Austria is having the season of seasons right now, with more snow forecast to arrive and record amounts having fallen. Soll and Kitzbuhel will boast 20cm of fresh snow over the next few days, while Saalbach, Hinterglemm and Zell am See, will have to settle for 15-17cm of fresh snow. The ever popular aprés ski hot spots of St. Anton and Mayrhofen are expecting 11cm of fresh snow, while Ischgl is forecast 9cm of snow. Not bad considering it's super cold and the snow cannons are getting a good blast too.

Following on from some good snowfall over the weekend and Scandinavia is set for another dump of powder this week. Norway's Voss is expecting 46cm of snow, while the Swedish resort of Åre can boast 40cm of fresh powder. Finland is also set for fresh snow with 16cm forecast in Yllas and around 11cm in Ruka.

France and Italy will see a light dusting here and there, with continually cold temperatures and a possibility of snow by the weekend. The likes of Morzine, Avoriaz, Alpe d'Huez, Les Deux Alpes, Arabba and Selva should all see a couple of centimetres, to help with the 9am corduroy pistes. In Switzerland conditions are similar with mostly sunshine and cold weather, though Davos, Klosters and Flims Laax should all benefit from around 7cm of fresh snow.

Across the Atlantic and a similar story of snow and sunshine is expected this week — unless you head to Alaska that is, where Alyeska is forecast a whopping 85cm of snow, which includes around half a metre today alone! Whistler, Beaver Creek and Aspen should all see around 12cm of snow in the next few days, while Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper are all forecast 7-9cm of fresh powder.

Wherever you are skiing over the next couple of weeks, it will either be pristine pistes, beautiful sunshine, but über cold conditions — which are perfect for the slopes, though remember your thermals. Or you'll be greeted with a few fresh lines, the occasional low visibility day and fantastic powder. Either way, you've got to be pleased.

The Snowman

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Having seen a light dusting across Wimbledon overnight, the snow is making its way back toward the Alps for the weekend, with more snow expected throughout next week. The Alps are getting a good little top-up, with upwards of 10cm expected in many resorts. Add in the -20°c temperatures and the use of snow cannons, and the pistes will be looking at their pristine best throughout the half term holidays for the first time in recent years.

Austria is benefitting from light snowfall today and through until early next week. The likes of Lech, St. Anton and St. Johann in Tirol are forecast up to 15cm of fresh snow. Soll, Alpbach and Seefeld should see around 12cm of snow by the end of Tuesday and Ischgl is expecting a light 7–10cm of super cold powder.

France is a similar story with the likes of Morzine, Les Gets and Chatel all expecting around 10cm of fresh snow, Megeve is forecast around 8cm of snow and the Tarantaise Valley is having a light dusting — though more snow is expected next week. Whether you are heading to Val d'Isere, Meribel, La Rosiere or La Tania, it will be über cold with around 3cm of fresh snow. So expect high-speed, corduroy pistes in the mornings, perfect for blasting around these super huge ski areas.

Switzerland is, unsurprisingly, looking the same. Verbier, Zermatt and Saas Fee are all forecast a 3cm of snow and more cold weather. As is Italy, with Selva, Cervinia and Arabba adding to the tree tops and resorts roofs, with 3cm of snow.

The biggest snowfalls this weekend are in Scandinavia and Bulgaria! Åre in Sweden boasts a cracking 32cm of powder, while Voss in Norway should see 24cm of fresh snow. Borovets, Bankso and Pamporovo in Bulgaria are all forecast a much needed 23cm of fresh snow.

Across the Atlantic and Colorado in the US is set for a decent dump over the next few days. Steamboat boasts the biggest snowfall of the weekend, with 34cm of snow, 13 of which are forecast for today alone. Aspen is forecast a decent looking 24cm of snow, in time for the busy half-term slopes and the mad skiers haven of Telluride should benefit from around 25cm of fresh snow. Beaver Creek, Crested Butte, Snowmass and Vail are all forecast around 20cm of fresh stuff too.

