It's only five weeks until Christmas and the weather is finally changing into winter mode. Temperatures are dropping, Whistler is swimming in snow and Europe is again kicking into gear.
After a promising start to the winter, the snow has eased off in Europe over the past couple of weeks, but it appears to be returning. Though the snow isn't arriving in the epic proportions of earlier this month — such as the 80cm that hit Saas Fee — a few weeks of steady snowfall will be equally welcome.
The biggest snowfall to hit Europe will be around the southern French Alps, with Alpe d'Huez, Les Deux Alpes and La Grave all forecast around 10cm of fresh snow. Up in the Tarantaise Valley, Val Thorens, La Plagne, Meribel and Courchevel are all looking forward to 5cm or so of snow. Val d'Isere and Tinges are also expecting a dusting over the weekend.
There is also a light dusting expected to hit Switzerland, with the resorts of Grimentz, Crans Montana, Saas Fee, Verbier and Zermatt all due snow. The Italian resorts of La Thuile, Sauze d'Oulx and Cervinia are all expecting similar levels of snowfall over the coming days.
As with last weekend and earlier this week, Andorra is expecting a nice little dusting of 5cm over the weekend. Arinsal, Pas de la Casa and Soldeu el Tarter are all enjoying the light, but early winter weather.
Mother Nature's gastroenteritis of snow will hit Whistler this weekend, with a whopping 120cm of fresh powder being dumped on the resort. Heading further into British Columbia's mountains and Kicking Horse is set for 39cm of snow, with a further 20+cm arriving in Kimberley and Panorama. Jasper, Fernie and Lake Louise are also set for around 10cm of snow in the coming days.
The US is also looking forward to a winter wonderland feel this weekend. Steamboat boasts the heaviest snowfall with 21cm, though the likes of Aspen, Park City, Beaver Creek, Jackson Hole and Vail are all expecting decent snow fall of 10-15cm.
The snow may not be coming down in full force, but as the weather gets colder and the layers begin to build the Alps will start to take on the white glow of winter and we will be rest assured that mountains are ready for us.
The Snowman
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