The snowfall in the Alps has been particularly welcomed after a low snowfall start to the year was followed by record levels of heat at altitude closing a number of summer ski areas, including the highest Zermatt, which has operated 365 days a year other than closing at the start of the pandemic in 2020 or the odd bad weather day, for many years.
Only Hintertux in Austria is currently open to skiers and boarders from the general public, however, Italy's Val Senales, pictured above, announced today it would open on schedule in a weeks' time following the fresh snowfall there.
A number of other areas are due to open later this month and ski areas like Saas Fee and Zermatt and another Italian resort, Passo Stelvio, that are officially currently only temporarily closed while awaiting better weather may be able to re-open.
The end of next month is also due to see the start of various FIS World Cup tours in Solden, Les 2 Alpes and Zermatt.
Across the Atlantic snowfall had already been reported at the start of the month on high peaks in Colorado, but today's snowfall at Sunshine near Banff in the Canadian Rockies, due to open for its 22-23 season in about two months' time, is believed to be the first of the autumn.