morning until the snow is slushy by noon, or, as has been the case over the past few days in the Alps, more wintery conditions.

 

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Where is good to ski right now? 

Report below April 18th 2019

It is coming up to the last day of the ski season for many of the resorts that are still open, with most of those closing at the end of the day on Easter Day or Easter Monday.

So there’s a real “end of the season” feeling this weekend in the Alps and the Rockies, although excitement is building in the southern hemisphere with the 2019 season only a month or so away.

However, over 100 will stay open for another week after Easter to the last weekend of April (27th/28th) and dozens of those will stay open into the start of May.

(Fresh snow at Fernie, BC, last weekend, just before it closed for the season)

There’s been very little fresh snow reported anywhere this week.  The biggest falls have been 10-20cm in total since last weekend and they’ve been recorded in Western North America at resorts in states like Colorado and Montana, and the provinces of Alberta and BC north of the Canadian border.

In Europe it has been mostly a mix of cloud and sunshine, some fog and gales, but mostly “Classic spring skiing” with overnight freezes, hardpacked slopes in the early morning, softening rapidly by lunchtime.

Looking at 7-day totals so taking the snowfall search back to include last weekend there are some bigger numbers to report. Some ski areas in Utah, including snowbird, open well into May, report 75cm in total (2.5 feet) and a few of Europe’s glacier areas including the Stubai (open to June – pictured top at the weekend and above), reported 50cm of fresh snow (20 inches) up high.  So did Italy’s Presena glacier.

It’s the final weekend for most ski areas in the Pyrenees and there’s actually Easter skiing in Portugal after heavy snow in early April there allowed the sole Serra de Estrella ski area to re-open there.

In Scotland, Glencoe is the only ski area open, just.  It says Easter Monday will most likely be its last day of the season, although it says it could stay open longer if enough people arrive to make it worth maintaining the slopes. The Lecht says it may re-open if there’s a good late snowfall, but there’s no real sign of that in the immediate forecast.

Most ski areas are still open in Scandinavia and the Folgefonn summer ski area has opened for its 2019 season this week, posting an 8 metre base on opening day, the current deepest in Europe.

Most ski areas in Eastern Europe are, by contrast, closed for the season, including all in Bulgaria, but a few including Slovenia’s Vogel plan to stay open into the start of May.

Over in North America, as mentioned, most of the fresh snow has been falling in the West.  Most resorts have already closed for the season there, or will do after this weekend, but the freshen up is welcome for those still open and several dozen will stay open to at least the start of May, including several posting fresh snow this week.

Besides Snowbird, these include Mammoth and Squaw Valley, both with snow lying around 5.5 metres (18 feet) deep, both having had 5-10cm (2-4 inches) of fresh snow and both open to June.

There was some snow in the east too, along with rain. Here Mont Tremblant (pictured above this week) is posting North America’s deepest base at over 6 metres (20 feet), but it closes for the season after this weekend.

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Where is good to ski right now? 

Report Below From 12 April, 2019

Ski areas across Europe are seeing a very snowy end to the season with some receiving as much snow in the past week as they have had all year.

The heaviest snow fell at the end of last week when some Italian resorts claimed as much as 2 metres of snow fell in 72 hours, but it has kept snowing in many areas ever since, just not so heavily.

The heavy snow fell across most of central Europe and down in the Dolomites too where the 1 metre of snow that some resorts in the Dolomiti Superski region reported falling in 24 hours was almost as much as they had had all season.

The sun is out again there now, here’s the Dolomiti Superski on Wednesday this week:

Several big name resorts reported a metre of snow, or more including Andermatt, Engelberg, Serre Chevalier, Val Gardena and Verbier.  Engelberg’s snow took their base depth up over 7 metres on their upper runs, the first time this season any ski area anywhere in the world has passed the 7m snow depth mark.

All the snowfall wasn’t entirely all good news though.  The avalanche danger rose from very low to high in many areas, although it has dropped back down again to level 1-3 (low to moderate) in most.

The snowfall this week has also been accompanied at times by (depending where you are), rain, strong winds, low cloud or fog, so skiers have to pay back something for the pleasure of fresh powder in mid-April.

This was Davos on Tuesday:

That said the sun has been back out in the Western Alps (France and Western Switzerland in particular) most days this week giving great conditions there with the fresh snow, albeit more like classic spring skiing with lower slopes getting sticky by lunchtime.

