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Perisher, Australia, looking pretty good after 20cm of fresh this week... Almost everywhere now open in the Southern Hemisphere, with Argentina and Chile enjoying great snow. Conditions improving in Australia and New Zealand. The Snow Headlines - July 4th - Portillo last to open in Chile, but reports more snow on opening day than season average. - Les 2 Alpes and Val d'Isere expect to end summer ski seasons this weekend. - Mount Hutt first ski area in New Zealand to reach 50% of slopes only. - Saas Fee opening for summer ski season. - Deepest snow in southern hemisphere passes 3 metre (10 feet) mark. - Less than three months until the 24-25 winter season starts in Lapland. 
A little more snow in the J2Ski forecasts
World Overview July is the start of the southern hemisphere's core season with peak school holiday weeks. The good news is that all of the main ski nations have had significant snowfalls over the past week and temperatures have stayed low. The last of the big-name resorts in the Andes, Australia and New Zealand have also opened to start their seasons. The latest snowfall - about a foot (30cm) for Australia and New Zealand, their biggest falls so far in an initially dry start to the 2024 season – has been described as a 'game changer', allowing most areas with only 5-20% of their slopes open so far the chance to add more terrain. In Argentina and Chile, resorts had already passed their usual season totals as they started their winter operations, with some including recently opened las Lenas and Portillo reporting more than 6 metres fallen so far and other areas still battling to re-open access roads. So here more snowfall is not really needed (for now at least). Elsewhere, resorts in the Alps are still trying to get back to normal after storms and floods almost a month ago. Several more glacier areas in the Alps will end their summer opening this weekend, whilst Saas Fee is expected to start its 24-25 season (beginning with their summer skiing). Two small areas remain open in Norway too and it's been cold enough in northern Europe for a dusting of snowfall on Scottish peaks on Thursday morning. There's one outdoor lift-served ski area still open in North America for Independence Day this week. Southern Hemisphere Australia There was a welcome boost for Australian ski areas last weekend with the biggest snowfall of the season so far, bolstering snow depth by up to a foot. Unfortunately, as there had been so little snowfall previously, that's not been hugely transformative, but nonetheless, the amount of open terrain does continue to edge upwards. It's been mostly dry and sunny since the snow but overnight lows have allowed snow guns to continue blasting out the machine-made stuff. Perisher is leading the way with about a quarter of its slopes open now. Charlotte Pass, Australia's highest centre, is due to open this Friday after a delay caused by a fire in May. The centre says it is now fully functional and good to go. New Zealand New Zealand has seen a good snowfall too, following on just as the snow stopped falling in Australia. 20-30cm accumulations were reported on Monday through Tuesday which one ski area manager described as a "game-changer" after the fairly dry June left most ski areas in the region struggling to open more than 10-20% of their terrain and some smaller areas were forced to delay opening completely. Mount Hutt became the first centre in NZ-Australia to report half its slopes were open at the weekend and Cardrona is not far behind. Treble Cone and Turoa (now run separately to nearby Whakapapa) were among the areas opening for their 2024 seasons at the weekend. Argentina Argentina has seen some spectacular snowfalls over the past two months and is home to the first ski area in South America and the southern hemisphere to post a 3m+ base already - a stat that's not reached anywhere south of the equator in some years (and not seen for a few years recently). The major ski area of Las Lenas finally opened last weekend after a few week's delay due to too much snow and high avalanche danger, posting a 2.9m base, one of its healthiest snow depths for many years, allowing access to its extensive upper mountain freeriding terrain, which doesn't open at all in dry winters. Chile Chile has had a sensational start to the season with unprecedented snowfall totals now passing 6 metres in some areas. That's the dream start to the season in terms of snow depths but has also caused issues with blocked access roads and high avalanche danger. Portillo's opening was delayed by a week or so, but it did at the weekend with a base of nearly 3 metres and about two-thirds of its runs safely open. The linked La Parva – Valle Nevado area has the most terrain open in South America (and the world) at present, with over 50km between them. There was more snowfall at the start of this week but for most areas, it's been a drier week at last giving skiers the chance to enjoy the snow. Southern Africa Lesotho's Afriski continues to be fully open with its nearly mile-long main run, learners area and terrain park all operational. No real natural snowfall but low overnight temperatures allow snowmaking to continue. Neighbouring South Africa's Tiffindell remains closed and up for sale. Europe The Alps have taken quite a battering from storms in recent weeks, with Les 2 Alpes, Saas fee and Zermatt amongst those hardest hit. The weather has settled a little and there have been some good sunny days since the last of the dramatic conditions at the weekend. Temperatures have been yoyoing a good deal too with the snowfall line moving between 2500m and 4500m altitudes. That's resulted in some centres posting a big drop in their snow depths ...but also more light snowfalls at other times topping things up a few centimetres. In this mixed picture, two of the open French glaciers, Les 2 Alpes and Val d'Isere, are expected to end their summer ski seasons this weekend leaving Tignes the only area open there. In Austria, year-round Hintertux is currently the only centre open, with about 20km of slopes open. The glacier above Zermatt, which can also be accessed from Cervinia, remains open with its neighbour Saas Fee expected to open for its 2024 summer ski season (which then morphs into autumn and winter seasons so its kind of its 24-25 season start). Finally, Italy's Passo Stelvio also remains open with about 5km of slopes available. North America Timberline ski area on Mount Hood in Oregon is now the only lift-served centre operational in North America (outdoors at least, there is an indoor snow centre in New Jersey!). Usually open into August, sometimes to early September, it's had warm sunny weather leading to a fast thaw of the snowpack but it's still reported to be around 3m (10 feet) deep up top. There are a few miles of slopes and a terrain park, best conditions soon after dawn. There is also a hike-to terrain park operating primarily for those attending private summer snow camps at Copper Mountain in Colorado, but it's open to all from Fridays to Sundays each week. |
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It's been an epic start to the South American season, a slower one for Australia and New Zealand. In the northern hemisphere, open ski areas will be down to half a dozen glaciers by the end of the month.
