Snow has begun falling again in the Alps over the past 24 hours. After a largely dry December, for some areas it's the first significant snowfall for a month.
However, the expected snow-bearing front from the south and west, which was predicted a week ago to be bringing up to 70cm of snowfall to the Western Alps around France, Italy and Switzerland at New Year, has, unfortunately, largely failed to materialise so far.
Instead, its very cold weather descending from the north, bringing snowfall to Scandinavia, Scotland and Eastern European nations like Poland, Czechia and Slovakia that is now making its way into the northern Alps in Austria and Switzerland.
Famously snowy Flachau has posted the greatest accumulation so far, with 35cm. Obertauern, which markets itself as Austria's snowiest destination has had 20cm to date.
With thin bases of less than 50cm, much of it machine-made snow, at many Austrian resorts, as elsewhere in the Alps, the fresh snowfall is very welcome, as are the subzero temperatures to low elevations around the clock which allow the country's huge snowmaking arsenal to operate.
The Skiwelt, home to resorts like Soll and Westendorf and currently about 80% open, is now reporting the most terrain open in the country, with over 200km of slopes, overtaking Ischgl / Samnaun which had the most through December. It currently has more available than larger Saalbach Hinterglemm (currently 50% open) and the Arlberg (currently 60% open)