And against all these weather trends are the reality that we are getting further in to the final month of the season for most areas and more and more resorts are closing each weekend. Most ski areas in Eastern Europe have already closed.

Elsewhere in Europe there’s been snow falling in plenty of other areas too. The Pyrenees have seen more fresh snowfall so far in April than they did in all of March. Formigueres in the Frech Pyrenees reported 40cm of snow on Thursday.

Even out in Portugal, at the country’s one ski area, Serra de Estrella, Europe’s most westerly, they’re hailing the most snow they’ve had all winter and hope to stay open to Easter weekend at least.

Scottish ski areas also got a good snowfall to end last week – up to 50cm accumulated – but have unfortunately (for skiers) seen warm weather at the start of this week which has once again thawed a lot of the new snow cover.  At time of writing though four ski areas (Glencoe, Cairngorm – pictured below today, Nevis Range and The Lecht) had at least some terrain still open.

Across the Atlantic ski areas tend to close a little earlier than in the Alps and most will be ending their seasons this weekend if, like Jackson Hole, Telluride and others, they have not already.

There are however still more than 100 areas open.

The most snow in North America for the first half of this week was reported in Quebec where most of the still-open areas have reported 20-40cm of fresh snow.

More recently there’s been heavy snow in the Western US again with Utah seeing up to 60cm of fresh powder, as pictured above at Alta on Wednesday.

The deepest snow remains in California where half a dozen areas have 5-6 metres of it lying and several have said they’ll stay open to late spring or early summer, there’s been a little fresh snow here and at other Western ski areas in the past week.

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Report below from 04.04.19

Where is good to ski right now? 

It has been a remarkable few days for snowfall in the Alps, particularly when you consider we’re into the start of April and some resorts have already closed for the season last weekend, a chunk more will do so this coming weekend.

Ski areas in Austria, France, Italy and Switzerland have all reported huge snowfalls, some as much as 2 metres between Wednesday and Friday this week.  For most, it has been more like 30-60cm, but wherever you look, it has turned to midwinter with lots of fresh, deep powder.

Engelberg, which already posted the world’s deepest snow base a week ago at 6.3 metres, has increased that total to 7.3 metres after more than a metre of snow fell there.  It’s open through to the end of May and with the snow depth in the village increasing to 80cm it looks like top to bottom skiing over its full 2000m lift-served vertical may remain skiable right to the end.

Andermatt, which has had 1.2 metres (4 feet) of snow is pictured top, Solden, which got a metre in 24 hours, above.

All the snow has caused resorts some issues opening and clearing access as well as setting the avalanche danger up to level 3 or 4, – considerable to very high – for off-piste areas.

Ski areas in the Dolomites have also had heavy snowfall with Alta Badia, Val Gardena and Val di Fassa among the areas reporting at least a metre of snow by Friday morning.  For some, this was more than the total snowfall in the first three months of this year.

Pictured below is a mountain restaurant in the Fassa Valley on Friday.

Elsewhere in Europe it has not been as snowy but there has still been considerable snowfall in the Pyrenees and even down at Sierra Nevada on the southern Spanish coast, Europe’s most southerly resort.  So here too there’s been some fresh April powder.

There’s been lots of snow in Scotland too, enabling Cairngorm, pictured below on Wednesday, and The Lecht which had closed after a thaw last week to re-open their slopes for the start of the Easter holidays.  Glencoe and Nevis Range on the West were still open anyway having survived the thaw.

Scandinavia has had fresh snow too in the West and North in particular with Riksgransen reporting a 4-metre depth, the region’s deepest.  It hopes to stay open to late June and offer skiing under the midnight sun in May, and so far that’s looking promising.

Across the Atlantic it has been a less snowy week than in Europe, that is after ski areas in Utah got about a metre of snow last weekend.  There’;s also beena lot of gloruious suinshine, such ats here at Marmot Basin in Alberta where the season still has a month to run.

Resorts have begun closing there and big names like Crested Butte and Jackson Hole are due to end their seasons this weekend.

There has been more fresh snow, particularly in the West, and there’s more forecast for the week ahead, but so far nothing major.

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Where is good to ski right now? 

Post Below on 27 March, 2019

Even though we’re moving deeper in to spring, and some ski areas are even starting to close for the season, It has been a snowier and cooler week over the past seven days than it has been for the previous two.

