Banff Sunshine Village, Alberta, Canada, enjoyed some great views this week...
This week, ski centres in Scandinavia and the Pyrenees experienced significant snowfall, while Canada faced its coldest temperatures of the winter. The Alps remained mostly dry, but some areas received fresh snow, and all four operational Scottish centres have runs open with natural snow cover.
The Snow Headlines - January 22nd
- Scandinavian ski centres post up to 50 cm/20 inches accumulations in 72 hours.
- Lowest temperatures of winter so far for Canada.
- Mostly dry in the Alps but up to 50 cm/20 inches in the southwestern corner.
- All four operational Scottish centres have runs open with natural snow cover.
- Pyrenees post up to 95 cm/37 inches of snowfall.
- Japan is the first country where resorts are posting 4 m/13 feet+ bases after ongoing huge snowfalls.
Snow in the forecast.
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World Overview
Europe's northern and southern mountain ranges have seen the best snowfall this past week. Scandinavian ski areas reported 50 cm/20 inches to 60 cm/24 inches accumulations to start this week, with the heaviest snowfall in Western Norway. Several fronts have also moved through southern Europe from the Pyrenees to the southern Alps, bringing similar totals to the same sweet spots in western Italy that performed well in December. Dry weather prevailed in much of the rest of the Alps, but they are still celebrating the significant falls from the weekend before last.
In North America, it has been a largely dry week in the main ski destinations of the west, with some worryingly warm temperatures reported along the west coast, reaching the teens Celsius. The impact varies; centres in the northern Rockies and California still report slopes at or near to 100% open, while areas in Colorado, Oregon, and some other states struggle with a lack of snow and warm temperatures. It has been much colder, and some snowfall has occurred on the East Coast, with even colder conditions in Canada.
Europe
Austria
It has been a largely dry and sunny first half of the week across Austria. Temperatures have dropped to -10°C and a little below overnight, with daytime highs not much above freezing in most areas, although it has been warmer in southern provinces like Carinthia and at low-lying resorts. Plenty of sunshine has accompanied these conditions.
The giant Skiwelt and Arlberg regions are neck and neck in terms of the most open terrain at present, both around 225 km/140 miles.
Light snow is forecast over the next few days, and it looks to remain mostly cold and dry for the week ahead.
France
Drier weather has been widely reported in France, with excellent on-piste conditions; with base depths having doubled in some cases compared to 14 days ago. Most French ski areas are at 75% to 95% open in terms of skiable piste, and they are slightly quieter ahead of the busy February holiday period.
Off-piste, the avalanche danger has decreased slightly, and there are still some powder pockets to be found. A little fresh snowfall has been reported in the southern French Alps, reaching as far north as Val d'Isère. Heavier snowfall has been recorded for resorts like Isola 2000 and Serre Chevalier, which posted up to 40 cm/16 inches.
Snow is forecast for much of the French Alps, from the middle of next week, and could be significant in places. The French Pyrenees also look set for another major snowfall.
Italy
Italy has seen the most changeable conditions among the major Alpine nations, with passing fronts delivering cloud and light snow across many regions. The Dolomites received modest top-ups of around 5 cm/2 inches to 10 cm/4 inches, while the western Alps saw smaller but still useful falls, including 20 cm/8 inches in 24 hours at Bardonecchia. Temperatures have remained broadly favourable, hovering between -10°C and +5°C.
La Thuile continues to hold Italy's deepest cover at almost 2 m/6.5 feet after its exceptional snowfall earlier in the month.
The coming week looks to continue with cold, settled, and largely dry conditions.
Switzerland
A largely dry, bright spell has dominated the Swiss Alps, with only a touch of weekend snowfall brushing into southern Valais. Further southeast, Graubünden and Ticino have been under thicker cloud, receiving a few extra centimetres, with Airolo seeing the country's biggest recent top-up of nearly 30 cm/12 inches. Snow quality is generally good on most Swiss slopes due to persistent sub-zero temperatures above 2000 m/6562 ft, and Glacier 3000 still boasts Switzerland's and the world's deepest cover at almost 4 m/13 feet.
The week ahead looks to continue cold and settled, with some new snow expected in the West of the Swiss Alps and light winds across most regions.
Scandinavia
It has been a good week in Scandinavia, reporting one of the biggest snowfalls in Europe over the past week. Temperatures have remained in the -10°C to -20°C range for much of the region, with western Norway in particular receiving heavy snowfall. Coastal Myrkdalen, known for its deep powder but lacking much snowfall this season, posted a 50 cm/20 inches accumulation at the weekend, the most in Europe at that point, while nearby Voss scored 60 cm/24 inches over four days.
It remains very cold in Lapland, but temperatures have warmed slightly to around -20°C after last week's -30°C.
Pyrenees
The Pyrenees have recorded the biggest snowfall in Europe this week, with little Gavarnie Gedre on the French side posting 80 cm/31 inches in 72 hours up to Monday. There was plenty of snowfall elsewhere in the region too, with 20 cm/8 inches to 40 cm/16 inches accumulations widely reported, including in the largest area, Grandvalira in Andorra, which now reports 98% of its terrain open.
This winter is shaping up to be one of the best in several years for the region, and there is more - potentially heavy - snowfall forecast for the coming week.
Scotland
Scotland's start to the year has been one of the best in recent winters, with consistent low temperatures and more snowfall, accompanied by generally light to moderate winds. Although cover is generally thin with bare patches in places, most centres are at 20% to 60% of their full potential. Recent seasons have relied on snowmaking for 90% to 95% of the season, so this is a notable improvement. The cold weather looks set to continue into next week.
Eastern Europe
A crisp, mainly sunny spell has settled over Bulgaria, with no new snow to report but consistently sub-zero temperatures, dropping to around -15°C at altitude, helping maintain firm, well-prepared pistes according to local reports.
Similar conditions prevail to the north across Czechia, Poland, and Slovakia, where clear skies and all-day freezing levels have kept surfaces in good shape. Jasná, the region's largest resort, is close to fully open now, with more than 90% of its slopes skiable.
North America
Canada
Canada continues to post some of the best ski conditions in the world. A mostly dry, often sunny, but chilly spell has dominated western Canada, with limited new snow overall.
Lake Louise reported the last significant accumulation of 38 cm/15 inches going into last weekend and confirmed full operations with every slope open, while Whistler Blackcomb fluctuated from sub-zero nights to +7°C at its base - yet still leads the continent for open terrain, offering over 7,000 acres.
Eastern Canada has returned to deep-freeze conditions after a brief thaw, bringing light top-ups of 5 cm/2 inches to 10 cm/4 inches. The region's largest resort, Mont Tremblant, is now fully open.
USA
The Western USA has had another mostly dry, sun-filled week, leaving many resorts relying on earlier storms or intensive snowmaking.
Higher-elevation areas in California, Wyoming, and Utah still offer good skiing, with several resorts, including Heavenly, reporting all slopes open. However, large parts of Colorado continue to struggle with limited natural snowfall, and mountain teams are working hard to expand terrain.
Along the Pacific coast, temperatures have remained unusually mild, pushing well above freezing in the Northwest and putting pressure on lower slopes. Coverage thins moving north into Oregon, while Alaska has enjoyed colder weather and 15 cm/6 inches to 30 cm/12 inches of new snow.
The Rockies have seen only light top-ups, though Wyoming's Jackson Hole and Grand Targhee retain excellent bases. Further south, Vail remains only half open, having experienced very little snowfall and often mild temperatures all season to date. In contrast, the Northeast has had a consistently wintry week, with regular snowfall and most leading areas now offering strong terrain coverage.