Thanksgiving prompts opening of most US ski resorts

In the USA, Thanksgiving saw the opening of many resorts, and fresh snow has fallen overnight. There is a now a real sense the season in the States is now underway. However, we still wait eagerly for resorts in Utah to get their lifts spinning

Whistler and Mont Tremblant are now open, joining Banff’s Sunshine Village and Lake Louise in the list of open Canadian resorts. Snow has been falling across British Columbia bringing new snow to many of our featured resorts. Things are gathering steam as more resorts are set to open this week.

Not the best week so far for the French Alps, with many places suffering from the strong, warm wind, which is affecting snow cover. Still, we are hopeful that winds will taper down and with more snow predicted in the next few days it’s not all doom and gloom

Good skiing is still available on the upper slopes of the Austrian Alps and Italy will once again see some big snowfalls in the coming few days. Gressoney la Trinite and the Monte Rosa area may receive over one metre before Saturday morning. Stormy blizzard conditions are also set to continue in Cervinia. In the Western Dolomites most resorts should expect 10-20cms before a clear sunny and dry conditions return on Monday the 28th.

In Switzerland, many mountains have been badly affected by the weather of late. That said, good skiing is on offer in the Matterhorn region, which is expected to receive a significant over the coming days.

There were fairly good conditions across Scandinavia on Thursday thanks to recent snowfalls. More snow is predicted for the next few days, so this could be the week we really see the season kick off for the region.

AUSTRIA
Ischgl (0/60cm) is the latest resort to open for the season, where there was an impressive 112km of groomed pistes on offer. Elswehere, the Obergurgl region currently boasts some of the best conditions, the upper slopes at Pitztal (84/120cm) and Solden (10/123cm) remain in great nick, but the runs down to resort are closed for the time being. More cloud and sun is on the forecast over the next few days. Sunday 27th November is predicted to bring a change in the weather, when temperatures may drop, and small accumulations may appear.

FRANCE
The majority of French resorts are yet to open their doors for the 2016/17season. Bad news in Tignes (30/100cm) as strong winds and stormy conditions have halted operations up on the glacier. Good news, however, is that Espace Killy is opening both its resorts on Saturday (Tignes and Val d’Isere). The only other option for skiing (until the weekend) is Val Thorens (80/130cm) where 7 lifts were running under changeable weather conditions.

SWITZERLAND
Towards the Matterhorn, Zermatt (0/100cm) undoubtedly boats some of the country’s best skiing on its upper slopes at the moment. 5/52 lifts were in operation on Thursday, and 8km of groomed slopes had been prepared. Close by at Saas Fee (20/22cm), the snow up high is equally as good, but the resort was forced to close for the day, due to high winds affecting the lifts. Over the next few days and into the weekend, the current weather is predicted to stick around. Most regions are predicted to receive small amounts of snow at times, and the Matterhorn area is predicted is expected to receive significant accumulations.

ITALY
After a few days of stormy conditions and thick clouds engulfing the mountains the winners are losers are starting to show. Cervinia (40/150cm) received just under 150cm of snow this week but almost all of it fell during blizzard conditions, making for harsh windblown skiing today. Val Senales (10/90cm) after many days clouded in with strong winds and freezing fog has not had any new snowfall, on and off piste conditions are now hard and windblown. The place to be this weekend is no doubt Madesimo (20/50cm) where 120cm has fallen on the upper slopes this week. Elsewhere many resorts are yet to open until early December, the good news is while valley webcams may show green grass, well above the tree line snow packs are growing at an excellent rate. Uncertainty dominates the forecast for the coming week. Some forecasts suggest the biggest snowfalls are still to come, others suggest lots of rain. A high pressure weather system will move in early next week finally bringing a return to clear sunny conditions.

ANDORRA
None of our featured Andorran resorts are open at present. The start of the season is scheduled for the final weekend of November (26th and 27th) in both the Vallnord and Grandvalira

GERMANY
In Germany, none of our featured resorts were open for skiing on Thursday 24th November.

BULGARIA
None of our featured Bulgarian resorts are open at present, with skiing expected to begin in the middle of December.

NORWAY/SWEDEN
Thursday the 24th of November was a good day for Norwegian resorts. There has been lots of snow over the past few days. Geilo (50/80cm) is looking in great shape after 25cm of fresh snow on the 22nd of November and is probably the pick of the bunch. More lifts are set to open from tomorrow. Over in Sweden, it’s a pretty miserable day in Are (40/40cm) where sleet is predicted to fall. No precipitation in Salen (40/40cm), just a cloudy day.

SCOTLAND
A beautiful sunny start to the day in both the east and west in Scotland on Thursday 24th November. All ski centres remain closed for the time being, but the snow is building nicely at the moment, and there are access lifts open for sledging, sightseeing and walking.

USA
More resorts have opened up, and there is a real sense that the North American season is under way. Furthermore, there was new snow overnight in many areas and conditions are certainly improving. For some of the best conditions at the moment look to Colorado, where the resorts of Breckenridge (46cm/46cm), and Keystone (46/cm/46cm) had some nice groomed trails on offer and 3 lifts running each. Elsewhere, resorts in Utah are yet to open, but there is hope that first lifts will not be too far away, when we take into account the snow on the forecast as we head into the weekend.

CANADA
Thursday was a good day for Canadian resorts, thanks to the newly opened Whistler Blackcomb (113/113cm) in B.C and Mont Tremblant (15/15cm) in Quebec. Whistler has been on the receiving end of a hefty dumping of the white stuff – around 65cm in the last 7 days. As a result, conditions are excellent. Less snow over in Mont Tremblant, where base snow levels are only around 15cm. Nonetheless, 4 lifts are open and some good skiing is on offer. Banff resorts of Lake Louise (50/57cm) and Sunshine Village (80/80cm) are open and looking in great shape.

EUROPEAN WEATHER OUTLOOK
The shortterm weather outlook for Europe is for a little more snow until a new major high pressure weather system takes charge by Monday morning. Snowfall wise, resorts in the Espace Killy, Portes Du Soleil and Matterhorn area can expect accumulations of 30-60cms above by Saturday. Italian resorts west of the Matterhorn are looking at snowfalls closer to 100cms.

Further to the West, the Dolomites will see some light snowfalls but much like the rest of Europe the current storm cycle will end by Monday. On Monday a high pressure weather system will dominate over the Alps bringing stable clear and dry weather into next week.
Not much to report in The Pyrenees snowfalls wise, with the exception of Sierra Nevada, which may see as much as 60cm in the next five days.

NORTH AMERICA WEATHER OUTLOOK
Things have been improving snow-wise in North America over the last week. Many resorts have are beginning to offer limited early season skiing thanks to colder temperatures and more snow. The outlook for the next 7 days is pretty positive, especially for resorts in British Columbia, with many resorts looking at getting up to a meter of fresh powder.

For a full, up to date snow report, go to the Ski Club website.