Ski conditions stay good, but stick to the higher slopes

It’s been a great start to the week across much of the Alps, with plenty of sunshine and good conditions. Spring-like conditions are beginning to take hold gradually, so expect slopes on the lower mountain to become increasingly soft over the course of the day. As a result, to make the best of the current conditions be sure to stick to the slopes of the upper mountain, where the lower temperatures will keep the snow firmer for longer.

The skiing and boarding conditions across the French resorts are very good at the moment. In the second half of March you would normally expect the snow to be really weather affected, offering soft spring riding conditions on all but the most sheltered, north facing slopes. The conditions this season are a lot more consistent across all slope aspects, with firmer snow than you would normally expect. If you are after soft, spring snow riding then you can still enjoy those fantastic conditions on the lower, south facing slopes.

The good weather affecting much of the Alps is set to continue into the middle of the week, before becoming increasingly unsettled, bringing the possibility of some light snowfall across many regions.

The recent fine weather has provided some spring-like skiing conditions in Austria on lower lying slopes, and especially those that are south facing. The snow bases at many of our featured resorts have reduced as a result of the mild, sunny weather although this is only by a small amount and does not really impact the overall skiing conditions, which are still very good.

In Italy, the Dolomites is still offering some good skiing, despite having not seen any new snow in over a week in select resorts. The best conditions can currently be found on the upper mountains, where low temperatures are keeping the snow in excellent condition. Lower down, slopes are becoming increasingly soft due to mild temperatures affecting the valley, with highs of +9C being reported in some areas.

The Pyrenees remain in excellent condition currently, with low temperatures ensuring that the snow that fell last week is still in good condition. Pistes are in fantastic condition as result, with good top to bottom skiing currently available.

In Andorra, around 20cm of fresh snow fell on Friday and a further 10cm fell overnight into Sunday, topping up the conditions nicely ahead of the Easter weekend. The Ski Club Leader in Soldeu (80/130cm) reported great skiing over the weekend, particularly on the upper slopes. A mostly sunny and cold week is forecast, although temperatures may temporarily rise to around +6C on Friday.

The cloud hanging around much of the Pyrenees on Monday will clear by the middle of the week, replaced instead with sunshine and clear skies. Temperatures will see a rise over the course of the coming week, hitting highs of +7C by the weekend.

Good conditions still prevail in Scandinavia, with some select resorts picking up some fresh snow over the course of the weekend. Lower slopes have become increasingly soft over the past week, so be sure to stay high to make the most of the current conditions.

Good skiing can still be found across many Scottish resorts currently. Spring-like conditions are being reported at the moment, with some pistes becoming increasing broken over the course of the weekend. Despite this, however, skiing is still taking place down to car park level.

Conditions across much of Eastern Europe remain good. Slopes on the lower mountain are beginning to show signs of wear, with the best conditions currently found on the well-groomed runs of the upper mountain.

Good skiing is available throughout much of Canada currently, with low temperatures and light snow flurries ensuring that the pistes remain excellent. A cloudy week ahead looks likely to bring a light dusting of snow across many regions, so expect conditions to only further improve over the coming days.

In the USA, there is still plenty of good skiing to be had. Whilst the east coast has suffered from a lack of recent snowfall, elsewhere conditions remain excellent and are only set to further improve, with plenty of new snow in the forecast.

Cloud is expected to affect many regions in the USA over the coming week, with light snow expected to fall across many of our featured resorts. The heaviest falls will take place across Wyoming and Montana, with Jackson Hole set to see upwards of 60cm before the weekend.

For more information, click here for the Ski Club of Great Britain’s snow report.