December 1st, time to open your advent calendar, break out of the pre-Christmas diet and have your first mince pie of the year. It's also time to look forward to some skiing, as the snow is returning to Europe just in time for the festive season.
Val d'Isere may have lost the Criterium, the start of season leg of the FIS World Cup, but it's not all bad news as the resort is due 13cm of snow over the week. This may not make you say wow, but looking at past years and the snow arriving late in December has lead to some good seasons of powder days and corduroy pistes (09/10 for example).
The biggest snowfall expected over the weekend runs along the French-Swiss border in the Haute Savoie region. With the first flakes forecast for tomorrow, Chamonix is boasting a much needed 30cm of fresh snow, with Avoriaz, Morzine, Argentiere and Flaine all expecting 27cm. Les Gets, Megeve and Alpe d'Huez are also getting in on the act over the weekend with 20-25cm forecast by Monday.
Heading toward the anglicized Tarantaise Valley, and a fairly even spread of snow looks due across Val d'Isere & Tignes, Les Arcs & La Plagne and Courchevel, Meribel and Val Thorens, with over 15cm of the white stuff due. Add in cold temperatures and world class snow making facilities and the piste skiing will be in good shape in no time at all.
Heading back to the border, but this time into Switzerland and the snow gods are making up for their North American sabbatical in recent weeks, with some good snowfall. Nendaz, Les Diablerets and Verbier, should all expect around 23cm of fresh snow, with Flims Laax, Engelberg and Crans Montana all forecast similar snowfall with 20cm on the cards.
Austria is getting its first notable snowfall in weeks too, with Kuhtai, St. Anton and Obergurgl all forecast 10-15cm of snow and Ischgl, Kitzbuhel and Mayrhofen expecting around 8-10cm of new snow. Italy is also due a cover of white stuff with 18cm hitting Courmayeur, 16cm in La Thuile and 13cm in Cervinia. Pila, Champoluc and Bardonecchia are also forecast a 5-10cm dusting of snow.
So, if we all add 'more snow' to our letters to Santa, pray hard enough and do a few snow dances, hopefully Mother Nature will take the change in weather, the cold temperatures and the fact we love skiing, and dump some serious powder onto the slopes in time for a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.
The Snowman
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