Hotham, Victoria, Australia looking rather lovely this morning. Where to Ski in July 2024 July marks the start of full winter in the southern hemisphere. So far it has been a spectacular start in South America with the biggest snowfalls anywhere in the world this year so far. Snow totals have been the greatest in the Andes this century and there's no sign of it slowing down. New Zealand and Australia by contrast have had a slower start, battling for every kilometre of slope opening, so have some catching up to do. In Southern Africa, Lesotho's Afriski has its main run complete and open for the first time since the 2022 season. In the northern hemisphere, July is usually the month when the surviving summer glacier ski areas battle the heat to stay open. This year at least, most have a thick 'cushion' of snow on the glacial ice from above-average winter accumulations. The month starts with 10 operating in Europe and North America although about half are due to close before the end of the month. Southern Hemisphere Australia Australia has had a largely dry but cold June which has been good news for snowmaking but hasn't enabled resorts to build deep bases or open very much terrain so far. Unsurprisingly the largest centre, Perisher, has been opening the most with about a quarter of its terrain open. Most other centres are at 5-10% of their slopes open but with the best snowfall of the season so far (up to 25cm reported) in the final few days of June it is an improving picture as we start July. New Zealand Similar issues to Australia although there was a little more natural snowfall in June here and resorts opened with typically a few main runs open along with the beginner areas. However, more cold and snowy weather early in the month would definitely be a welcome boost as July starts with limited terrain open. Most of the commercial centres are now open although some of the volunteer club fields without snowmaking are not. South America It has been a pretty incredible start to the season in both Argentina and Chile with most centres on the continent opening weeks ahead of the planned main season start date on June 21/22. Reports of up to 6 metres (20 feet) of autumn snowfall before the season had begun led to claims that this is the best start to the season in 30 years and some centres are saying they'd already had more snowfall before the season started than their season average calculated each spring. So, in short, if you're lucky enough to already be in or near the Andes or can get there this July, 2024 is the year to go. Southern Africa Although, in the event, ski areas in South America were the first to open, weeks early due to all the snowfall, Lesotho's Afriski had been the first scheduled to open on 1st June, so 1st July marks the completion of the first month of its three month season. After not opening for skiing last year it's good to see the kilometre-long main run in place again, completed thanks to snowmaking efforts during low overnight temperatures. There has not been much natural snowfall so far this season. The region's other ski area, South Africa's Tiffindell, has not operated since 2019 and is currently up for sale. Europe Alps July starts with three resorts offering summer skiing in France – Les 2 Alpes, Val d'Isere and Tignes, each reporting snow depths of about 4 metres and 4-20km of slopes open. Summer ski seasons are nearing their end though and, unless it extends, Les 2 Alpes will complete more than 7 months of operations (now France's longest season), a week into the month. Val d'Isere will also close at the start of the month but Tignes is scheduled to continue through to the 21st. Hintertux is the only centre open in Austria now but is posting the largest area open in the northern hemisphere at about 24km (15 miles) of slopes and the deepest snow, just, at just over 4 metres. It should be open all month, as should Italy's Passo Stelvio area and the Matterhorn glacier paradise ski area above Zermatt in Switzerland, also accessible from Cervinia in Italy. Other than French areas closing the only other expected change this month is Saas Fee opening for summer skiing and its 24-25 season on July 8th. Scandinavia Two glaciers are currently open in the region, both in Norway, both with a few kilometres of slopes on offer and both are expected to stay open all month if not impacted by snowmelt. Galdhopiggen has Scandinavia's highest slopes whilst Fonna Glacier starts the month with the world's deepest snow lying at over six metres (20 feet). North America Just one ski centre is still open in North America as we begin July. The Timberline ski area on Mount Hood in Oregon has a few miles of slopes on its Palmer snowfield which are heavily used by ski teams for training, there's also a terrain park. There can be fresh snow anytime (7" was reported in a late June snowfall) but more typically it does get warm in the daytime so early morning snowsports are the order of the day. Hopefully, these will remain open through July. There's also a terrain park open weekends at Copper Mountain in Colorado and for the first three days of the month only, another at Mont St Sauveur in Quebec, Canada. |
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Portillo, Chile, will open on Saturday after more than 5 metres of snow in 14 days... Storms in both hemispheres cause problems (rain in the northern, snow in the southern); one Chilean ski area reports 5 metre base depth, while others in South America are blocked by heavy snow. The Snow Headlines - June 28th - Zermatt temporarily cut off, Tignes delays summer opening due to severe storms. - Portillo, Chile delayed opening last weekend (but will open this Saturday 29th), as access roads were blocked by snow. - Mount Hotham, Australia sees lowest temperature in Victoria state for 8 years. - Chile's Valle Nevado passes 5 metre mark for pre-season snowfall total. - Canadian ski centre opens summer terrain park for six days into July. - More huge snowfalls in Argentina lead Las Lenas to delay opening due to avalanche danger. 
