It's Christmas week, the heavens are filling resorts with snow and the mountains are truly back to their stunning, snow-filled best. If two weeks of pretty much non-stop snow, with more arriving in the next three days isn't good enough news, then the sunshine forecast for Christmas day surely is.
The biggest snowfall this week will be in Austria. Having seen huge dumps in France and Switzerland over the past two weeks, the resorts will be glad to add to their recent, decent snowfall, the majority of which is due to fall on tomorrow and Wednesday. Lech boasts a whopping 67cm of snow, forecast to arrive in little over 48 hours, with St. Anton benefitting from a similar 63cm. Solden, Soll, Obergurgl and Alpbach are all due around half a metre (48cm) in the next three days, while Mayrhofen (46cm), Kitzbühel (45cm) and Hinterglemm (41cm) are not far behind.
The German speaking Graubünden region on Switzerland is also in for some good snow in the next few days, having see the resorts along the French and Italian borders taking the early snowfall plaudits. Davos is forecast a cracking 58cm of snow in the next three days, with Flims Laax boasting 56cm. St. Moritz is also set for some decent snowfall, with 32cm in two days, as is Engelberg, with 39cm of fresh powder.
Photo: Y.S.E.
Heading back to France, and Britain's most popular ski destination, the Tarantaise Valley, and there is still more snow to come following a week and a half of incredible snowfall and pictures (just check our Facebook page). The snow falling at the moment is due to subside by Friday morning, meaning some pre-Christmas day, blue-bird powder days, and a stunning, winter wonderland feel on the big day itself — just think snow-capped chalets, glistening slopes and gorgeous sunshine, perfect. The snowfall in the whole region is looking pretty much the same, with Val d'Isere, Tinges, Les Arc, La Plagne, Meribel, Courchevel and Val Thorens all forecast between 17cm and 21cm of fresh snowfall.
Staying in France, but heading south, Alpe d'Huez is continuing its cracking December snowfall, with another 18cm before Christmas, and Les Deux Alpes is expecting around 16cm. Heading pack to the Haute-Savoie and the Portes Du Soleil is looking at a record breaking December thanks to the last two weeks and the 30cm of snow expected in Morzine, Avoriaz & Les Gets in the next three days. Chamonix is also expecting around 29cm of snow in the coming days, with Flaine and Megeve forecast 32cm and 30cm, respectively.
Popping across Mount Blanc into Italy and the snow continues to look good. Courmayeur is forecast around 28cm of snow, while Livigno is expecting a nice looking 37cm of white stuff. La Thuile, skiable from France's La Rosiere, is expecting around 28cm of fresh snow, while Selva should benefit from around 25cm of snow.
So, after a quiet couple of weeks toward the end of November, Christmas came early in the Alps with some huge snowfall that is set to keep on giving for another two or three days. With sunshine following all this snow, people won't need to dream of a white Christmas, they'll just need to be in the Alps!
The Snowman
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