Snow arrived back in the Eastern Alps (Austria, Easter Switzerland, southern Germany and northeastern Italy) at the weekend and ended up depositing up to 50cm of fresh cover on the mountains. Resorts like Laax, St Anton, Saalbach and the Zugspitze all posted a foot (30cm) or more of fresh snow in the 24 hours up to Tuesday morning.  St Anton, pictured top and below, reports the snow depths on its highest slope (Not part of the official measurement) are at nearly 7 metres.

 

At the same time temperatures, which had been reaching double digits above freezing dipped the other way and we saw some -15Cs again 3000m up on the slopes and temperatures staying sub-zero, or almost, down in resort too.

It’s now warming up and returning to more regular springlike conditions with overnight freezing of the snowpack and daytime thawing, but it’s good to have the fresh cover on top.

There’s been no fresh snow to talk of in the western Alps (France, Western Italy and Western Switzerland) but bases remain good here to  see out the season.

Elsewhere in Europe the Pyrenees got some fresh snow, just a few centimetres, over the weekend. Some smaller, lower resorts are struggling to stay open through to the end of the season due to the thin base there and rapid thaw and at least one has opted to close a week early, last weekend, for the season. However in Andorra there’s a thick snow cover and all runs are open as we head towards the Easter holidays.

It’s a similar issue in the Dolomites with little fresh snow here and thin bases in places, but skiers are still enjoying some glorious sunny days on the pistes with everything open.

For consistent fresh snow Scandinavia is the place to be, again, with lots of 20-30cm daily falls reported in resorts like Voss and Hemavan.  The biggest accumulations have been reported up at Riksgransen in the Arctic Circle which only opened for its 2019 season a few weeks ago and aims to stay up to midsummer in late June.  It’s had more than 40cm of snowfall this week.

Scotland has also had fresh snow but unfortunately it arrived after another period of rapid thaw at the end of last week which unfortunately wiped out most of the cover at Cairngorm, Glenshee and The Lecht and the new snow isn’t enough to allow them to re-open. Glencoe and Nevis Range have survived the thaw however, and in fact Glencoe (pictured above on Monday) has some great conditions with more snow forecast this weekend.

Over in North America the Eastern side of the continent saw some heavy snowfall over the weekend with the biggest accumulations in Vermont where up to 90cm fell over the three days.

More recently there’s been snow in the west with Californian ski areas seeing another 30cm+ fresh snow on top of their huge bases, and fresh snow from BC up in Canada (Where Apex in BC in prictured above on Tuesday this week) down to Colorado too, so it’s a snowy end to the season here.

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Where is good to ski right now? 

Week ending 21st March…

After a snowy end to last week, the weather in the Alps has been fairly settled with some glorious, sunny, spring days for skiers and boarders to enjoy.

Of course for those looking for fresh powder that news isn’t always good news, but we are now in to spring, with just a week or so of March left and, well, like it or not, winter has to end eventually!

That’s not to say it isn’t easier the find powder this week compared to last. The heavy snowfall that ended last week (and continued in to the start of this at some areas) brought up to 1.5 metres (five feet) of fresh snow cover in the Alps and there are plenty of shaded powder pockets remaining if you have a good guide to take you to them.

Most resorts got at least 50cm of fresh snow up high; Verbier reported 70cm, Saalbach and the Zugspitze more than a metre.  Alpbach is pictured below after fresh snow there.

For the majority that stay on the piste the news is that the fresh snow revitalised the groomed runs too and took the deepest bases back over the three-metre mark at resorts like Les Arcs and La Rosiere, the first time the snow depth has been more than 10 feet for some time in France.

Swiss depths remain the world’s deepest though with more than 6 metres (20 feet) still lying at Andermatt and Engelberg.

The avalanche danger is mostly at level 2, moderate, in the French and Western Swiss and Italian Alps but in the East including eastern Switzerland, Italy and Austria it’s at level 3, considerable, in many areas.

Eastern Europe is seeing similar conditions to the Alps.  Jasna in the Slovak Republic is pictured above.  Generally temperatures in the valleys are getting as high as double digits above freezing in the afternoon so a thaw is well underway and precipitation is often back to falling as rain when it arrives, and as snow higher up.