Snow in the J2Ski forecast for the southern hemisphere
World Overview There's severe weather to report in both northern and southern hemisphere ski areas this week, both leading to closed slopes, but for different reasons. In South America still more huge snowfall, taking pre-season totals past 6 metres (20 feet) at some resorts, has led a number to delay planned openings due to blocked access roads, high avalanche danger and other related issues. Meanwhile, in the Alps, a violent storm at the summer solstice cut off Zermatt with storm damage to its road and rail access and led Tignes to delay its planned summer season start by a week. Elsewhere, in the southern hemisphere, Australia and New Zealand continue to suffer from too little snowfall to be able to open much, in dramatic contrast to centres across the south Pacific from them, but cold temperatures have allowed snowmakers to open some terrain. In the Northern Hemisphere, there are still a few centres open in North America and Scandinavia. Southern Hemisphere Australia Australia has seen some of its lowest temperatures in more than five years over the last week. It's still not had very much snowfall but those low temperatures have allowed resorts to open a few more runs by being able to run their snowmaking system to the maximum. Perisher has nearly a quarter of its terrain open now, both the highest proportion and the most piste kilometres in the country so far. Other centres are open but only with about 5-10% of their terrain so far. Mount Hotham has posted the lowest temperature in the Australian Alps for eight years at -8.3°C. It's staying cold with snow flurries but we're still waiting for signs of a 'proper big dump' arriving. New Zealand New Zealand is in a very similar situation to Australia with some good low temperatures but so far very little snowfall. Mount Hutt, which is posting the deepest base in the country so far with up to 50cm lying, did post a fairly decent dump on Sunday but most of what's open so far – and it's typically only 5-10% of slopes with Cardrona the outlier claiming 25%, is thanks to snowmaking efforts. Things do appear to be changing now, a little at least, with forecast snow set to improve things. Coronet Peak and The Remarkables are also already open, but with very limited terrain available so far and Treble Cone and Tūroa are due to open for their 2024 seasons this weekend too. Argentina One of Argentina's best-known ski areas, Las Lenas, which claims the southern hemisphere's largest domain if you include the vast freeride terrain (non-lift accessed), delayed its planned opening last week after another metre of snowfall in 24 hours took its pre-season accumulation total past 6 metres and set the avalanche danger level at extremely high. Last weekend was supposed to be the season start date for Argentinian areas that hadn't opened early though and several did manage to do so, including the continent's largest by uplift, Catedral, although it only has about 20% of its terrain open so far. Chile There have been still more incredible snowfalls reported in Chile with Valle Nevado posting over a metre of snowfall in 48 hours at the weekend and its snowfall total now past 5 metres for what should have been its opening weekend, although it had already opened weeks earlier because of all the snow. The huge accumulations are causing high avalanche danger though, limiting what can open, and some resorts like Portillo (which has passed 4 metres of snowfall so far this year) were completely closed as access roads were blocked, but is planning to open for this coming weekend. The snowfall has now eased a little in northern Chile but continues in the south. Southern Africa Afriski in Lesotho has its slopes fully open, helped in part by temperatures well below freezing overnight allowing for snowmaking top-ups. In the daytime highs have been around +8C. There's a mile-long main run, terrain park and nursery slopes. Sunny days and cold nights are expected to continue through next week. Europe - The Alps Tignes was due to open for a month of summer skiing last weekend, joining neighbour Val d'Isere and Les 2 Alpes to provide a third French option, however, it has decided to delay a week following bad weather last Friday. Violent storms bringing torrential rain led Zermatt/Cervinia to temporarily close operations last weekend too. The famous Swiss resort was briefly cut off from rail and road access by the severe weather. However Austrian year-round centre Hintertux - currently posting the most terrain open in the northern hemisphere at 23km (nearly 15 miles) of slopes - kept operating, as did Italy's Passo Stelvio. There were continued snowfalls on very high slopes through the start of this week but with the snowline sometimes up at 3000-4000m, this sometimes fell as rain to quite high elevations too. However the snowline also moved to lower levels at times, with Passo Stelvio seeing fresh snowfall well below the base of the ski area on Monday. Scandinavia After Sweden's Riksgransen briefly reopened for Midnight Sun – Summer Solstice skiing for a few days and nights (though it was hard to tell the difference) at the end of last week, we're back to two Norwegian glacier centres open, Scandinavia's highest slopes at Galdhopiggen and the centre with the deepest reported snow (7 metres up top) in the northern hemisphere, the Fonna glacier. Both have a couple of slopes open and report excellent conditions (for late June). North America After the snowfall in north-western North America last week there were reports of summer ski touring adventures and half-a-foot of fresh cover at the only centre still offering lift-access snow sports on the continent, Oregon's Timberline, but we've returned to more usual summer weather now with plenty of sunshine and temperatures quickly warming through the day, meaning the best conditions are in the first hours of the morning. There's a summer snow terrain park operating at Copper Mountain in Colorado and for this weekend through to July 3rd only, a temporary snow park at Mont Saint Sauveur in Quebec, Canada. |
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The Remarkables, New Zealand, is now open... Still more snow in South America, giving the snowiest start for 30 years in places, with more in the forecast. Summer snow in North America too. The Snow Headlines - June 20th - 2024 Season underway in New Zealand a day later than planned due to rain. - Austria's Molltal glacier ends 8-month 23-24 season but France's Tignes opens next weekend. - Snowfall down to resort base level across northwestern North America. - Another huge snowfall buries South American ski centres, snowiest season start for 30 years. - One centre still operating in North America after Colorado's Arapahoe Basin ends season. - More Australian resorts open ski runs as conditions improve. 
