The biggest snowfalls in Europe over the weekend have been in the Austrian Alps.
It's especially welcome news for low lying areas of the Tirol and Salzburgerland which had missed out on the autumn snowfalls, which were mostly about 2000 metres, and also had not seen much of the big snowfalls that have hit the Western Alps over the past fortnight, but until now had not quite made it in to much of Austria – with only really the western Arlberg area posting significant January snowfall before now.
Snowfall reported in the past 24 hours includes a remarkable 45cm (18 inches) in 24 hours at ski areas around Innsbruck and 30cm (a foot) in the ski Jewel region that links Alpbach and the Wildschonau.
Ski areas that had been particularly struggling for cover, including Mayrhofen which had no snow in the valley and only 15cm (six inches) at altitude a few weeks ago, have reported two feet (60cm) of snow in the last few days. It's upper slope base depth is now a much more healthy 45cm.
Other snow totals include 55cm at Kitzbuhel where the Hahnenkamm is due to be raced later this week, 45cm at Ischgl and Galtur and over a foot (30cm) at Solden, Saalbach and Obergurgl.
Snowfall is expected to continue over the coming week, although be slightly less, with most areas scheduled to get another 10-30cm according to forecasts.