However most areas either have deep enough snow on their slopes down to resort level or are ab le to push snow down the mountain to fill any gaps that appear sop continue to offer top to bottom skiing.

Down in the Pyrenees there’s been a little fresh snow in recent days.  Our top image is from the Spanish resort of Baqueira Beret which reported 10cm of fresh snow on Wednesday.

Up in Scandinavia it has been very snowy with plenty more snow in Norway, Sweden and Finland is also in the best shape it has been all winter.  Levi, now fully open, is pictured below.

The same can be said for Scotland which has re-opened more slopes this week than it has had open all season up to now, thanks to three weeks of cold and often snowy weather since the big February thaw.  It has been rather warm again the past few days which may be a minor set back but colder weather and more snow is forecast for the weekend.  The Lecht is pictured below this week.

Across the Atlantic it has been a quieter week for snowfall in both Canada and the USA.  Indeed a rapid thaw has led some resorts in traditionally warm states like New Mexico to begin closing but then New Jersey’s Mountain Creek area has, unusually, extended their season to the end of the month. The East Coast is due to get a lot of snow over the next few days right up to Quebec though, with up to 50cm/20 inches forecast.

On the west, there’s a return to snowier weather expected but it has been warm and the avalanche danger risk has been set at ‘very high’ by official bodies in regions like BC, Canada due to the instability of a rapidly thawing snowpack.

The far North West, Alaska, is the one part of north America that has seen big snowfalls this past week with more than six feet of snow for Alyeska, pictured below.

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Where is good to ski right now? 

Week commencing 14th March 2019?

It has been the snowiest week in the Alps for some time with some resorts reporting almost a metre of snow already, and it’s currently dumping down again meaning five-day totals at some Swiss areas may get up towards 1.5 metres (five feet).

The snow is falling over a wide area from the Southern French Alps in the west across to the Northeastern Alps and the Tatra mountains of the Czech and Slovak Republics as well as Poland.

Heavy snow has been reported in Jasna in Slovakia for example, but the weather is changeable with strong winds blowing in at times, leading to the evacuation of higher slopes in Alpe d’Huez at the start of the week with some non-skiing visitors in mountain restaurants needing to be brought down on snowcats as high lifts were closed.

https://fb.watch/gIJxCLh_AF/

 

 

Whilst it has been generally cold on the ski slopes there have also been reports of rain at times down in low valley ski resorts as spring starts to take hold at lower elevations.

But higher up the snow is good and it’s getting deeper, Engelberg just overtook Andermatt for the first time this season to post the deepest base in Europe (and the world) at 616cm (20.5 feet) after 30cm of snowfall in the past few days there.

Elsewhere in Europe, there has been some fresh snow in the Pyrenees but otherwise, conditions are distinctly springlike with top to bottom skiing but in the valleys, the only snow left is what’s pushed down on the slopes.

It was a similar picture in the Dolomites although here snow forecast may turn things much whiter over the next few days if it falls as promised and right down to the valley floor as snow.

Scotland’s stop-start-stop ski season is starting again with lots of snow showers through March so far after the warm February thaw (Glencoe pictured above).  Ski areas have been re-opening slopes in the past week with all five centres open again for the first time in nearly a month since Wednesday.  There’s a limited but increasing amount of terrain open and the main problem has been the strong winds of late, which has caused lift closures at times. In between when the wind has dropped and the sun come out conditions have been superb.

Scandinavia has seen some good snowfalls too and resorts on Norway’s coast like Voss (pictured top after the snow) reported some big 50cm accumulations earlier this week – some of the biggest of the season so far in fact.  But there was also snowfall across the region so almost all Scandinavian ski centres have plenty of fresh snow to groom or for off-piste powder.

In North America the unending snowy deluge in the west seems to have finally, well, if not ended, certainly eased. Squaw Valley popped to the top of the world greatest snow depth table after the latest huge snowfalls last week hitting 6.3 metres (21 feet) at the start of this week but has now dropped back down under 6 metres after the snowfall finally eased and people could go out and enjoy the snow under clear skies at last.

It is still snowing in parts of Colorado, Utah and the Pacific Northwest but this week they’re measuring it in inches rather than feet.

 

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Where is good to ski right now? 

Report below from 8 March 2019

There’s a big change in the weather in the Alps for the start of March with snow falling across the region after the three-week dry spell through the latter part of February.