Another big snowfall forecast for South America
World Overview Today being the Summer Solstice means that winter has arrived in the southern hemisphere by both the astronomical and meteorological measures... and all the southern ski nations now have ski slopes open. New Zealand was the latest and last major southern hemisphere ski nation to get its 2024 season started last weekend, joining Australia, where colder snowier conditions have allowed more areas to open new slopes and those already open to add more. The real snow action continues to be in South America though where more huge snowfalls were recorded, meaning some centres have now had more than three metres (10 feet) of snow before the season was due to start this coming weekend. Most centres in the Andes already opened early, several weeks ago. In the northern hemisphere the good news is that the nights are drawing in (!) and we're just passing midsummer - so we're on our way to the start of the 24-25 season, just 5-6 months away for most resorts, although starting at Switzerland's Saas Fee next month, kind of (it's summer ski season normally runs into autumn, then winter seasons). For now though, we're down to single figures for ski areas open in the north – eight in Europe and one survivor in North America. Southern Hemisphere Australia Australia's lower temperatures and snowfall allowed more ski areas to open additional terrain. Among those now offering snowsports, that weren't a week ago, are Falls Creek (beginner runs opened initially then more terrain), Hotham (nursery slopes initially too, but now some longer runs and a mini terrain park) and Selwyn (just sledging so far). The centres opening more terrain included Perisher which reported all 167 snow guns firing overnight and their V8 Chairlift starting up for the first time this season. The weather has turned drier again with sunny days, temperatures dropping to -6C overnight so snowmaking continues but hits a rather warm +8C in the daytime which sets things back a bit again. New Zealand New Zealand's season stuttered into live at the end of last week although the two centres that had planned to open first, last Friday, had to postpone, in Coronet Peak's case because they didn't quite have enough snow lying yet, and in Mount Hutt's case because it rained on opening day. It though, along with Cardrona and The Remarkables did open on Friday. Conditions are far from perfect after a warm autumn, but last week saw colder temperatures arrive for snowmaking and a little natural snow. Mount Hutt and Cardrona both have some full length runs on offer, not just beginner terrain. More NZ resorts are set to open over the coming weekends. Most of the past week has been drier with temperatures in the -8 to +8C range, overnight lows allowing for more snowmaking. Argentina Argentina's season proper is due to get started this weekend although after the huge snowfalls on the country's ski slopes over the past two months, several resorts, including the largest, Catedral, have already opened early for the season. Another of the country's best-known areas, Las Leñas, is due to open for its season this weekend. It reports that it has had more than five metres of pre-season snowfall on its higher slopes, about 2.5 metres at resort level. There's much more snowfall forecast across Argentina's ski areas over the week ahead. Chile It just keeps dumping on the mountains of Chile, so much so that Portillo, which has already had 4 metres of pre-season snowfall, has decided to delay its full opening (scheduled for this weekend) by a week, as another 2.5 metres of snow is forecast over the coming 7 days, likely to continue to block the roads in and out. It says its the snowiest start to its season in 30 years. The snow has been dumping on all Chilean ski areas, most of which have already opened for the season well ahead of this weekend's official season start date. Southern Africa Lesotho's Afriski is the only outdoor centre open in Africa at present, with its main run, about a kilometre long, still complete. The past week has not been ideal with daytime highs of +10C and overnight lows only getting down a degree or two below freezing, sunshine dominating, but so far they're managing to remain open. Europe Last week's cold and snowy weather on alpine glaciers continued into the weekend, but it has finally turned much warmer and drier up above 2,500m and snowpack thicknesses are starting to drop. So we're into normal summer freeze-thaw conditions at present. The Hintertux and Zermatt glaciers (the latter also accessible from Cervinia) have the most open terrain, about 20km each. There are smaller areas open at Val d'Isere, Les 2 Alpes in France and Italy's Passo Stelvio. Austria is down to one area still open now after the Molltal glacier closed on Sunday after an eight-month season – the last non-year-round centre to close at the end of 23-24 in Europe. However we'll be back to six centres open by next weekend as Tignes is due to reopen. Two small glacier areas are open in Norway too, the Galdhopiggen and Folgefonn (Fonna) resorts, the latter posting the world's deepest snow still at about 7 metres. For this weekend only Riksgransen in Sweden's Arctic has also re-opened for some Midsummer skiing including skiing and riding under the midnight sun. The past week there has seen temperatures largely in the 0-5C range with a mix of rain, sleet and snow showers, sunny spells in between. North America Colorado's Arapahoe Basin ended a nearly eight-month long ski season at the weekend leaving just the Palmer snowfield above Timberline ski centre on Mount Hood in Oregon, still open in North America. That's unless you include the hike-to summer terrain park at Copper Mountain in Colorado, open to the skiing and riding public from Friday to Sunday each weekend. There are about three miles of slopes open and a terrain park at Timberline where the snow is still lying nearly 10 feet (3m) deep. It's had a mostly sunny week with overnight lows close to freezing but daytime highs into the 50s Fahrenheit. A little further north and east though there was an unusual "winter weather" warning in summer and resorts saw a dusting of snow and in some cases, particularly across Montana, rather more with snow briefly covering slopes right down to base level. |
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Perisher, Australia, just got fresh and will be opening more lifts... Some more big snow in South America, and enough to get started in Australia now - with more coming. The Snow Headlines - June 13th - Australia's season starts but only a few runs able to open; colder and snowier now though. - Passo Stelvio and Val d'Isere open for 2024 summer ski seasons in the Alps. - More big snowfalls in the Andes where more centres open early for 2024 season. - New Zealand's 2024 season proper starting this weekend. - One of Norway's glacier areas reports 1m of fresh snow in June, another will close soon. - Arapahoe Basin closing after this weekend leaving one North American area still open. 
