Kitzsteinhorn, above Kaprun, Austria got some fresh up high this week
The number of open ski areas in the northern hemisphere has now overtaken the southern hemisphere, with Austria leading Europe on six open glaciers and the Alpine Skiing World Cup season launching at Sölden this weekend. Meanwhile, fresh snowfall continues across the Alps, Scandinavia and North America's Rockies.
The Snow Headlines - October 22nd
- Number of ski areas open in Europe reaches 15, including six Austrian glaciers.
- Skiers and riders enjoy fresh snow on high terrain in the Rockies before US resorts open.
- Snowfall reported on south-eastern European mountains in Bulgaria and Greece.
- Alpine Skiing World Cup 2026-27 season set to open at Sölden this weekend.
- Only two centres remain open in the southern hemisphere: one in Chile, one in New Zealand.
Snow in the forecast this weekend for Europe, Japan and North America.
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World Overview
The Alps saw another mixed week, with warm air pushing the freezing level towards 4,000m/13,123ft at the weekend, before cooler conditions and snow showers returned. Austria and Switzerland continue to lead Europe's early-season terrain, with Austria hosting the opening World Cup races on glacier slopes supported by extensive snow-farming. Several Swiss glacier areas, including Engelberg and St Moritz, are preparing delayed openings as temperatures finally improve.
Scandinavia remains colder, preserving early snowfall and enabling Sweden, Norway and Finland to operate limited downhill terrain and snow-farmed cross-country loops. Idre Fjäll in Sweden is due to open this weekend, thanks to snow-farming.
North America has enjoyed a stronger start, with multiple storms delivering significant snow across the Rockies. Major US and Canadian mountains are now accelerating snowmaking ahead of early November opening dates, with high-altitude resorts in Colorado hoping to get going before the end of October.
In the southern hemisphere, New Zealand's South Island season has ended after a late snowfall, while North Island slopes continue weekend operations. Chile's Andes have enjoyed an exceptional late season, with Valle Nevado aiming to run until early November.
Northern Hemisphere
The Alps
Another mixed week for the Alps, with more good news than bad, and we're now into double figures for the number of glacier resorts open. The bad news was the freezing level initially rising back up close to 4,000m/13,123ft late last week, with sunshine thinning cover even on 3,000m/9,843ft slopes. Conditions have since cooled, with the freezing point dipping towards 2,000m/6,562ft and at times dropping below, bringing snow showers back. Snow fell briefly as low as 1,000m/3,281ft, turning building roofs white overnight in resorts like Morzine. Some high-altitude terrain has even seen brief overnight snowmaking windows.
In further good news, Zermatt has reopened after an unprecedented three-month break in its formerly year-round schedule. Austria's Kaunertal glacier has also begun its delayed season, bringing Austria's total to six open areas - more than half of those currently open in the Alps.
Austria will also take centre stage this weekend, as Sölden hosts the opening women's and men's races of the 2026-27 Alpine Skiing World Cup on 24-25 October. FIS approved the course last Friday, crediting extensive snow-farming and snowmaking for the race-ready surface. Sölden currently offers the most terrain in the northern hemisphere, with 24km/15 miles available.
Two more Swiss centres are expected to join the list, with Engelberg's Titlis glacier and the Diavolezza glacier near St Moritz preparing to open - although later than planned. Diavolezza will initially operate three days a week, following limited early-season snowmaking.
Scandinavia
Much of Scandinavia has seen a dry, sunny week, with clear nights driving temperatures well below freezing and helping preserve early-October snowfall. Some areas have already begun limited snowmaking.
A fifth option opens this weekend, as Idre Fjäll launches Sweden's first downhill slopes of the 26-27 season, using stockpiled snow. It joins Kläppen's freestyle park, also operating on farmed snow. In Finland, Levi and Ruka continue to offer around 2km/1 mile of terrain each, while Norway's Galdhøpiggen Glacier remains open solely for race-team training.
North America
North American ski areas have enjoyed an active weather week, with several storm systems delivering up to 35cm/14 inches of new snow on higher terrain. Colorado's Arapahoe Basin and Loveland reported top-to-bottom snowfall, while skiers and riders were spotted making early turns at Silverton, Brian Head and even Alta, where snowboarding remains prohibited.
The first planned openings are now two weeks away, with Breckenridge, Brian Head, Copper and Sunshine Village targeting early November. Other resorts are pushing for an October start, led by Keystone and Arapahoe Basin, both highlighting strong snowmaking progress during recent cold spells.
Southern Hemisphere
Cardrona wrapped up New Zealand's South Island operations at the weekend, helped by a late surprise of 23cm/9 inches of new snow, followed by clear skies for Closing Day on 18 October. After extending its season by a week, it was the final South Island area still running. On the North Island, Whakapapa also called it a day at the weekend, leaving Tūroa as the only centre still open in New Zealand, albeit with only about 10% of its terrain still skiable. It reported fresh snowfall over the past week too, and has added higher-level terrain for advanced skiers as spring progresses.
Late-week announcements of season extensions meant Chile still had four ski areas open last weekend, second only to Austria. Corralco, with the world's deepest base of nearly 5m/16ft, was the latest to prolong operations, joining Valle Nevado, El Colorado and La Parva, which together still offer about 110km/68 miles of terrain, the most worldwide. El Colorado alone had 50km/31 miles open, the most for a single resort. However, unless any last-minute weekend reopenings are announced, only Valle Nevado is still operating this week, planning to continue right through to 8 November. Conditions are gradually turning more spring-like, despite further snowfall, with warm afternoons but overnight freezes.