Improved Ski Conditions in the Alps After Big Snowfall
Login
Conditions have settled in the Alps after heavy snowfall, heaviest in the west, over the first half of this week.
Snowfall has now eased, although lighter showers continue, particularly in the east, sunnier in the west, with the main change on the past month being a big drop in temperatures.
Most Alpine villages are not seeing temperatures getting above freezing and up on high mountain slopes the numbers are as low as -25C. The forecast is much the same through the coming week.
In terms of how the snowfall has impacted ski areas, some higher slopes in the French and Swiss Alps have reported jumps of upto a metre in their upper slope base depths in the last seven days. Alpe d'Huez and Avoriaz are now posting more than 3 metres lying on their highest slopes.
The biggest difference though is for lower lying areas like Les Gets (pictured above on Thursday), Megeve, Gstaad and others that sparked (continuing) "No snow in the Alps" stories in world media. These have seen a big improvement with les gets, for example, which had all its slopes closed, now reporting it has fully reopened them along with Portes du Soleil connections, with the snow lying 60cm deep on lower slopes.
Most of the big ski regions like the 3 Valleys and 4 Valleys have much of their terrain above 1800m so were 60-80% open during the "no snow in the Alps" periods. They've seen a small improvement being able to open their low runs and are now mostly 80-95% open.
All the snowfall has though increased avalanche danger with much of the Western Alps at level 3 on the scale to 5 ("considerable") and some areas at level 4 ("high").
Conditions have also improved in terms of colder temperatures and some snowfall in the Balkans and the Pyrenees, which had also been facing unseasonably warm temperatures previously.
I'm there on Saturday, hope there's a top up :)
To Create or Answer a Topic
Started by J2SkiNews in Ski News 20-Jan-2023 - 6 Replies
J2SkiNews posted Jan-2023
Conditions have settled in the Alps after heavy snowfall, heaviest in the west, over the first half of this week.
Snowfall has now eased, although lighter showers continue, particularly in the east, sunnier in the west, with the main change on the past month being a big drop in temperatures.
Most Alpine villages are not seeing temperatures getting above freezing and up on high mountain slopes the numbers are as low as -25C. The forecast is much the same through the coming week.
In terms of how the snowfall has impacted ski areas, some higher slopes in the French and Swiss Alps have reported jumps of upto a metre in their upper slope base depths in the last seven days. Alpe d'Huez and Avoriaz are now posting more than 3 metres lying on their highest slopes.
The biggest difference though is for lower lying areas like Les Gets (pictured above on Thursday), Megeve, Gstaad and others that sparked (continuing) "No snow in the Alps" stories in world media. These have seen a big improvement with les gets, for example, which had all its slopes closed, now reporting it has fully reopened them along with Portes du Soleil connections, with the snow lying 60cm deep on lower slopes.
Most of the big ski regions like the 3 Valleys and 4 Valleys have much of their terrain above 1800m so were 60-80% open during the "no snow in the Alps" periods. They've seen a small improvement being able to open their low runs and are now mostly 80-95% open.
All the snowfall has though increased avalanche danger with much of the Western Alps at level 3 on the scale to 5 ("considerable") and some areas at level 4 ("high").
Conditions have also improved in terms of colder temperatures and some snowfall in the Balkans and the Pyrenees, which had also been facing unseasonably warm temperatures previously.
www
The Snow Hunter
Edited 1 time. Last update at 20-Jan-2023
Daved
reply to 'Improved Ski Conditions in the Alps After Big Snowfall' posted Jan-2023
Good skiing in Les Arcs ...but its COLD ...-14c today
Iceman
reply to 'Improved Ski Conditions in the Alps After Big Snowfall' posted Jan-2023
daved wrote:Good skiing in Les Arcs ...but its COLD ...-14c today
I'm there on Saturday, hope there's a top up :)
The Northern Monkey. Jan'23 Les Arcs
Iainm
reply to 'Improved Ski Conditions in the Alps After Big Snowfall' posted Jan-2023
Maybe a sprinkling next week - otherwise just v cold!
https://www.j2ski.com/snow_forecast/France/Les_Arcs_snow.html
https://www.j2ski.com/snow_forecast/France/Les_Arcs_snow.html
Daved
reply to 'Improved Ski Conditions in the Alps After Big Snowfall' posted Jan-2023
A foggy up to Les Arc 1600 today ...and the funiculare is broken so a bus up if you have no car..we drove round to Villaroger yesterday and skied down to 2000..the snow is goos and should last but there is a bit of hard pack about
Iceman
reply to 'Improved Ski Conditions in the Alps After Big Snowfall' posted Jan-2023
As long as I can get 2-3 hours in a day im happy.
This website says more than a sprinkle is due in 1800
Either way, it's better than work
This website says more than a sprinkle is due in 1800
Either way, it's better than work
The Northern Monkey. Jan'23 Les Arcs
Daved
reply to 'Improved Ski Conditions in the Alps After Big Snowfall' posted Jan-2023
well last day in Les Arcs and the skiing is still OK but they do need a little snow as it is getting a bit crusty......off to the Valle de Fassa tomorrow ...
Topic last updated on 28-January-2023 at 08:13