More big snow forecast for South America
World Overview The southern hemisphere's season is now underway in all five countries with ski areas south of the equator, but it's quite a varied picture so far. South American resorts, which have opened weeks early, are being buried again by another huge system off the Pacific, while in Australia, where the season started last weekend, they've struggled to open much at all; although it has been colder and snowier this week. New Zealand's season starts this coming weekend and it looks like it'll be a mixed picture on opening day there too. In the northern hemisphere, two more glacier areas opened last weekend, but three centres plan to close this coming weekend. That'll leave only one centre still open in North America, and about eight in Europe. Snow has kept falling on high slopes in the Alps though and one glacier in Scandinavia says it had more than a metre of snowfall in the first week of June. Southern Hemisphere Australia Only a few centres (Mount Baw Baw, Mount Buller, Perisher and Thredbo) were able to offer any snowsports on their opening last weekend, and in each case just small beginner areas. There's been too little snowfall and temperatures mostly too warm for snowmaking over the previous few weeks. It's not that unusual a scenario for the start of the Australian ski season which always begins on the King's birthday holiday weekend whether there's snow or not. The good news is that it's been colder with some snowfalls since the start of this week, with most resorts reporting 20-30cm accumulations so far and snowmaking systems now working at max. So it is an improving picture. Temperatures have been as low as -8C overnight and up to 20cm of snowfall has been reported over the last few days. New Zealand New Zealand's ski season is expected to get underway this weekend with four of the commercial centres (Mount Hutt, Coronet Peak, Cardrona and The Remarkables) due to open. As with Australia a week ago it's not quite clear how much will be able to open. It doesn't look that promising but some posted pictures and webcams are looking snowier than Aussie centres did and the past few days have brought some colder, snowier weather. There is actually one small snow area already open at Whakapapa Ski Centre at Mt Ruapehu on the North Island but its full opening is a few weeks away yet. Argentina Argentina's largest ski area by uplift, Catedral Alta Patagonia near Bariloche, opened a fortnight early for its 2024 season at the weekend thanks to great conditions following the big May snowfalls. It has initially opened about 10% of its ski area, 12km of slopes. Two more centres, Cerro Bayo and Chapelco, have announced they'll open a week early this coming weekend. Argentina is back in the snow globe with cold temperatures and heavy snowfall across most of the country's ski region - which is expected to continue into next weekend giving some areas more than a metre of snowfall on higher slopes over the 7 days. Chile It's really the dream start to the season for Chile, already several weeks in at most of the country's resorts when it hadn't been supposed to start until the weekend after next. Another storm system brought some snowfall at the start of this week and that's now building with big accumulations expected through the weekend. The new La Parva – Valle Nevado pass has opened up the biggest lift-served ski area in South America (once everything is open) they are claiming. However, El Colorado is reporting the most terrain open so far – 40km of slopes, about 80% of its full area. Southern Africa Lesotho's Afriski remains open with its main run now complete, a small terrain park, tubing area and nursery slopes. After the snowfall last week it has been mostly sunny, as usual, but much colder overnight for top-up snowmaking and during the day to slow thawing. Europe The Alps Val d'Isere opened for a month of summer skiing on Saturday, posting a 4-metre base and about 4km of slopes open. Like other ski areas open for summer skiing its slopes have continued to experience snowstorms over the past week. It joins Les 2 Alpes as a second French option with Hintertux and Molltal still open in Austria and Zermatt in Switzerland, also accessible from the Italian side at Cervinia. Zermatt and Hintertux have the most terrain open – about 23km of slopes each. Italy's Passo Stelvio is also now open reporting about 5km of runs there. There's been more snowfall this week with Hintertux reporting 20cm in 24 hours above 2500m, on Monday. Scandinavia Sunny spells, rain, sleet and snow showers in Scandinavia this week with Fonna and Stryn continuing to post the world's deepest bases at around 6 and 5 metres, respectively. Fonna reported at the weekend that it has had over a metre of snowfall in the first week or so of June. Despite the snow lying and fresh snowfall, Stryn says poor winter conditions ahead of the season are leading it to close after a four-week 2024 season (similar to previous recent years) this coming weekend. The other open ski area in Norway is Scandinavia's highest at Galdhopiggen. North America There are two centres still open since last autumn in North America, but one of them, Colorado's Arapahoe Basin says this Friday to Sunday weekend opening will be its final one of a nearly 8 month ski season. That will leave just Timberline on Mount Hood in Oregon which has skiing on its Palmer permanent snowfield and terrain park features. The weather in the west has been mostly sunny with temperatures climbing up into the 60s Fahrenheit. |
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Portillo, Chile, where the 2024 season has started with some great early snow. Chile is just about fully open, Argentina following. Australia and New Zealand are about to open... and it's still snowing in Europe! The Snow Headlines - June 6th - Hintertux issues powder alarm after over 20cm in 24 hours on last day of spring. - Australia's ski season starts this weekend. - Italy's Passo Stelvio summer ski centre opens for 2024 season. - Arizona ski area opens in June for the first time. - Most ski areas in Chile open three weeks ahead of expected season start. - Southern Africa's 2024 season officially underway but ski run appears incomplete. - Last ski area open on US East Coast ends its 23-24 season on June 1st. - Brief, limited skiing starts New Zealand's 2024 season, kind of. 
