Les Gets, France, with fresh powder yesterday...
Another round of snow for Europe, some big snowfalls in the US, and a fair bit more forecast for Canada and Japan. Also we're a little late this week; sorry, we were checking conditions in person!
The Snow Headlines - January 20th
- Big snowstorms in the US edge resorts closer to seasonal averages, and full operations.
- Most ski areas in the Alps have over 90% of their slopes open.
- All 5 Scottish centres open at least some runs for the first time this season.
- Temperatures down to -40C close ski centres in north and west North America.
Snow forecast for Europe, America and Japan
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World Overview
After two months of predominantly warm, dry weather and fears that a strong El Nino could wipe out the 23-24 season, North American ski centres have battered by huge storms bringing up to a reported six-feet (1.8 metres) of snowfall in seven days. That's more in a week than some centres had seen all season. As a result, winter is getting closer to the seasonal norm there and most slopes are finally open.
Much quieter in Europe this week although the past few days have brought more snowfall to the Alps. But it's been a little warmer, with rain impacting lower slopes, although overall things are still very good, with more than 90% of slopes open.
Elsewhere it's cold again and everything is open in Scandinavia, all five Scottish ski centres now have at least a few runs open each, it's a still improving picture in a still below-average winter in the Pyrenees and southern Eastern European ski centres need more snow, more northerly ones appear to have plenty.
Europe
Austria
Austrian ski centres remain in pretty good shape with the biggest event in the country's winter sporting calendar, the Hahnenkamm races at Kitzbuhel (reporting 100% of its slopes open), coming up this weekend.
It has not been so cold, nor so snowy as last week and snow bases have dipped a bit as have the number of slopes open, with some lower slopes closing, so larger areas have dropped from say 95% open to perhaps 92%, nothing too disastrous so far.
Glaciers have the deepest snow, with several reporting more than 3m lying up top.
The big ski regions have between 250km and 310km of slopes open, led by Lech and St Anton's Arlberg.
A cold but sunny weekend is forecast (which should be good news for racers), more unsettled with snowfall returning next week.
France
It's a mixed picture across France, with altitude a big factor in terms of snow quality. There have been more snowfalls over the past few days following the big accumulations last week, but most French areas have seen their depth stats drop slightly as snow levels have settled - with warmer temperatures at lower elevations.
The big picture though, is excellent, with most areas more than 90% open and the world's biggest ski region, the 3 Valleys, claiming 98% of its runs open.
Avalanche Risk is widely at Level 3 (Considerable), across the French Alps but groomed runs are in great shape, especially above 1800m (as most are).
Italy
Italian ski areas have reported strong winds being a factor this week, with high passes closed or restricted including the cross-border link to La Rosiere from la Thuile (currently posting the country's deepest snow at 3.6m/12 feet) and high parts of the Sella Ronda in the Dolomites.
It has been a mostly dry week, but bases are looking a little better in the Dolomites after fresh snowfall there last week. As with the rest of the Alps, conditions are good across Italy, with most runs open, inevitably the best conditions on higher slopes.
A sunny weekend if forecast across Italy then snowfall in the north and west, remaining dry in the Dolomites, but colder everywhere.
Switzerland
Swiss centres continue to report the highest terrain percentages open in the Alps and some of the best snow depths too.
The country saw dry weather for much of the last week after heavy snowfall 7-10 days ago, but there's been more snow over the past few days.
Lower-lying, south-facing slopes have been suffering with wet snow, but for most terrain, things continue to look good.
Verbier and the 4 Valleys is more than 95% open with Laax and Saas fee posting the country's deepest snow at more than 3m (10 feet) on their glaciers.
The next few days should be sunny, but then more unsettled weather including some snowfall is forecast next week
Scandinavia
Most ski areas in Scandinavia have all of their slopes open and there's been some fresh snowfall too. Fairly light in many areas but heavier falls of up to 25cm in 24 hours were reported in western Norway.
It's been cold though with temperatures down as low as -30C again which hasn't closed resorts but you do need to get indoors frequently and ensure your extremities are protected. Similar conditions are forecast for the week ahead.
Pyrenees
The Pyrenees are in the best shape they've been all winter following colder temperatures and snowfall earlier this month and in the past week, but things are still not that brilliant as overall it's been a warm, low snow season to date.
Spain's Baqueira Beret is posting the best stats and is now more than 80% open, its highest percentage all winter, but Andorra's Grandvalira (Soldeu, Arinsal, pas de la Casa etc), remains at only about half of its runs.
Unfortunately, the forecast isn't promising for much improvement with dry weather and warm valley temperatures as high as +10C in the forecast next week.
Scotland
Thursday 18th January was a big day in the 23-24 season in Scotland as it was the first day that all five of the country's centres offered some terrain open.
Nevis Range, the only one that had nothing open up to now, reported great powder conditions on its highest slopes after failing to open anything up to now.
Glencoe had had a nursery and sledging areas open and has been running its access chairlift for tourers to access snow above its ski area until now, but on Thursday opened some of its own terrain thanks to a week of cold and snowy weather.
In the east Glenshee, Cairngorm and The Lecht already had some runs open and have each been expanding their offer thanks to the cold and snowfall.
It's looking good through the weekend, other than strong winds on Sunday, but warmer weather next week may be a setback.
Eastern Europe
The north/south divide continues in Eastern Europe with most centres in the north in countries like the Czech and Slovak republics and Poland posting good snow depths and most terrain open.
Further south in Bulgaria and Romania, it is more a case of good snow cover up high, but little or nothing on lower slopes so centres like Bansko continue to report that only half of their runs are open.
North America
Canada
Canadian ski areas reported some very low temperatures last weekend with lows getting down to -40C leading to many resorts in Alberta and BC deciding to close completely for safety reasons from Friday to Sunday.
It has warmed up since to a heady -10C to -20C and there have been some moderate snowfalls too with the result that conditions are now the best they've been all winter in many areas.
That includes the continent's biggest, Whistler Blackcomb, now posting 95% of its slopes open, the most this season and meaning it now finally has the most terrain open in North America, two months after opening for the season.
USA
After a fairly quiet end to 2023 with warmer, drier conditions than was needed, US ski areas have seen a real mix of weather through the first few weeks of 2024 – heavy snowfall, gale force winds and incredibly low (-40C) temperatures to name but a few!
So after closing for too little snow in November and December, there have been closures this past week in various places for avalanche danger, and dangerously low temperatures as well as just needing to dig out roads and lifts.
Hopefully, once things settle this is all good news with an enhanced snowpack closer to what it should be.
Timberline in Oregon now has the deepest snowpack in North America at 2.8m, so better news for spring and summer skiing there. Two months after opening Park City finally has the most terrain open in the country with its slopes nearly 90% open.