Solden, Austria, 60km of slopes open... and snow!
Following a slow start, ski conditions are improving worldwide with colder temperatures and new snowfall allowing resorts to open in Europe, the US, and Japan.
The Snow Headlines - November 20th
- Solden first in the world to report 60 km/37 miles+ of slopes open.
- California's Mammoth Mountain opens Thursday, a week later than hoped, after 80 cm/31 inches.
- Sub-zero temperatures and early snow cover in Scotland.
- Switzerland first country in Europe to have more than 10 areas open, while the US jumps up to 15.
- 40 cm/16 inches of 24-hour snowfall reported at Japan's Hakuba.
- Snow in Australia with meteorological summertime less than a fortnight away.
Snow in the forecast.
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World Overview
After a slow few weeks for many mountain regions on both sides of the Atlantic, conditions have started to improve in the Alps, Rockies, and on US West Coast mountains with colder temperatures and more wintery weather returning.
As a result, California's Mammoth Mountain is set to start its season today, a week later than planned, and the French ski season is on track to kick off as scheduled this coming weekend with Tignes and Val Thorens first to open.
So far, the snowfall in the Alps has been modest, but with low temperatures, snowmaking guns are back in action. Similar conditions have been reported across much of the continent, including Eastern Europe, the Pyrenees, Scandinavia, and even Scotland.
Switzerland hit 11 areas open at the weekend, the most of any European country so far. Across the Atlantic, however, the number of US areas open has surpassed those in Europe, with six on the US East Coast (which has experienced a good run of cold, snowy weather) and nine in Colorado alone, despite challenging warm, dry weather in the Rockies, which is just starting to break down now.
Further afield, conditions are also looking promising in Japan, with the Hakuba Valley reporting a 40 cm/16 inches fall on Thursday morning.
Europe
Austria
Austria has finally lost its lead for the number of open ski areas, thanks to its glaciers in early autumn, but is now overtaken by Switzerland and the US.
This weekend sees the first non-glacier resorts like Obergurgl, Obertauern, Schladming, and Axamer Lizum set to open.
Sölden currently leads the world for terrain with 62 km/37 miles of slopes available already, while Hintertux, Stubai, and others are also in the global top 10 with over 30 km/19 miles each.
After some warm, dry weeks, snowfall has returned, with up to 15 cm/6 inches reported so far. Cold fronts could bring another 10–30 cm/4–12 inches of snow over the next few days, especially at altitude, improving snowmaking and coverage by the weekend.
France
The French ski season is almost upon us, with Tignes and Val Thorens set to be the first to open this coming weekend.
After the warm and dry weather of the first half of November, following heavy snowfalls in late October, we are now back to fresh snowfall and plummeting temperatures, so from camera images of French terrain above 2,000 m/6,562 ft, things are looking good for getting the party started.
Italy
Italian ski conditions are slowly improving after a warm start to November. Cervinia remains the top option, sharing 55 km/34 miles of slopes with Zermatt, currently the second-largest open area worldwide. Sulden and Val Senales are also open, with Passo Tonale due to follow this weekend.
Conditions have turned more wintry this week, as they have elsewhere in the Alps, with snow returning and temperatures dropping. Forecasts suggest 15–40 cm/6–16 inches of fresh snow for higher resorts like Cervinia, Livigno, and Tonale by the end of the weekend, with freezing levels falling to 1,200–1,600 m/3,937–5,249 ft.
Switzerland
Switzerland leads Europe for early-season openings, with 11 ski areas now spinning lifts, although several remain open only at the weekend.
Saas Fee boasts Europe's deepest snow (up to 175 cm/69 inches) and has 25 km/16 miles of pistes open, while Zermatt has doubled its terrain to 55 km/34 miles, including cross-border skiing into Italy. Engelberg is open daily, with the best conditions above 2,500 m/8,202 ft. Other open resorts include Andermatt, Verbier, Davos, and St Moritz's Diavolezza glacier.
After a mild start to November, colder air and fresh snowfall have returned this week, with more forecast and freezing levels dropping to 1,200–1,600 m/3,937–5,249 ft.
Scandinavia
With fast-diminishing daylight and plummeting temperatures, Scandinavia has felt very wintry this week.
There has been fresh snowfall and temperatures as low as -24°C/-11°F reported in Lapland.
Levi hosted the World Cup Slalom in snowy conditions last weekend, while Sweden's Tärnaby joined Kåbdalis as the second centre open there. Norway's Galdhøpiggen glacier summer ski centre has closed for 2025, but several winter resorts like Geilo are expected to open this weekend.
Forecasts suggest 10–25 cm/4–10 inches of new snow across the region, with freezing levels staying low and upper slope temperatures between -12°C/10°F and -6°C/21°F, good news for both snowmaking and early natural cover.
North America
Canada
Western Canada's ski season is gaining momentum after a slow start, with colder air and fresh snowfall improving conditions. Banff's Sunshine leads North America for open terrain (more than 30 miles open) and snowpack (the only one posting more than a metre lying already), while Nakiska, Mount Norquay, and Lake Louise have also launched their seasons.
In British Columbia, Whistler and other coastal resorts report promising pre-season snow ahead of opening this weekend. Eastern Canada is transitioning into winter, with Quebec's Sommet Saint-Sauveur already open and Mount Tremblant and Le Massif preparing to follow. However, Ontario and Quebec face a brief warm spell, with rain and highs up to 11°C/52°F forecast by Saturday. Snowmaking may be limited, but colder air is expected to return next week, reviving early-season prospects.
USA
After a few stop-start weeks, California's ski season is finally underway, with Mammoth Mountain opening a week later than planned following 45–80 cm/18–31 inches of fresh snowfall this week, while other Sierra resorts eye weekend launches.
Further Pacific storms look set to deliver 20–60 cm/8–24 inches more across the West Coast, especially in Washington and Oregon, so the picture is improving rapidly.
While it has been drier in the Rockies, Colorado leads the US with eight resorts open, more than half the country's total. Vail is among the latest to start its lifts.
Utah's season is still pending due to recent warm, dry conditions, but it is now getting colder and snowier here too. The East Coast is looking good, with Killington, Sunday River, and Whiteface already spinning lifts, with Jay Peak and others joining soon. Even the Southeast saw early openings, marking one of the strongest starts in years.