The snowfall has also reached down the Dolomites, and in the past 24 hours to the Pyrenees, where it had been dry for a month.  Vallnord in Andorra is pictured below as the snow clouds rolled in.

So the result is that much of mainland Europe is getting a fresh snow top up, welcome by most.  The only downside beyond the low visibility snowfall normally brings, is that the change in the weather has also brought strong winds at times, which have closed some higher lifts and runs.

The snow is expected to continue pretty much everywhere for the week ahead. There are some fears that at lower elevations it may fall as rain, but at higher resorts like Obergurgl and the higher parts of the Chamonix Valley, there may be as much as a metre of fresh snow by this time next week if forecasters are correct.

So far resorts reporting 20-30cm overnight accumulations in the past few days have included Bonneval in France, Bormio in Italy (pictured below yesterday), St Moritz in Switzerland and Saalbach (on three separate days in the past week) in Austria.

Closer to home the picture has also changed in Scotland after the record warm temperatures of February and slopes in the Highlands are turning white again. At the time of writing it was still only limited terrain open at the base of the slopes, just for beginners really, at a few areas, but it is a rapidly improving picture and Glencoe for one says they expect to open full runs on the upper mountain this weekend.

 

It’s a snowy picture in Scandinavia too with the snow falling over most of Norway and Sweden’s ski areas and many posting regular 5-20cm overnight accumulations to provide fresh powder each morning.  Voss on Norway’s coast reported 35cm in 24 hours to Friday morning – pictured below after the snow.

Across the Atlantic, more snowfall records are being set in the US and it is still dumping down in the West.  Squaw Valley has announced it will stay open to July 7th and Winter Park in Colorado has said it will stay open into May (joining Breckenridge, pictured below on Thursday, which already announced would be open to the end of May). In fact, Colorado has been at the heart of severe weather over the past 48 hours with ski areas reporting up to 2 metres of snowfall in the past week, leading to road closures and in the case of Arapahoe Basin on Thursday, the whole resort closing due to ‘severe avalanche danger.’  In fact, the avalanche danger in Colorado is currently at its highest level: 5

 

There’s been snow right across the US though, including on the East Coast leading to severe weather warnings across the country and thousands of flight cancellations.

North of the border in Canada the weather has been less dramatic with just moderate snowfalls at ski areas from coast to coast.  Tremblant has the country’s deepest base at 496cm.

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Report below from 28 February

Where is good to ski right now? 

The snow is falling again in the Alps, hoorah! Of course it was hard not to enjoy the sunny, warm days on the slopes that have dominated much of February but for those who like fresh powder, or even freshly groomed slopes, spring had come a little too early and it’s a relief to get back to more winter-like conditions – even if these are arriving just as spring itself is supposed to start on March 1st (the meteorological version that is).

In the Alps, the snow is expected to be heaviest in the North and West although the full region should get at least some.  We’re talking 10-30cm in Eastern and southerly areas and 30-70cm in Northern and western part. The biggest falls are expected in France on Friday, then a bit of a lull before another wave of heavy snowfall at the start of next week – if the forecasts get it right.

In the meantime, it has been another warm, sunny week across much of the continent – very like late March/early April often is, less like what February should be like, but still quite pleasant on the pistes until it gets a bit too sticky in the late afternoon. But then that’s all history now anyway with the snow returning and cold weather with it.

There was some snow at the end of last week in parts of Austria though, Dachstein West (below) reported 20cm of snow, Saalbach 30cm.

The Dolomites and Pyrenees will probably have to wait until the middle of next week before the snow reaches them. And whilst current forecasts are for 40-80cm in the Western Alps (France and Western Italy and Western Switzerland) and 20-40 on the eastern side (Austria and Eastern Switzerland), so far it’s looking like 10-20cm for the Dolomites and Pyrenees, but of course that could change before the snow arrives next week.

Closer to home Scottish ski areas have continued to suffer as we’ve basked in record warm days for February in the UK but here too a return to winter is forecast from this weekend as we enter spring and its hoped enough snow will fall along with cold weather for snowmaking for some of the main ski runs to re-open alongside the beginner areas kept open with all-weather snowmaking at Cairngorm, Glencoe and The Lecht.

