After the early snow in October and November, it hasn’t been the best start to the ski season since resorts opened in December. The higher-than-normal temperatures have meant there has been more sun and rain recently than snow. But things are looking up! Over the weekend, skiers and snowboarders coming in to resort would have been greeted to a layer of fresh snow as up to 25cm fell in 24 hours, including down to village level, although high winds on Sunday and Monday caused some resorts to close high lifts including Cervinia, Zermatt and Kaprun.
Luckily more cold weather is forecast this week with snowfalls predicted on Wednesday, then again at the weekend!
La Plagne Tuesday AM
France
Skiing conditions in France have been ok, particularly higher up. Slopes tend to be quieter in January so the on piste conditions maintain their shape relatively well allowing a great day’s skiing. On Sunday some resorts would have woken up to rain before it started to snow throughout the morning. The best of the snow was Chamonix with 15cm, La Plagne and Tignes received 10cm and then Alpe d'Huez, Les Arcs, La Clusaz & Megeve got a sprinkling of 5cm.
Latest snow report from Chamonix
Austria
Many resorts over the Austrian Alps received a good chunk of the snow fall over the weekend – there have even been reports up to 50cm at the Kitzsteinhorn glacier at Kaprun. The best of the rest was Kaunertal and St Wolfgang with 25cm, 20cm in Saalbach & Zell am See, 15cm Lech & Schladming, 12cm in Ischgl and then Fieberbrunn, Hintertux, Igls, Niederau, Sölden received 10cm of freshies.
Latest snow report from Verbier
Italy
Lots of sunshine with some fresh snow of the weekend. Arabba is looking good with 16cm of snowfall and the snowguns are blazing to keep the pistes white.
Arabba last week sent in by a customer
Andorra
It’s been a better start to the season here than most other countries in Europe, but no significant new snow has fallen over the past week. Soldeu is holding on to a good base with 50cm lower and 100cm of snow up top.
USA and Canada
There are excellent conditions and great snow bases across many resorts over the pond. California is struggling slightly with a lack of snow but more is expected to arrive this weekend. The best of the US snow can be found at Snowbird (158cm base), Copper Mountain (140cm) and Breckenridge (132cm). Nearly all resorts across Canada report depths in excess of a metre across the mountains, including the extra snowfalls of up to 40cm over the last week.
By Krystelle
France
Skiing conditions in France have been ok, particularly higher up. Slopes tend to be quieter in January so the on piste conditions maintain their shape relatively well allowing a great day’s skiing. On Sunday some resorts would have woken up to rain before it started to snow throughout the morning. The best of the snow was Chamonix with 15cm, La Plagne and Tignes received 10cm and then Alpe d'Huez, Les Arcs, La Clusaz & Megeve got a sprinkling of 5cm.
Latest snow report from Chamonix
Austria
Many resorts over the Austrian Alps received a good chunk of the snow fall over the weekend – there have even been reports up to 50cm at the Kitzsteinhorn glacier at Kaprun. The best of the rest was Kaunertal and St Wolfgang with 25cm, 20cm in Saalbach & Zell am See, 15cm Lech & Schladming, 12cm in Ischgl and then Fieberbrunn, Hintertux, Igls, Niederau, Sölden received 10cm of freshies.
Zell am See after some fresh snowfall
Switzerland
Resorts received a mix of the rain and snow as well. As temperatures dropped Sunday morning Arosa was lucky to get 25cm of fresh snow. While both Zermatt and Saas Free had to close over half of their lifts due to strong winds on Monday.
Switzerland
Resorts received a mix of the rain and snow as well. As temperatures dropped Sunday morning Arosa was lucky to get 25cm of fresh snow. While both Zermatt and Saas Free had to close over half of their lifts due to strong winds on Monday.
Latest snow report from Verbier
Italy
Lots of sunshine with some fresh snow of the weekend. Arabba is looking good with 16cm of snowfall and the snowguns are blazing to keep the pistes white.
Arabba last week sent in by a customer
Andorra
It’s been a better start to the season here than most other countries in Europe, but no significant new snow has fallen over the past week. Soldeu is holding on to a good base with 50cm lower and 100cm of snow up top.
USA and Canada
There are excellent conditions and great snow bases across many resorts over the pond. California is struggling slightly with a lack of snow but more is expected to arrive this weekend. The best of the US snow can be found at Snowbird (158cm base), Copper Mountain (140cm) and Breckenridge (132cm). Nearly all resorts across Canada report depths in excess of a metre across the mountains, including the extra snowfalls of up to 40cm over the last week.
Sunshine Village, Banff
Japan
If there is one place in the world without snow problems, it’s Japan. It’s been a great start to the season and the snow keeps coming (as expected). The accumulative snow fall in Niseko to date is a massive 656.5cm!
Niseko - is there such a thing as too much snow?
Snow is coming...
Japan
If there is one place in the world without snow problems, it’s Japan. It’s been a great start to the season and the snow keeps coming (as expected). The accumulative snow fall in Niseko to date is a massive 656.5cm!
Niseko - is there such a thing as too much snow?
Snow is coming...
By Krystelle