As the Alps currently receives its third significant snowfall in a week, forecasters are predicting the snow will keep falling over the week ahead with some areas potentially receiving a metre more snow over the next 72 hours by Friday.
St Anton has 102cm forecast, Les Arcs 105cm, Val d'Isere 126cm and Chamoix 127cm moresnow expected to fall before the weekend.
Avalanche warnings are already at or near maximum levels after snow since Boxing Day has amounted to 1-2 metres in total over the past eight days. But on marked slopes most skiers appears to be having a ball on daily deep fresh powder, an unusual treat in Europe and even so as it is happening during one of the busiest weeks of the season. Most ski areas have all or almost all runs open and lift operating.
The biggest accumulations are expected in the Western Alps of France, Italy and Switzerland.
Flaine and Engelberg are forecast to receive 60cm more snow; La Clusaz and Sauze d'Oulx 65cm; 77cm for Avoriaz and Alpe d'Huez has 78cm forecast on top of the nearly 2 metres of snow received there in the past week. Courchevel has 84cm, Verbier 86cm and Meribel 88cm and Crans Montana and Val Thorens over 95cm, and Zermatt and La Plagne 96cm.
Forecasts for Austria and much of Italy and Switzerland away from their Western borders look a little smaller but still significant enough at 30-50cm. Some areas are forecast to get more - 57cm for Seefeld for example, 81cm at Ischgl or 66cm for Davos Klosters.