(* Free to re-publish in whole or part so long as credited to www.J2ski.com with hyperlink to http://www.j2ski.com/snow_forecast )
Not a great deal to report in the European forecast this week; clear skies and above average temperatures prevail at present, with the outlook similar for the next week or so.
The forecast models are hinting strongly that the last week of November will see a switch back to cold, so we'll bring you more on that next week!
This Week's Headlines
- Heavy snow in western USA leads to early openings.
- Little new snow this week but more snow expected in the Alps at higher altitudes.
- Snowbird, Utah, opens early after 125cm snowstorm.
- Warm weather in the Pyrenees (where resorts yet to open) melts lower pre-season snowpack.
- Whistler opening early after converting over 70 million gallons of water into snow.
- Warm weather in Scotland (where centres yet to open) melts limited early snow cover.
A Snowcat at Snowbird - (c) Snowbird
European Alps
Austria
Although the country's glacier ski areas continue to offer some of the best conditions, non-glacier ski areas in Austria are opening, most with good snow conditions following the falls at the start of the month, despite warmer temperatures this week. Obergurgl's official opening runs from today (15th November) through the weekend – more than 20 runs are open and snow –depths at 70cm.
The Hintertux glacier continues to have, probably, the biggest ski area open anywhere in the world at present with 58km of runs open, 15 lifts operating and a 1150m skiable vertical and snow depths up to 105cm.
France
Tignes remains the only resort open in France but it's only just over a week now until French resorts begin opening en—masse, probably starting with Val Thorens on the 24th, it reports a 30cm base at resort level and 60cm at the top of the slopes. Most other major French resorts are currently looking good above around 1800-2000m. Tignes continues to report a 60cm snowbase and says it has about 5cm of new snow in the past week. Glacier temperatures are just below zero with more snow expected over the next few days.
Italy
Cervinia with 1.4m of snow lying on upper slopes is in great shape following another 30cm snowfall last weekend. Two new red pistes are scheduled to open there for the first time shortly. Other Italian options include the upper slopes at Bormio, a red at Passo Tonale and the glacier slopes of Val Senales – all now open.
Switzerland
Around 10 big name resorts are currently open in Switzerland, with Engelberg, which was open in October but has been closed for 10 days for maintenance, due to re-open tomorrow (26 November) for the main ski season.
Many resorts had more snow last weekend, then warmer temperatures (moving above zero above 3000m) during the week, but things are looking promising for more snow again over the next few days with temperatures dipping again. Saas Fee reports 35 runs open and there's also skiing at weekends at Andermatt, Verbier and Laax with the Diavolezza Glacier near st Moritz, Glacier 3000 near Gstaad and Zermatt among the other options. Grindelwald is scheduled to open on Saturday.
Scandinavia
Conditions remain largely good for this early in the season in Scandinavia, Trysil in Norway has one of the biggest areas open in the country at the moment with 14km of runs and a 40cm snow base. However Hemsedal, with a 55cm and 13 runs open has the most terrain available of the big Scandinavian resorts. There's been less snow on the Swedish side although and the region's biggest resort Are, only has a 14cm base and one easy run open. Further north in Finland more resorts are opening. Ruka, one of the country's big four and now open for more than a month for 12-13 already, has 10 trails open now and a 27cm natural snow base.
(*We will add snow reports from other main ski areas once these areas begin reporting significant snowfall – no reports as yet from eastern Europe, Scotland or the Pyrenees )
North America
Canada
There's a battle to be among the first to open in BC, with Sun Peaks, which was scheduled to be first this Saturday now joined by Whistler and Cypress Mountain. All have had some good pre-season snowfalls but at Whistler they're crediting the resort's 220 state-of-the-art snow guns which have converted over 70 million gallons of water into snow over the past few weeks for the early opening.
The BC resorts join Alberta ski areas which have now been open up to three weeks including Nakiska, Norquay, Sunshine,. Marmot Basin and Lake Louise. Cold weather there has kept the early snow in reportedly great shape and it's looking good for the coming World Cup races at Lake Louise which earlier this week reported the biggest lift-served vertical open in North America at nearly 1000m.
On the East Coast resorts in Quebec are also scheduled to open this weekend thanks to snowmaking, with Mont Ste Anne one of the first.
USA
There's a snow reporting frenzy at the moment in the Western US. After the lacklustre conditions for much of 2011-12 (following the great 2010-11!), most areas have been overjoyed by heavy snowfalls over the past few weeks, perfectly time for the big US Thanksgiving Holiday long weekend coming up later this month. In California Northstar and Heavenly opened early on Wednesday (14 Nov) and Squaw Valley will re-open along with Kirkwood this Friday (16 Nov).
Most resorts have reported at least 30cm (a foot) of new snow in the past few days, but Snowbird in Utah is among those opening early thanks to a spectacular snow storm depositing 125cm of new snow.
Opening Soon (subject to conditions)
Engelberg re-opens for skiing and snowboarding on Friday, November 16, 2012.
Obertauern, Austria, November 22, 2012.
Val Thorens, France, November 24, 2012.