Big snow forecast for South America
World Overview It's wintertime in the southern hemisphere and summertime in the northern, at least by the meteorological measure of the seasons. Unsurprisingly that means that ski areas have started opening in the southern hemisphere and almost all have closed in the northern. There are some surprises though; firstly, almost all ski areas are open already in Chile three weeks ahead of schedule as there's been so much early snowfall. June has also begun with 'mid-winter' snow conditions on glaciers in the Alps after a powder alarm for snowfall on the last day of May. The 2024 season has also got underway, just about, in Southern Africa and New Zealand - although with very limited terrain openings there. Southern Hemisphere Australia Australia's season is just about here and it currently looks like there'll be some terrain skiable in most of the country's ski areas, almost all of which will open this Saturday for the long 'King's birthday weekend' with a public holiday on Monday in most states. It's not been the ideal build-up to the start of winter, as warm daytime temps have thwarted the limited snowmaking opportunities overnight and there's not been much of the natural stuff. But the start of this week has brought frosts and light snowfall (Perisher reported 10cm on Monday) as well as increased snowmaking opportunities, so we now wait to see what centres are able to offer on Saturday morning. So far Mount Baw Baw have said they'll have some nursery slopes open thanks to their all-weather snowmaking machine, but Selwyn say they won't have anything open. Perisher has said probably beginner terrain only there. New Zealand New Zealand's ski season is due to begin in just over a week on the Saturday after next with Mount Hutt, Coronet Peak, Cardrona and The Remarkables all set to open on the South Island. Whakapapa on the North Island opened a very small amount of ski terrain on Saturday within its Happy Valley area which has all-weather snowmaking. It was for those with their own equipment only but by Sunday warm temperatures and rain were blamed for it closing again. Conditions aren't looking ideal as the season nears with rather warm daytime highs persisting so it remains to be seen how much terrain is open for day one at the end of next week. Argentina Argentinian ski areas have not opened en-masse like those of Chile, despite seeing similar excellent May snowfall. However the country and continent's largest by uplift, Catedral near Bariloche, which was the first in the southern hemisphere to open some limited terrain for a few days in mid-May, says it will open for the main season (a fortnight early) from this coming weekend. After the huge May snowfalls, the weather has been a little less favourable this week with warmer temperatures and some rain - but it's now getting colder and snowier and down in the south Cerro Castor, one of the world's newer resorts celebrating its 25th season this winter, is seeing temperatures in the -5 to -20C range already. Chile Chile has got a jump on the 2024 season with almost all of the country's ski areas opening early last weekend. The move follows a cold and very snowy May, with some centres seeing up to 1.8m (6 feet) of snowfall in the final week of last month alone. Portillo and Valle Nevado were among the centres opening three weeks earlier than planned for the season, although most are only opening at weekends until the main season starts in a fortnight. A few ski areas are open every day already, including Lagunillas, Corralco and El Colorado, the latter posting the most terrain open anywhere in the world at the start of June - more than 45Km/25 miles of runs and about and about 80% of its terrain already. Portillo, which reopens Friday-Sunday, has the deepest snow in the region at 1.4m. The past week hasn't been so snowy, but there have been light showers among the sunny spells and it's looking similar for the week ahead. Southern Africa Lesotho's Afriski officially began its season on Saturday, June 1st, but although social media promo images showed skiers on snow, the webcam images initially showed piles of unconnected machine-made snow, so it looked like the ski run hasn't been completed yet. It is starting to look promising though with a light covering of snow on Sunday (which had gone on Monday), then more snowfall on Tuesday giving a much whiter picture. That's coupled with a drop in temperatures allowing snowmaking to work more effectively. Europe The Alps It's now down to four glaciers open in the Alps, with Austria's Kitzsteinhorn closing on Sunday after an 8 month season. Italy's summer ski centre Passo Stelvio had been due to open at the weekend which should have taken the total briefly to six, but it had to delay doing so until this Thursday, June 6th, due to continuing snowfalls and high avalanche danger above the pass road. Actually, the latest snowfall on the last day of spring last Friday was quite dramatic; the Hintertux glacier, one of the four that is still open, issued a powder alarm for over 20cm of snow in 24 hours and resorts like Livigno, long closed for the season, saw their resort streets turn white with snowfall as low as 1800m. Otherwise, temperatures have been as high as 25C in valleys although remaining close to freezing with snow showers (and some low visibility associated with them) at 3,000m. Les 2 Alpes in France has limited terrain open to the skiing public on its glacier too, but most of it is reserved for team training. The Molltal glacier in Austria's Carinthia province is in the final week of its 23-24 season and the year-round Matterhorn glacier paradise above Zermatt, also accessible from Cervinia over the border, also remains open. It and Hintertux have about the most terrain on offer, around 25km each. Scandinavia There are three glaciers open in Norway, placing it first in Europe and second in the world in terms of number of centres open right now. What's more, Stryn is posting the deepest snowpack on the planet at present at 6 metres (20 feet). Fonna is down to 5 metres, (joint second with