Snow has finally begun falling in the Pyrenees – one of the last major ski regions in Europe that was still warm and dry last week with almost no ski areas able to open due to no natural snowfall in a month and temperatures too warm for snow making.
Fortunately, as with the Alps a fortnight ago, there has been a complete change over the past 48 hours with accumulations of up to 70cm reported and snow expected for at least the next five days with sub-zero temperatures allowing for more snowmaking too.
Grandvalira in Andorra, the region's largest single ski area which announced it will break the 200km of piste barrier for the Pyrenees, with new runs adding up to 205km when fully open, has reported 35km in the past 24 hours.
Snow conditions are described as 'powder' with the Soldeu Encamp area able to finally open this weekend with a base depth of 20-50cm.
On the French side of the Pyrenees the falls have been still more dramatic with Piau Engaly reporting 60cm (two feet) in the past 24 hours, La Mongie / Barèges 40cm and Font Romeu 30cm of new snow.
With Niseko in Japan reporting three metres of snow in the past fortnight, the only major region where snowfall is still lacking and temperatures warm is New England.