Weekly snow report, fresh from the mountains

Early season conditions are exceptional with near record snow depths in the northern French Alps. Most of Switzerland (away from the far south-east) also has masses of snow as do (more recently) the western Austrian Alps.

Elsewhere, snow cover is less exceptional but still generally good, helped by the recent cold. It will remain bitterly cold today, but at least there will be plenty of sunshine. A return to more unsettled, but temporarily milder conditions is expected for most by the end of the week.

Is this the best ever start to the ski season? See weathertoski.co.uk’s blog at http://www.weathertoski.co.uk/weather-snow/blog-is-this-the-best-ever-start-to-the-ski-season/

Masses of new snow today in the Austrian Voralberg

Austria
There has been lots of fresh snow in western Austria this week, especially in the Vorarlberg where Lech now reports 115-145cm (depending on altitude). Nearby St Anton (75/130cm) also has plenty of powder – as does Obergurgl (73-180cm) and Ischgl (40-100cm) which continues to offer the greatest extent of skiing in the country (159km). It’s not only the high resorts that are in good shape though – Kitzbühel (60-95cm) is one of just dozens of low-lying villages that are skiing superbly right now.  

France
With clear skies and near record snow depths (at least across the northern Alps) conditions are pretty much perfect today. La Clusaz has a staggering 300cm at the top of its La Balme area and opens properly for the season on Saturday – along with dozens of other resorts. Most of the big names are already up and running though, including Val d’Isère (105/185cm) and Méribel (100/200cm) each of which have about half their pistes are open with more planned at the weekend. Further south, Isola 2000 (80/130cm, 33 pistes) has missed the most recent snow but is also open daily and in great shape.

Italy
Italian resorts have missed the heaviest of the recent snow but still offer good conditions thanks to earlier storms. This is particularly true in the Aosta valley where Cervinia (70/240cm) and Champoluc (25/120cm) are both offering fantastic skiing right now. Further east, snow depths are generally more modest, but 15/100cm for Cortina (Dolomites) is perfectly respectable in these parts for the time of year.

Cold but clear in Courmayeur this morning

Switzerland
The resorts of western and northern Switzerland have lots of fresh snow right now, none more so than Engelberg where there is an incredible 110cm in the village and 250cm up on the glacier. The Jungfrau region (Wengen, Grindelwald, Mürren) is also open with good cover at all levels and over 150cm up top. In the far south-east of Switzerland, St Moritz (15/110cm) has missed most of the recent snow but is still in decent condition for the time of year.

Rest of Europe
Andorran resorts are enjoying decent early conditions with most lifts open in the Grand Valira region (Soldeu/Pas de La Casa) where the snow is 40/80cm deep depending on altitude. Over in Sweden the skiing base in Åre is still only 24cm deep and new snow would be very welcome. A dozen or so runs are now open here, despite the freezing cold, and snow-making continues at full tilt.  The best conditions in Scandinavia, however, remain in Hemsedal, Norway where there has been fresh snow and 26 runs are open on a 60cm base.

Canada
The excellent early season conditions continue across western Canada where Whistler has 155cm of snow mid -mountain with more forecast this week. Further inland, most major resorts are also open and in excellent shape including Kicking Horse (118cm mid-mountain) and Banff/Lake Louise (120cm).

USA
Recent snowfalls have greatly improved conditions in Colorado, but more snow is needed to get base levels up to where they should be for this time of year.  Winter Park has 14 trails open on a 79cm mid-mountain base, Breckenridge has 9 on just 46cm. Further north Jackson Hole (Wyoming) has fared better so far this season and now has 73 trails open and 178cm up top.  However, the greatest extent of skiing in the US right now remains in Mammoth where over 150 trails are open and the snow pack is over 2m deep.