Heading North and there's also fresh snow in Canada over the weekend. Whistler is forecast a 14cm top-up, kicking Horse is expecting around 9cm of snow and Jasper should see up to 5cm of fresh snow.

So, wherever your heading over the next couple of weeks, the mountains will no doubt be in great shape. A season of regular snowfall, proper mountain temperatures and snow cannons put to good use means amazing piste skiing and perfectly placed, well maintained bumps — if you're that way inclined. If it carries on like this, we'll be skiing well into May!

The Snowman

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The way the snow has fallen so far this season, we'll be skiing in May, so a sunny weekend on the slopes is more than good news to anyone heading to the mountains in the next few days. Though, so not to buck the trend, the long nine day weather forecast is showing more snow is due to arrive across the Alps toward the end of next week.

Most of the Alps will be basking in some winter sunshine for the next five days, but don't worry the temperatures are so low, the snow won't be going anywhere! So far this season Val d'Isere has had 409cm of snow, Meribel has benefitted from 328cm of snow and St. Anton has boasted 386cm with an incredible 490cm of snow on the upper slopes. Though there is humongous amounts on snow on the slopes for the first week in Feb, virtually every resort with snow cannons has been blasting them all week, to make sure the snow stays and the slopes are perfect.

There is, however, some snow arriving in Europe over the weekend. Fans of Spanish skiing will be pleased to see the 25cm forecast to fall over the next few days, starting tomorrow, while the Pyrenees will be receiving similar levels of snow, with 19cm forecast in St. Lary Soulan. There is also some snow falling in Andorra, with 7cm forecast in Arinsal and 6cm in Pas de la Casa & Soldeu el Tarter.

Bulgaria is set for fresh snow over the weekend with Pamporovo boasting 49cm of snow, 29cm forecast in Borovets and 23cm forecast in Bansko. Slovenia is also set for a dusting over the weekend, with 9cm on the radar for Kranjska Gora.

There is also some snow set to hit the U.S. over the next few days. California is making the most of the snowstorm, with the popular Ski Lake Tahoe resorts boasting the biggest dumps of snow. Heavenly is set for 16cm at the beginning of next week and Northstar at Tahoe and Squaw Valley are both expecting around 12cm of snow. Heading further inland and to Colorado and more snow is set to fall. Aspen is looking at around 9cm of snow over the weekend, while Crested Butte is forecast 10cm and Telluride should see 8cm of fresh snow arriving.

So, with a little more snow falling in some places and some much appreciated sunshine arriving in others, the mountains are looking glorious right now and I for one can't wait to hit the slopes again!

The Snowman

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The biggest dumps of snow are in Canada this week. Whistler continues its return to form with 66cm in the next five days, with Kicking Horse should boast around 23cm of snow. Mount Sainte Anne is forecast around 13cm, with Kimberley expecting around 9cm and around 8cm falling in Fernie.

Staying in North America, and there is some reasonable snow on offer. Jackson Hole is forecast around 11cm of snow this week, while Aspen should see around 10cm top-up its slopes. Steamboat and Crested Butte are expecting around 8cm of snow,while Breckenridge should also get a decent dusting of snow.

Back to Europe and there is some more decent snowfall in France this week, with a good mixture of snow and sunshine in most resorts. Isola 2000, in the south of France, benefits from the most snow in Europe this week thanks to an expected 28cm of snow, while little Pra Loup should see around 18cm of snow. Vars and Risoul should see a further 15cm of snowfall this week, after a weekend of snow — great for some tree lined powder skiing — and Montgenevre should gain around 9cm of snow.

The big resorts in France all have pretty much the same forecast, with 5cm of snow over the next couple of days, with intermittent sunshine, followed by cold days and blue skies. Basically perfect piste skiing and some hidden pockets of powder in Val d'Isere, Tignes, Meribel, Courchevel, Val Thorens, La Plagne, Les Arcs and Alpe d'Huez. So enjoy a schuss and some sunny aprés ski, or get yourself a guide and hunt out the left over untracked snow.

