Don’t book a last-minute ski holiday until you’ve read this…

…find out which resorts have the best snow from the freshest weather report, supplied by weathertoski.co.uk

Snow cover is still excellent across most of the Alps. However, with the milder weather this week, snow quality is more variable.  Generally speaking the most consistent snow conditions are at altitude in the central and southern Alps, the most variable conditions in the lower resorts of the northern Alps where there has been some rain.

Austria

Conditions are highly variable due to milder temperatures and a recent mix of rain and snow. The best conditions are at altitude in Obertauern (180/220cm) and Obergurgl (95/125cm) where there is some fresh snow. Lower down, however, Kitzbühel (40/140cm) and Söll (55/125cm) have seen some rain and, although there is still plenty of snow, many pistes are wet and slushy.  The good news is that much colder, snowier weather is expected over the weekend.

France

There has been a dusting of fresh snow at altitude across the northern Alps, including in Val Thorens (130/250cm) where conditions are excellent at all levels. The going is heavier in lower lying Morzine (95/260cm) where there has been a little rain, but snow cover here is still well above par. Tuesday’s light rain/snow didn’t make it to the southern French Alps where Serre Chevalier (90/195cm) and Isola 2000 (170/255cm) continue to offer excellent skiing under largely sunny skies. Colder weather is expected this weekend with heavy snow in the northern Alps.

Italy

The Italian Alps have also turned milder but with little or no recent rain, and snow conditions are more consistent than on the northern side of the Alps. Courmayeur (75/175cm) is skiing as well as anywhere, but conditions are also good in the Dolomite resorts of Arabba (78/172cm) and Cortina (40/150cm). Colder weather is expected this weekend with a little snow in places.

Switzerland

Snow cover remains excellent in most Swiss resorts, but mild temperatures and rain have temporarily affected the snow quality on some lower slopes, especially in the north. Engelberg (55/395cm) is one resort that has seen rain at resort level, but there is fresh snow higher up so conditions are very mixed.  Further south, conditions are more consistent in St Moritz (35/175cm) where good skiing is reported at all levels. Colder weather is expected this weekend with snow in places, heaviest in the northern Alps.

Rest of Europe

Temperatures are on the rise in the Pyrenees but snow depths are still impressive in Andorra’s Arcalis (200/270cm) where all pistes are in excellent condition. In Bulgaria, Bansko (80/180cm) is skiing well at all levels and it’s good news also for Sweden’s Åre (40/70) where 10-15cm of new snow has freshened up the pistes.

USA

Lots of new snow has fallen in the Rockies – especially welcome in Colorado where many resorts have been below par to date.  Vail (80cm mid-mountain) has seen at least 25cm of fresh in the last 24hrs with plenty more on the way.  There has also been new snow for Jackson Hole (Wyoming) where the mid-mountain base is 175cm and for Mammoth (California) which continues to boast the highest upper snow depths in the US with 493cm.

Canada

Whistler‘s excellent season continues with a dusting of new snow and mid-mountain depths of 187cm. There are great conditions further inland too, where there is 10cm of new snow in Revelstoke and the upper base is 191cm deep.