Scandinavia should see more fresh snow and Bulgaria, where there was a foot of fresh snow at the weekend, continues to look good with bases actually increasing here to nearly 3 metres (10 feet) at the snowiest resort, Pamporovo.  The other Bulgarian centres have plenty of snow too though – Bansko is pictured above on Saturday when World Cup races were postyponed due to the snowfall.

It should stay snowy in Canada next week where ski areas across the country reported up to 60cm of fresh snow over the past seven days.  The week ahead doesn’t look AS snowy but up to 30cm is still expected in Quebec (again) and around Banff in Alberta.

The US has seen another week of very snowy weather to round off February with more huge snowfalls this week in states including California and Wyoming, both seeing resorts post more than 1.5 metres (five feet) of snowfall since Sunday.  That’s on top of similar huge snowfalls through February giving resorts like Mammoth, Jackson Hole and Squaw Valley their snowiest ever Feb. All the snow, accompanied by strong winds at times, has caused problems for some areas opening, but once the weather calms down the powder is incredible.

 

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Where is good to ski right now? 

Report below from week ending 23 February

It has been the second week with little or no snowfall for most of Europe’s ski areas with blue skies and perfect conditions on the piste at most resorts for the February half term holidays.

Heavy snowfall earlier this month and in January means that despite warm temperatures and spring-like conditions a little earlier than they should be, most have the snow depths to withstand the warmth and have everything open.  Here’s Morzine this week.

Some have reduced their depth totals by 10-20cm this week, reflecting the thaw, but as most have at least 2 metres lying on upper runs, and some like Andermatt and Engelberg, around six metres, that’s not a big issue as yet.

Of course whilst its great on the groomed runs, the chance of finding any fresh powder are diminishing by the day until there’s a fresh snowfall.

There’s not a huge change on the horizon still so far, although some colder weather has crept in from the East in recent days bringing light snowfall and subzero temperatures back to parts of Austria and further afield in Bulgaria.  But most of the Western Alps, Pyrenees and Dolomites look set to stay dry into a third week next week.

 

The only part of Europe which has seen regular snowfalls over the past week has been Scandinavia where most resorts have had 10-20cm of snowfall in the last 7 days and some on Norway’s western coast, including Voss, getting nearer to 50cm.

Closer to home though on our side of the North Sea it is not looking good in Scotland.  The BBC News reported a village in Aberdeenshire set an all-time February warmth record at over 18C on Thursday, 21st February – and that’s very close to the five Scottish ski areas which hadn’t had a deep snow covering as it was and that’s now pretty much all disappeared. Glencoe (pictured above), The Lecht and Cairngorm are still managing to keep small snow areas for beginners and sledges open though thanks to their new all-weather snowmaking machines purchased this year.

Across the Atlantic, it’s a very different picture with snowfall reported almost everywhere and in California, it has continued to be exceptionally heavy snowfall with several resorts now setting February all-time snowfall records, amongst them Squaw Valley and Mammoth each reporting more than 5 metres of snowfall this month alone. Mammoth has now had more than 13 metres of snowfall so far this season, has it lying 5.7 metres (19 feet) deep and is looking good to stay open to July as it plans.

Pictured below are a ‘before’ and ‘after’ picture of a ski hut at Sugar Bowl ski area in California which has reported an average 30cm/foot a day of snowfall every day this month.

As mentioned it’s not just the far West though, there have been more good snowfalls in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming, as well as on the East Coast and up across Canada where they’ve been getting excited that temperatures are ‘warming up’ to just below freezing.

There’s plenty more snow in the forecast across the continent with the biggest snowfalls expected in the Rockies over the coming week.

**** REPORT BELOW DATED 15 FEBRUARY 2019

Where is good to ski right now? 

After a mostly snowy first six weeks of 2019 in one region or another the weather has calmed down across the Alps (and indeed the Dolomites and Pyrenees) with predominantly sunny days and great conditions for skiing and boarding.  Obergurgl in Austria is pictrured top this week.

All that snow through January to mid-February has left deep cover at most resorts, with almost all the centres you can book a package holiday to reporting at least a 2 metre base depth and some as much as a six metre base depth.

The snow in the Alps is fresh too, there was another big dump last weekend and into the start of this week which gave 30-60cm more snow to most resorts in Austria, France and Switzerland.

