It’s snowing: Check our weather report before booking last-minute ski trips

There have been huge dumps in the north-western Alps this week – over 1m in places with plenty more to come. Many other regions have also had snow, though generally in more modest quantities. Overall it is proving to be an excellent start to the season with no end in sight to the wintry weather.

Austria

The build-up to the main season has been steady rather than spectacular in most Austrian resorts. Lech (45/65cm) has had to push back its opening date until tomorrow but now has plenty of snow at all levels. Obertauern (45/75cm) is another resort that looked a bit threadbare until recently but is now vastly improved with at least half of its 26 lifts now open. Glaciers aside, however, the best skiing in Austria right now is in Ischgl (126km of pistes, 85cm upper base) and Obergurgl (80km/157cm).

France

It’s snowing in Les Contamines, pictured, which is one resort to open ahead of schedule this weekend

The northern French Alps have seen 40-80cm of snow in the last 48hrs (over 1m in a few spots) and snow cover is now exceptional for early December. Generally speaking, southern French resorts have seen less snow this week but here too cover is very impressive for the time of year.

It was too dangerous to open much in Val d’Isère on Tuesday, but conditions will be epic here once the weather settles down with 85cm in the village and 130cm up top. Val Thorens has also endured some wild weather this week (160cm upper base) but there will be masses of snow for the official opening of the 3 Valleys this weekend. Lower resorts are also in great shape with 120cm of settled snow above La Clusaz which will be open this weekend along with countless other resorts, some scheduled, others only in response to the exceptional conditions.

Italy

Generally speaking Italian resorts have missed the heaviest of the snow this week, but this has been great news for anyone lucky enough to be skiing here as there has been little of the disruption from avalanche danger that we have seen further north. The Dolomite resort of Alta Badia opened last weekend and offers 20km pistes on a 95cm base. Livigno is also in excellent condition with 22 lifts and over 1.5m of snow up top.

Further west Cervinia, (pictured) continues to lead the way with near perfect pistes from top to bottom and 2m of snow on the glacier. Champoluc (5 lifts, 15/110cm) is one of the few other resorts that is now open on a daily basis, but expect many more to follow this weekend.

Switzerland

All Swiss resorts have seen snow this week, the heaviest of which has fallen in the western half of the country. The weather was wild enough to close Verbier down on Tuesday but expect fabulous conditions here once the lifts open with around 40cm of settled snow at village level and 170cm up top. Zermatt, pictured, (65/125cm) is also well above par for the time of year with skiing now possible on all 3 main mountains and Davos and Engelberg are just two of several resorts partially open further east. More are expected to follow suit this weekend.

Rest of Europe

All Andorran resorts are now up and running. There isn’t nearly as much snow as in most of the Alps but conditions are still good for the time of year with 60cm on the upper slopes of Arcalis and 30cm above Soldeu, pictured.The best skiing in Scandinavia is still in Norway where over half of Hemsedal‘s 54 pistes are open on a 55cm upper base. It is bitterly cold however, just as it is in Sweden’s premier resort, Åre, where only 3 runs are open on a 24cm base. More terrain is promised here soon.

Canada

Western Canada continues to offer excellent conditions with most major resorts now open. It’s snowing again in Whistler where the mid-mountain base is now a very impressive 185cm. Banff/Lake Louise have 107cm on their upper slopes and are also in great shape – as are Fernie (102cm), Big White (73cm) and Revelstoke (149cm) which all opened last weekend.

USA

Most Colorado resorts have seen a dusting of snow but much more is needed. Vail (46cm mid-mountain) and Aspen (56cm) are below par for the time of year and still reliant on artificial help. The good news here, however, is that significant snow is likely by the weekend. No such worries for Californian resorts, which have seen plenty of snow recently. Mammoth continues to lead the way with 175cm of settled snow on its upper slopes and promises to be 100% open by Friday.

For further information and daily updates, go to weathertoski.co.uk