(Lech today)
The big forecast snow for the Alps this weekend seems to be delivering – particularly at higher altitudes.
Resorts in the Pyrenees, Eastern Europe, Scotland, Scandinavia and the dolomites have also reported fresh snow today.
And it's still dumping down in Western North America.
Not many resorts have published snow depths during the ongoing storm but those that have are typically saying they've had 30-40cm. Amongst them are Avoriaz, Davos and St Anton. Sass Fee in Switzerland has posted the biggest snowfall totals so far with 60cm at lower elevations and a full fresh metre claimed above 3000m at the top of the slopes.
Val Thorens which delayed opening this weekend is looking to be in great shape with significant snow and the snow guns blazing. It remains to be seen whether it will now open 'early' ahead of its revised opening date of next weekend.
Along with all the snow there have been blizzard conditions with Tignes reporting 150km/h winds this spring. It closed its glacier ski slopes the only ones currently open in France.
Ski areas in most other parts of Europe outside the Alps also got fresh snow. Borovets in Bulgaria posted pictures of the top half of its mountain covered in natural snowfall, with snow guns coating lower slopes white.
With low temperatures set to continue and more snow in the forecast a mass opening of resorts across Europe looks increasingly likely next weekend, if not before.