Meribel is pictured last weekend below:

With all the sunshine this week it has also been getting warmer and it will be feeling ‘springlike’ in many resorts this weekend and into the main half-term week next week. Temperatures may well go well above freezing at village level and even up on the slopes.

There’s no real sign of change on the horizon at present either with just the odd centimetre of snow forecast here and there by the snow forecasting agencies, but mostly just more sunshine.

The avalanche danger rose up to level 3, considerable, for off-piste skiers and boarders with that heavy snow but has since eased in some areas.

There hasn’t been any significant fresh snow in the Dolomites or Pyrenees for nearly two weeks now but conditions remain good after all the snow that fell in later January and early Feb, with deep bases again and all runs open.  A light dusting of snow is expected in the Pyrenees at the start of next week which should freshen things up nicely.  Spain’s Baquerira Beret is pictured above this week.

Conditions are looking pretty good in Eastern Europe too, where the snow has continued falling and temperatures stayed lower through the past week.  Bases are also looking very healthy and again pretty much all runs are open.

Further north things are looking a little less promising. In Scandinavia, there has been fresh snow but there’s also been a wild mix of weather with temperatures going from below -20 at the start of the week to above freezing with rain, and periods of fog and gale force winds have also impacted skiers.

In Scotland, the warm British weather has had a bad impact and the number of runs open which peaked at over 60 midweek is now down below 10 across the five areas and with warm weather expected to continue into next week it’s not looking promising at present.

Across the Atlantic there has been no let up in the heavy snowfall in Western North America with more massive accumulations in California and along the Pacific Coast, which has continued over to provide pretty huge snowfalls (60cm instead of 120cm further west) in states like Utah and Wyoming.  Mammoth Mountain has now had more than 11 metres of snowfall and is sitting on a 5m+ base so has already announced that it’s staying open to at least July 4th this year.  Cars at the summit at Snoqualmie in Washington State are pictured above.

There’s been fresh snow north of the border in BC too and over in the east some big snowfalls in New England and Quebec (includiong at Mont Tremblant below).

**** REPORT BELOW DATED 8 FEBRUARY 2019

Where is good to ski right now? 

Ski areas around the world seem to be taking a breath this week after huge snowfalls up to last weekend and, in North America, the first half of this week.

Resorts in the Alps posted snowfalls of typically 50cm to as much as 2 metres by the end of last weekend and similar numbers were reported in the Dolomites (Alta Badia pictured below) and Pyrenees over the same period with the most snow – up to 3 metres (10 feet) reported in California between Saturday and Tuesday.

So in mainland Europe, after those huge snowfalls, this week has seen people simply enjoying all the snow.  There have been blue skies in the French Alps, for example, leading to endless social media posts of “fabulous conditions.”

That said, in the past 24 hours things have been turning snowy again in the Alps with a fresh band of snow clouds crossing the area over the weekend with the heaviest snowfall expected on Sunday/Monday.

Snow depths are very healthy indeed with most of the continent’s leading ski areas having at least 2 metres of snow on upper slopes, some as much as 3 or 4 metres and a few, including St Anton, Engelberg and Andermatt, above 5 metres.  That should take a while to melt in the spring.

It has been a great week in the French Alps with lots of sunshine and skiers in the mountains there over the past few days reporting ideal conditions.  The snow clouds have moved back in at many resorts now though.

Elsewhere in Europe, there were huge snowfalls at the end of last week in the Dolomites. This was particularly welcome as the Italian mountains had not had much snow at all this season until then, although they did have most of their terrain open thanks to near 100% snowmaking coverage. Now the snow is lying deep across the region.  Cortina and Val Gardena posted some of the biggest accumulations.

Further east still there’s been a lot of snowfall in Bulgaria over the past few weeks and conditions are good here with a deep base developing.

On the other side of Europe, the Pyrenees saw their second week of heavy snowfall leading to resorts in the French Pyrenees now posting deeper snow base depth stats than resorts in the French Alps – although both mountain ranges have healthy numbers.  Like the Dolomites, the snowfall has been very welcome after a fairly dry first few months of the season before it arrived.

Looking north conditions are again fairly good across much of Scandinavia.  It’s been cold and clear so far at Are for the Alpine Skiing World Championships in Sweden with will see Axel Lund Svindal and Lindsey Vonn’s final professional races in the next few days. There has been some fresh snow though with Norwegian coastal ski area Voss reporting 30cm of fresh powder this week.

