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July has started off hot in much of Europe with temperatures in the mid-30s and above in many cities; whilst on the continent's glaciers temperatures are touching double digits. None the less there are more areas open for summer skiing in France, Italy and Switzerland compared to a month ago.
South of the equator winter 2015 is underway and it's a mixed picture - with a generally good start to the season in African areas, as well as Australia and New Zealand, but sadly a bad one in most South American resorts where warm temperatures and limited snow have forced resorts to delay opening.
The number of ski areas open in the world is just about past the 100 mark again after being in double digits for the past six weeks since most northern hemisphere areas ended their 14-15 ski seasons.
July 2015 Snow Headlines
- Southern hemisphere's 2015 ski season underway with a mix of conditions by continent.
- Cervinia re-opens bringing cross-border Italy-Switzerland summer skiing to Zermatt.
- Snowy start to season in southern Africa.
- Worldwide the most ski areas open since early May.
The Alps
Austria
July and August are the quietest months of the season with the majority of Austria's eight glacier ski areas closed, awaiting their big season opening celebrations in September and October.
But two remain open! Hintertux tries to stay open all year of course and reports the snow base is still deeper than seven feet at 220cm and that 21km of piste plus the terrain park are open in the warm sunshine.
The Molltal glacier is also open, with a 2.9m base (that's nearly 10 feet of snow) and three runs open whilst the Stubai glacier is due to end its nine month long season this weekend.
France
All three summer ski areas are currently open in France, but not for long as Val d'Isere will end its short season on Sunday, July 12th. Its neighbour, Tignes, was the most recent to open last weekend, June 27th, joining Les 2 Alpes which had opened the weekend before. Both will remain open in to June subject to snow conditions. It's classic summer ski conditions with temperatures currently hitting as high as the low 30s down at resort base level and freeze/thaw up top, often under a clear blue sky.
Italy
Along with Passo Stelvio, which has been open for the past month, Cervinia re-opened for summer skiing on the last weekend of June, meaning cross-border summer skiing to Switzerland at Zermatt is possible again. It reports a 1.3m base at 3500m but temperatures reaching 7C in the afternoon on the glacier and no fresh snow since mid-May so its best to get up there early in the day to enjoy the best conditions.
Switzerland
After a month of just Europe's highest lifts at Zermatt being open for summer skiers, its neighbour Saas Fee will re-open on July 18th and will then stay open right through to May 2016! Saas Fee is particularly proud of its summer terrain park, a big focus of its glacier snowsports activities along side its 20km of pisted terrain. Zermatt is now in full summer operations and has opened more of its 21km of summer glacier terrain .
Scandinavia
Norway
All three of Norway's glacier ski areas are operational and posting pictures of splendid pristine white snow under blue skies. This follows the huge winter snowfalls and even up to 3m/10 feet more fresh snow at the start of June which meant areas were closed whilst access roads and lifts were dug out. Choose between Folgefonn, Galdhoppigen and the largest, Stryn.
North America
Canada
Only Whistler is currently open in Canada with a terrain park on the glacier and much of the rest of the terrain divided between the various summer camps operating there. It stays open until 26th July.
USA
With A Basin in Colorado closing a few weeks ago only Timberline on Mt Hood in Oregon is scheduled to stay open through the summer. It's short of fresh snow but has its terrain park and training lanes open.
The Red Lodge International Summer Racing Camp in Montana which normally opens a small ski area at this time of year has announced it won't be doing in 2015 due to too little snow after the poor 14-15 winter in the area. However Copper mountain is still operating its terrain park at weekends at least for campers at its Woodward at Copper summer camps.
Southern Hemisphere
New Zealand
New Zealand has had the snowiest start of the season of any of the southern hemisphere's nations – although that must be tempered with the note that some areas have been closed by severe weather, particularly gales, at times and The Remarkables was a week late opening due to a new base building not being complete. The snow has also been typically better on the South rather than North Island but with all those points acknowledged, conditions are already very good for the time of year. Treble Cone, which opened just a few weeks ago, reckons it's their best start to the season since 2005.
Australia
The season start was one of the best in years in Australia a month ago with some areas reporting more terrain open for the start of the season than they'd seen this century.
Since then the natural snowfall has slowed and temperatures have varied but they're cold again now with Perisher reporting lows of -8 on the last evening in June and that it had 24 groomed runs open for the first day of July.
South America
Argentina
It has not been a great start to the season at Argentinian ski centres with very few operating and not many runs open at those that are. The continent's, and indeed the southern hemisphere's largest in terms of lifts operating, Catedral, has faced mud slides and more volcanic eruptions in the months leading up to the start of the season and has had warm temperatures through June, There's 50cm of snow on upper slopes 0-10cm at the bottom and just a handful of lifts operational.
Chile
Chilean ski areas, particularly in the northern half of the country, are suffering similar issues to those in Argentina. Although a snowy season was forecast due to the perceived 'La Nina/El Nino effect' from the pacific, in fact conditions have mirrored winter 14-15 north of the equator on the Pacific cost there. Most Chilean areas have at best a run or two of machine made cover and Portillo has delayed opening until at least July 5th. However it is not everywhere that's suffering and Corralco has been keen to highlight that it is fully open.
Africa
Southern Africa's two ski areas of Afriski in Lesotho and Tiffindell in South Africa are in the best shape they've been for several years after both reported healthy natural snow showers on repeated occasions through June, most recently during the last week of June. Often both go all season reliant on machine made snow.