Forecasts are increasingly pointing towards a snowy end to the month in the Alps with up to 60cm (two feet) of snow forecast to fall on Tuesday and Wednesday this week at some areas.
Most areas in the western Alps are expected to get 30-45cm (12-18 inches) on higher slopes.
Forecasters expect it to begin to snow tomorrow after a largely dry weekend (Val Thorens pictured above, believed to be today) with most areas getting the most snowfall on Wednesday after 15m (6 inches) or so on Tuesday.
Resorts expecting to receive around 35-45cm by the end of Wednesday include the Arlberg region of Austria; Les 2 Alpes, the 3 Valleys, La Clusaz, La Plagne, Alpe d'Huez, Val d'Isere and the Grand Massif in France; and Adelboden, Gstaad and Verbier in Switzerland – but it seems it could snow pretty well anywhere in these countries.
Resorts forecast to get bigger snowfalls include Tignes (50cm) and Chamonix (60cm).
The snowfall could push the deepest snow depth in France over the 5m mark. The Grand Massif currently has a 4.6m base, Avoriaz (forecast 46m in next 72 hours) 4.8 up top.
Engelberg in Switzerland,which currently reports the world's deepest snow base at 6.6m (22 feet) has 40cm forecast.