In Scotland, it has been a constantly improving picture through February with bases building and all five areas opening terrain beyond the previously only-beginner terrain available.  The Lecht is pictured above this week.  Temperatures are rising and it’s a windy weekend ahead which could see some damage to the thin snow cover but hopefully not.

In North America, there have been huge snowfalls on the West side of the continent as mentioned above.  The biggest falls were in California (Kirkwood pictured above) but 1-2 metre accumulations were reported across the western side of the US and it has hardly stopped snowing in Utah where the Freestyle World Championships are underway.  Some resorts there have had two metres of snow this week.

Elsewhere there has been a bit of a lull since the snowfall was heaviest on Sunday/Monday but a fresh front hitting the West Coast this weekend is expected to bring at least another 50cm by the start of next week.

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**** REPORT BELOW DATED 1 FEBRUARY 2019

Where is good to ski right now? 

Well for the Start of February the good news is that the snow conditions are looking great almost everywhere.

The extremely heavy snow in the Eastern Alps (Austria and Eastern Switzerland) that caused disruption in the first half of January has now eased leaving most areas fully open.

The snow is lying deep across the region now, in fact, the world’s deepest snow base is 20 feet (six metres) deep at the resort of Andermatt in Switzerland, Engelberg isn’t too far behind and St Anton (above) recently pushed through the 5-metre mark for its upper snow depth earlier this week.

At the same time The Western Alps (France, Western Switzerland and Western Italy), which had been doing fine but really needed more fresh snow, have had just that over the past 10 days with most resorts receiving several feet (60cm+) of fresh snow but some as much as 1.5 metres of snow.

The snow is still falling and expected to continue to be quite heavy through the weekend at many areas, so that could cause travel issues.

The snow has also pushed the off piste avalanche danger up to level 5, one below the highest level, 5, meaning it is very dangerous to ski or board off piste at present.

The Pyrenees needed fresh snow more than the Alps and in some areas, until about 10 days ago, ski areas were only partially open because of a lack of snow.  That has changed big time with the biggest snowfalls in the world over the past fortnight in the Pyrenees.

Some ski areas there have had over three metres (10 feet) of snow.  So there are amazing snow conditions at present in the French and Spanish Pyrenees, as well as Andorra.  Pictured below is digging out at Formigueres in the French Pyrenees.

Again the volume of snow, still falling in some places, may cause travel issues and has pushed up the off piste avalanche danger so its vital to be aware of and respect closed slopes and other safety advice.

The Dolomites too had not had much snow until recently although pretty much all their groomed terrain was open thanks to their massive snowmaking arsenal.  But it is due to snow heavily this weekend here too for a good start to February.  It looks like 50-100cm of snow may fall over the next 72 hours, more than most areas there have had all season so far, so that should transform conditions here too.

Most of Eastern Europe is looking good too.  Large parts of the Northeast of the continent (Czech and Slovak Republics, Germany and Poland) shared in the huge snowfalls in the eastern Alps of early January and there have been several big snowfalls in Bulgaria over the past few weeks leaving the snow nearly two metres deep there.

Scandinavia – where the biggest ski competition of the year – the FIS Alpine Skiing World Championships – kick off next week in Are, Sweden, it is mostly good.  Finland had a warm start to the season but it is cold now and most areas are fully open. In Norway there have been some substantial snowfalls this week with 50cm of fresh at Norefjell.

The only area struggling to open much terrain so far in Scotland, although here too it’s a rapidly improving picture after mostly cold and sometimes snowy weather over the past fortnight. The five Highland areas should all have some runs iopen this first weekend of the month.

Across the Atlantic the big news from North America has been the super cold weather (-50F wind chill at its most extreme) in the centre of the continent.  This led to the closure of dozens of ski areas where it was too cold for them to operate safely.

However most of us head to ski areas on the West or East side of the continent where it has been cold, but not so much.  The East has had the most snow over the past week but there was already a good base from big snowfalls from November on in the west and more fresh snow is arriving this weekend and into next week there.  Revelstoke in BC has had more than 7 metres of snowfall so far this season.  Panorama in BC is pictured top.  Tremblant in Quebec below.

Finally, Japan – a fairly classic winter it seems with plenty of deep powder and Niseko passing the 7-metres-snowfall-to-date tally already.