Skiers can enjoy perfect conditions, but not everywhere

It looks like skiers will have perfect conditions in the Alps this weekend, while over in the US there’s the potential for more snow in the Rockies, while bitterly cold temperatures and clear skies dominate the North East. In Canada, there’s plenty of new snow – especially in Whistler.

Japan has seen heavy snow all this week, with bitterly cold temperatures but also buckets of fresh powder which show no signs of abating.

Here’s the full round-up, courtesy of the Ski Club.
 

SNOW ALERT
Based on current weather forecasts for the next 9 days, the top three resorts for expected snowfall are:
Whistler, Canada, 219cm
Timberline, USA, 193cm
Macunaga, Japan, 176cm

AUSTRIA
Since Monday, the negative effects of Storm Evi have passed, with resorts returning back to normal operations. The vast majority of lifts were operating across ski areas on Thursday 25th January, with access roads and resort connections once again passable.

The only lingering effect, other than plenty of fresh snow, is the avalanche warning, which remains high across many resorts. This may be why the off-piste in many resorts is less tracked out than you might expect. As such, plenty of fresh snow looks still to be available off the sides of slopes.

Skiing conditions across the country are excellent, with clear sunny skies and only light clouds dotting the sky. This, coupled with minimal wind provides the perfect opportunity to explore many recently reopened mountains.  The sole exception is Kaunertal (390/550cm), which remains closed due to avalanche risks. 

Temperatures are unseasonably mild for mid-January, with many resorts reporting readings above freezing in the villages and only a couple of degrees below that at altitude. This should hopefully prevent slopes from becoming too icy.

Though this may normally be a cause for concern with regards to any precipitation that may fall, it looks like little is on the horizon. Forecasts currently show little change in current conditions. There looks to be zero prospect of fresh snow, and even only a small chance of rain, coming on Sunday if it does at all. 
 

FRANCE
There was significant snowfall in the French Alps this week. Notable accumulations were recorded in Le Grand Bornand (50cm/235cm), Samoens (110cm/305cm) and La Plagne (240cm/410cm), with 50cm, 42cm and 40cm falling respectively. Over on the other side on the Vanoise Express, Les Arcs (140/385cm) was offering great skiing off the Aigulle Rouge with 50/54 lifts spinning.

Other notable fresh snowfalls were in the Grand Massif at Flaine (157cm/410cm) and at Espace Killy in Tignes (224/400cm), who both recorded 40cm.
More snow is forecast for the weekend.
 

SWITZERLAND
Large amounts of snow have once again graced the Swiss Alps. Resorts near the Matterhorn at Saas Fee (114cm/500cm) and Zermatt (145cm/345cm) had around 80cm of fresh snow on Tuesday. Other big accumulations were noted in Samnaun (100cm/200cm) and Anzere (40cm/300cm), both reporting 70cm of fresh snowfall on the same date.

There are great snow conditions in Crans Montana (30cm/600cm), which boasts an impressive upper piste depth that will hopefully mean a long winter season ahead.

Hopefully the warm weather will only be short lived, with current forecasts predicting small amounts of snow today.  Only Zermatt and Saas Fee are expecting anything greater than a few centimetres.

ITALY
Temperatures in Italy were lower than across much of the rest of Europe. Heavy snow is forecast today  within the Monterosa and the Matterhorn. The predicted quantities drop as you move further from the Swiss French Border, with minimal new snow predicted in the Dolomites, or the Milky Way. The slopes in the latter are beginning to suffer in particular, having not seen any of the more recent snowfall – with 16 days without snow, conditions are becoming increasingly worn. 

Elsewhere however, slope conditions are looking promising, with some untouched snow around the sides of many pistes. In Particular, Val Senales (150/260cm) and Cervinia (90/395cm) has plenty of untouched snow across the much of the mountain, sitting under clear blue skies.

ANDORRA
These dropping temperatures should hopefully end the period of almost spring like conditions they have been seeing – in the past week temperature have been as high as 8C. Current forecasts show up to 25cm of snow falling across both the Grandvalira and Vallnord areas. If this holds true, it will noticeably refresh the increasingly tired slopes.

SCANDINAVIA
Broadly unfavourable conditions persist in Finland, with increasingly hard slopes due to low temperatures and a lack of new snow in Levi (85cm). Though Yllas received 15cm of new snow, it has only gone a certain way to improving conditions given it falling over a very solid base, while Ruka (79cm) saw a minimal 5cm dusting on the 24th. This underwhelming conditions so little sign of improvement with no noticeable new snow on the horizon.

In Sweden, Are (88cm) continued to see light dusting of fresh snow, though lifts were effected by winds on the upper slopes.

Salen (100/120cm) saw significant fresh snow on Wednesday and Thursday, totalling 39cm recorded, though clouds had moved off my midday giving some excellent riding opportunities. It was a similar situation in Hemsedal (120cm) and Voss (75/135cm), though the wind at altitude impinged lift operations. Oppdal (50/90cm) also finally saw some fresh snow – it’s first reported of 2018, though only 5cm.

USA
A new storm was forecast to arrive yesterday evening over the California Nevada border, providing fresh snow for Squaw Valley (46/114cm) and Heavenly.

CANADA
Canada is offering some truly great skiing at present. Little has changed conditions wise over the past week, except for the arrival of yet more snow. British Columbia and Alberta are in the midst of an extended period of cloud cover, delivering near daily snowfalls and contributing to continually rising snow bases and multiple powder days.

Fernie (245cm) saw 19cm fall on Wednesday and another 15cm on Thursday, offering some exceptional powder riding; with Big White’s (207cm) 20cm on Thursday making it another great option to find fresh snow.

Once again, Whistler (288cm) is in a league of its own however, boasting a huge 169cm of new snow in the past seven days, with 1.5m more predicted to follow in the coming five days.

JAPAN
It’s a spectacular skiing week in Japan, with huge quantities of fresh snow, with bitterly cold temperatures to accompany it. Each resort saw fresh snowfall on Thursday, adding to new snow from each day this week. Hakuba (140/390cm) is the standout resort, seeing 42cm of new snow on Thursday alone. Expect plenty of deep powder across the region, most heavily in the northern Honshu Island. The only drawback to note, other than temperatures is wind impacting lift operations at altitude in Niseko (170/365cm).This shows no sign of easing up in the coming days, with new snow expected every day for the coming week.