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Snow Report Summary
This Week's Headlines
- Up to four feet (1.2m) of fresh snow in the Alps, although many resorts haven't had anything this week.
- Up to two feet (60cm) of much needed new snow in Western Canada.
- Europe's highest lift-served slopes report more than a metre of new snow.
- Yet another foot of snow for Bulgarian slopes.
- Base depth still 3m/10 feet plus at many resorts in Pyrenees.
It has been a much snowier week this week than last in any areas, with the most notable accumulations in the southern Alps and Western Canada. The Milky Way area on the French/Italian border appears to have done particularly well reporting 1.3m (four feet) of fresh snow (more than double the total claimed anywhere else in the Alps - except Zermatt, which reported almost as much).
It was particularly badly needed in Canada where resorts are excitedly proclaiming the return of winter just a few days before spring is due to arrive, and with only three or four weeks of the season left for many areas there.
In The Forecast!
The forecast models have, frankly, been all over the place for the past few days... although it does look as though those areas currently enjoying settled and sunny weather will see more un-settled conditions next week. Some areas will likely see light snow this coming weekend, with some Italian resorts currently in line for some significant snowfall on Sunday.
Temperatures should dip a little, with the Eastern Alps cooling noticeably by mid-week.
The last week of March currently looks like bringing scattered snow to most areas with temperatures a little below their seasonal averages. Overall, snow depths are holding up well for the time of year and there's more on the way.
Check the J2Ski Forecasts regularly for the latest updates!
The Alps
Austria
Austria has seen slightly more fresh snow this week than last, although so far the snowfalls are not huge – much more is forecast for the coming days. Kaprun has reported the most new snow so far – with 10cm of new cover, but if forecasts are correct, up to a metre of new snow could be heading for Austrian slopes in the next few days. Five glacier resorts report the deepest snow in the country with 2.7 to 3.3m at resorts like Kaprun (again), Solden and Pitztal. Most non-glacier areas have 60-150cm on upper runs. Cover is much less at resort level- only 5cm at Solden, 10cm at Ischgl and nothing left at Mayrhofen at the base of the runs.
France
Although not exceptionally snowy, there's certainly been some new snow at many French areas this week, with those on the more southerly side of the Alps scoring the biggest accumulations. Val d'Isere got 25cm of new snow, as did Bonneval on the other side of the mountain and Isola 2000. Other areas including Chamonix, La Rosiere, Risoul and la Grave report 5-15cm of new snow. Up to 90cm/three feet more snow is expected in the coming week, with the southerly side of the country again looking the most promising for new snow. Most resorts have 1-2m bases on upper runs although some like Avoriaz and val Cenis are up at 3m. Lower slopes are generally good too although Chamonix now has only about an inch of snow reported at resort level.
Italy
Italy has had the best week of the big four Alpine nations with the milky Way resorts of Sauxe d'Oulx and Sestriere claiming impressive 1.2m snow accumuations in the last few days. Although no other area came close to that parts of the Monterosa ski region reported 60cm (two feet) and Aosta Valley resorts including Cervinia a foot (30cm) of fresh snow. The hoped for snow in the Dolomites has not really materialised so far, with just an inch at Val Gardena, but again much more snow is expected across the country in the coming week. Bases are generally good with 4.8m at Madesimo, 4.2m at Passo Tonale which often stays open to June up on its glacier.
Switzerland
It has been a great week for snowfall on Europe's highest lift-served slopes above Zermatt with nearly four feet (1.1m) of new snow reported. This makes a change from the season to date when normally its neighbours Saas Fee and Cervinia have reported bigger accumulations each week. As with the Milky Way resorts in Italy, Zermatt's accumulation dwarfed all other Swiss resorts with aforementioned Saas Fee getting 20cm of new snow and Andermatt – now the only resort in the world reporting a 5m base – another 20cm. Quite a few other Swiss areas got 5-10cm of new snow and again there are healthy snowfalls forecast over the coming week. Bases are generally healthy up top and 30-60cm at resort level although there's only a few centimetres left at Grindelwald and Gstaad.
Scandinavia
A quieter week in Scandinavia with just a few inches of snow reported at resorts in Norway. This isn't an issue in a region where the season routinely continues to the start of May as the base depths (typically 60-120cm) remain healthy. The region's largest resort, Are in Sweden, has a 45-60cm, it's looking better up in Lapland where Finnish areas like Ruka and Levi have double that.
Pyrenees
A few inches of fresh snow reported in the last few days across the Pyrenees and another foot expected in the coming week, but all resorts still have huge bases (2-4m) from the giant snowfalls a month ago so cover isn't really an issue anywhere. Cauterets continues to report the deepest snow base in France, beating all resorts in the French Alps by more than a metre.
Eastern Europe
No repeat of the once-in-40-year snowfalls of last week in Eastern Europe, but it hasn't stopped snowing either with the latest 25cm snowfalls on Bulgarian slopes among the biggest in Europe this week. Base depths remain remarkable for the region, the snow lying more than 3m/10 feet deep at Bansko and Borovets in Bulgaria.
Scotland
A quieter week on Scottish slopes with a slow thaw some afternoons after freezing nights. On the slopes there have been several idyllic days, particularly last weekend, with blue skies and no wind. West coast resorts Glencoe and Nevis Range are in the best shape for snow cover. Glenshee and The Lecht in the East have thinning cover on their runs and more limited terrain open. But currently all five highland centres remain open.
North America
Canada
Great excitement in Western Canada where resorts that had seen warm weather and at the low points rain instead of their normal powder, reported up to two feet of new snow in the last few days. Fernie claims the biggest snowfall of 65cm – more than two feet, but most areas have had 30-50cm. Unfortunately the snow cover diminishes the further West you go with less than 10cm at whistler, but better than nothing. Canada's east didn't miss out on the new snow either, receiving 25cm at Tremblant and 15cm at Mont Sainte Anne. Base depths are good across the country.
USA
US resorts have not so far received the snowfall levels of their neighbours north of the border and it was a mixed picture for fresh snow with Big Sky in Montana, the country's largest ski area, and Sugarbush in Vermont on the other side of the country, reporting the two largest snowfalls of the last seven days, both in the last 48 hours, with 27 and 21cm of new snow respectively. Arapahoe Basin in Colorado and more Vermont resorts Stowe, Smugglers Notch and Killington each reported 18cm of fresh cover and a few others 5-10cm. Depths remain pretty good across the country but Jackson hole, with three weeks of its season left, continues to report the deepest snow in the US at 208cm – an inch under seven feet. Moderate snowfalls are expected across the US in the coming week.