Austria is mimicking France with a light dusting of snow in St. Anton, Mayrhofen, Obergurgl, Ischgl, Lech and Kitzbuhel are all forecast a few centimetres of snow, followed by some bluebird days. Glühwein, table dancing and um-pah-pah music, along with perfect skiing conditions is pretty much on the menu this week.

If you haven't yet planned to hit the slopes this season, you really should take advantage of some of the best conditions the Alps have ever seen, so check out the cheeky ski deals on offer and hit the mountain.

The Snowman

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This weekend isn't as epic as recent weeks as there will only be up to half a metre falling in the Alps and across the Atlantic, but with reasonable snow adding to phenomenal conditions, we're definitely not complaining.

France is set for the best of the European snow this weekend. The usual big hitters should all benefit from around 20cm of the white stuff, but it is the more undiscovered resorts that are getting the biggest dumps. Vars & Risoul make up a fantastic ski area, la Foret Blanche, in the southern French Alps, and are forecast at least 43cm of snow over the weekend. The resort of Serre Chevalier isn't renowned for queues, fur coats or couloirs, but still offers great skiing in a stunning, tree lined valley — the weekend should see around 40cm falling on its slopes.

St. Sorlin and St. Jean d'Arves are also hidden gems, filled with self catered accommodation, reasonable resort prices and a largely unknown, but underrated ski area. The weekend should see around 40cm falling their way. Okay, so Alpe d'Huez and Les Deux Alpes are hardly hidden gems, but they are more compact and less busy than the Tarantaise resorts, and should see around 33-35cm of snow across the weekend — some parts of Alpe d'Huez's ski area could see closer to half a metre of fresh snow.

As mentioned, France's big hitters are also expecting some snow over the weekend. Val d'Isere and Tignes are expecting around 23cm of fresh snow, Courchevel, Meribel and Val Thorens can expect to see around 29cm hitting their slopes and La Plagne and Les Arcs should both gain around 24cm of snow. It might not be epic, but knee deep snow is not to be sniffed at.

Once again Switzerland is following its snowier neighbours, by benefitting from a reasonable top-up over the weekend. The big known resorts of Verbier, Zermatt and Saas Fee should all see around 22cm of fresh snow arriving in the next few days. The lesser known resorts of Grimentz & Zinal should benefit from another 27cm of snow in the coming days and Villars & Crans Montana are both expecting around 23cm of snow. There is also around 15cm forecast in Flims Laax, Grindelwald and Murren. So snow pretty much everywhere.

Austria is also expecting a dusting of powder over the weekend, though it will be a much lighter affair than recent weeks. St. Anton is forecast around 8cm of snow, Ischgl 7cm and Mayrhofen around 3cm. There will also be a little bit of snow covering in Kitzbuhel and Alpbach. Italy is a bit of a mixed bag this weekend. Sauze d'Oulx has around 32cm of snow on the radar, Sestriere could boast around 33cm of fresh pow and Cervinia should benefit from a 24cm dusting of snow, with Selva and Arabba only getting a couple of centimetres.

Things have picked up in North America after some snow this weekend and the weekend will see around 44cm falling in Whistler, 43cm in Kicking Horse and 23cm in Monte Sainte Anne. With the X-Games taking place in Aspen at the moment, the 6cm of snow should help keep the parks well shaped and the landings less icy, while holidaymakers can enjoy a similar dusting in Steamboat, Stowe and Breckenridge.

All-in-all there is lots of snow this weekend, though nothing too scary is set to fall. So perfect pistes, a bit of cheeky powder and even the occasional vin chaud or beer on a sun-filled terrace should be on the cards for people heading to the mountains this weekend for a week on the slopes.

If it carries on like this I may have to go on strike, just like a French snowman would, until I get some time on the slopes myself!

The Snowman

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