Heavy snowfall has started in the Alps as forecast, up top 60cm (two feet) is expected on higher slopes by the end of the weekend, with snow continuing down to lower levels.
So far images on social media are generally showing the first dusting and sleet conditions down in the valleys, but Alpe d'Huez in France has posted this image of heavy snow up around 3000m.
More than a dozen glacier ski areas are open in Austria, France, Italy and Switzerland and they're hoping for powder conditions for the start of the new week.
The wider ski industry is hoping that after two poor starts to the winter the past two seasons this snowy trend will continue. The last big snowfall was a fortnight ago at most areas and since then it had been 'unseasonably warm.'
Snow is expected in the Dolomites and Pyrenees too and further north there's been a dusting of snow on Scottish hills.
In Scandinavia the Norwegian resort of Beitostolen opens for the season today. It's timing is good with a 20cm natural snowfall in the past 24 hours. Pictured below this morning.