Hintertux). Scandinavia's highest lift-served slopes at Galdhopiggen are also open. It's been a mostly sunny week but with strong winds as well as rain/sleet/snow showers at times and the week ahead looks similar. Temperatures are down to freezing overnight but climbing up towards double figures in the afternoons at Fonna and Stryn. North America We're down to two centres still open in North America. Colorado's Arapahoe Basin is open this Friday to Sunday and re-opening for a final weekend up to the 16th too. Oregon's Timberline also remains open. Two others made it into June; Killington with just about enough snow cover to maintain its Superstar trail and, for the first time ever, The Snowbowl in Arizona opened on June 1st with skiers and riders enjoying the slush in Hawaiian shirts. For the two still-open areas, it's mostly sunny weather in the forecast, with overnight lows still getting down near freezing, and daytime highs up around the 50s Fahrenheit, so the thaw continues. |
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Hintertux glacier, Austria, open year-round and one of a few northern hemisphere ski areas still open. Chile opens early, thanks to some big snowfall, with more expected in South America. Australia and New Zealand will open in a couple of weeks. The Snow Headlines - May 30th - Most Chilean ski areas open 3 weeks early after (another) 1m+ of snowfall. - South Africa's 2024 ski season is due to get underway on Saturday. - All three of Norway's glacier areas open, Sweden's Riksgransen ends 2024 season. - Australia's ski season due to begin at the end of next week. - Italy's Passo Stelvio delays season start this weekend due to snowpack issues. - Arizona ski area open into June for first time ever on Saturday. 
Snow forecast for Argentina 
Chile expecting snow too
World Overview It's the start of meteorological winter in the southern hemisphere and it's looking like a very good start to the 2024 ski season in South America at least, where more than half a dozen Chilean and Argentinian ski areas have already opened (or will do this weekend) 3-5 weeks earlier than planned due to huge May snowfalls and low temperatures. The first resorts due to kick off Australia and New Zealand's 2024 ski seasons are 1-2 weeks from opening and hoping for colder weather and more snowfall. The first (and currently only) southern African ski area, Leostho's Afriski, is also due to open from June 1st, thanks to snowmaking in its case. Meteorological summertime in the northern hemisphere means only about a dozen resorts remain open in Asia, Europe and North America with one centre ending its season but two others opening for summer skiing in Europe, we'll actually have one more option than we did seven days ago. In the US, a lot of big-name resorts closed last Monday after the Memorial Day public holiday and only four centres remain open to start June there. Southern Hemisphere Australia The Australian ski season is set to start in just over a week, for the King's Birthday long weekend which begins a week on Saturday. So far, unfortunately, after a few moderate snowfalls in mid-April and then mid-May, it's been mostly dry and sunny for the past few weeks and, in the daytime, rather warm, generally reaching +10 to +12C. Ski centres have been making snow when they can when lows get a few degrees below freezing overnight, but it looks like the season will start with not a lot open at most resorts and possibly nothing at all at some. New Zealand New Zealand ski areas have seen a full autumn mix of weather, with snow showers, some frosty blue sky days and some warmer, wetter spells. It's still a fortnight until the first are expected to open for the 2024 season and the current forecast is looking fairly promising. That is for temperatures gradually falling to a -4 to +6C range and more rain, sleet and snow showers incoming. Argentina Despite getting the bigger snowfalls in the first half of May, and the continent's largest ski area by uplift being the first centre in the southern hemisphere to get its lifts turning in the middle of the month, for a few days at least, Argentinian ski areas have not emulated their Chilean counterparts in opening early. The weather has been mixed over the last seven days with sunny spells, some snow showers and temperatures in the -5 to +5C range. The week ahead looks similar although down at Cerro Castor in the south highs will be a few degrees below freezing, with lows around -15C. Chile More ski areas in Chile have opened after snowfall totals reached 1.8 metres (six feet) or more by last weekend, on top of the heavy snowfalls earlier in the month. The main season does not really begin for three more weeks but with so much snow lying it makes sense for more to open and La Parva, Valle Nevado, Portillo and El Colorado are among the new centres opening this weekend joining already open Corralco, Nevados de Chillan, Villarrica and Antillanca (some of these are only open at weekends). The weather has been less dramatic over the past week and should be quieter next week too, with temperatures typically in the -5 to +5C range and some snow forecast. Southern Africa Afriski is due to open this weekend, the first in the southern hemisphere to open on its official opening day for 2024, assuming it does. It's not yet clear though how much, if any snow will be waiting for arrivals but webcams have been showing snowmaking underway this week. Daytime temperatures have been climbing above +10C but overnight lows have been down to -5C allowing systems to work. Europe The Alps At the time of writing, the expected increase from five to six glacier ski areas open in the Alps this weekend, has had a setback with the Italian ski area of Passo Stelvio saying it won't now open until next Thursday 6th with preparation work delayed by excess snow needing to be stabilised. The resulting high avalanche danger delayed slope preparations and the road over the pass being cleared. At least one of the resort's base hotels is delaying opening to June 9th. But next Thursday, all being well, it'll join year-round Hintertux and Zermatt (also accessible from the Italian side at Cervinia), Les 2 Alpes in France which is planning to stay open through June, and two more Austrian glaciers, the Kitzsteinhorn and Molltal, both into the final weeks now of their very long 23-24 seasons which began 7-8 months ago. As to the weather, temperatures on glaciers at 3,000m have mostly been in to -5C to +2C range with regular light-moderate snow showers between sunny spells. Much warmer 2000m below in valleys, as high as +20-25C in the afternoons down there. Scandinavia All three of Norway's summer glacier areas are now open with Stryn joining already open Fonna and Galdhoppigen at the weekend. Stryn opened a week earlier than usual, saying it expects it will be a short season as warm temperatures are melting the snow cover fast, but it still has the second deepest snow in the world, at 6 metres, half that of its fellow Norwegian area, Fonna. The week ahead will see temperatures largely in the +2 to +12C range. The only centre that had still been open in Sweden, Riksgransen, ended its 2024 season last weekend but currently plans to reopen for a few days of midsummer skiing in late June. North America More than half of the nine US ski areas that were open a week ago ended their seasons after the Memorial Day holiday on Monday. Four are still open, but that number looks set to halve again after this weekend and only Colorado's Arapahoe Basin and Timberline in Oregon look likely to stay open later into June. This weekend though there's a historic first-ever June opening of the Arizona Snowbowl (on Saturday, June 1st only), and Killington in Vermont also looks like it will make it into June. It's no surprise that on the whole things are getting ever warmer, with temperatures reaching the 50s (Fahrenheit) in the afternoon even on some of the highest slopes in the US. There has though, been some cold weather and fresh snow in the northwest in states like Montana and provinces including BC, where Whistler posted 20cm last weekend. Unfortunately everywhere is closed though. |
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Mount Hutt, New Zealand, with three weeks until the season opens there... Southern hemisphere starts early, with snow for soon-to-be-open resorts in Australia and NZ. Northern hemisphere summer ski areas looking good, with above average snow. The Snow Headlines - May 23rd - Season underway in Chile - three centres open. - Last three areas in Canada end their 23-24 seasons. - Snowfall and cold weather in Australia; just over a fortnight to 2024 season. - Two more alpine glaciers end season in the Alps leaving five still open. - Fresh snowfall ahead of 2024 season start (3 weeks away) in New Zealand. - Norway's Fonna glacier opens posting 13.6m base. - High avalanche danger cancels Giro D'Italia through Passo Stelvio. - Arizona (Snowbowl) ski area opening into June for first time. - Final week of the season for Riksgransen in Swedish Arctic Circle. - Norwegian glacier ski area opens early for 2024 season, this Saturday. 
Snow forecast for European glaciers
World Overview The southern hemisphere's 2024 seasons seem to be properly started, 2-5 weeks early, with four South American ski centres open at the weekend. Another big snowstorm has hit the region. It's also been cold and snowy in Australia, where the season is due to start in a fortnight and snowmaking is underway. New Zealand ski areas got an amber-level snow warning and a good dump to start the week too, the first centres are due to open in three weeks there. The first official on-time opening is supposed to be a week on Saturday At Lesotho's Afriski, fully reopening for the first time since 2022, who says they're all ready to go, thanks to snowmaking, although conditions currently look marginal? In the northern hemisphere, half a dozen more ski areas in North America have ended their 23-24 seasons, including all three Canadian resorts. Most of the rest plan to close after the Memorial Day holiday next Monday, but an Arizona ski area plans to stay open into June, just, for the first time. In Europe, two glaciers closed in the Alps but one opened in Scandinavia with a second due to join it on Saturday. Last weekend's was the Fonna ski centre which has opened posting the world's thickest snow cover at over 13 metres (40 feet) on its higher runs. By contrast the Stryn glacier will open early, this weekend, as it says its snow cover is melting fast and skiers should get there whilst they can. Europe The Alps The Stubai and Kaunertal glaciers ended their 23-24 seasons – which began in early autumn last year and lasted more than 7 months! – last weekend. There are five glaciers still open in the Alps now – with Austria still dominating with the Hintertux, Molltal and Kitzsteinhorn still going. Hintertux has the most terrain still open – about 40km/25 miles of slopes. You can also ski the Matterhorn glacier paradise above Zermatt with year-round access from Cervinia too and Les 2 Alpes has its glacier area open, mostly for team training but with a few runs and terrain park features open to all. All five glaciers are open at least into June and their number will grow by one at the end of next week when Italy's Passo Stelvio is due to begin its 2024 season, lasting until November. It reports deep snow lying, so much so that the famous Giro D'Italia cycle race has been diverted away from the pass this winter as the snow volumes and spring warming mean there's a high avalanche risk. It's unclear as yet if this will impact the ski area's opening plans. The weather and the forecast in the Alps have been good for late-spring skiers. Temperatures have stuck close to freezing and along with plenty of sunshine, there have been snow showers refreshing cover and maintaining the current healthy depths. Scandinavia The Fonna glacier in Norway has officially started its season, claiming a snow depth of more than 13 metres which will hopefully see it through spring and summer. It joins the already-open Galdhopiggen glacier. The third Scandi option is Sweden's Riksgransen, up in the Arctic Circle, which is in its final week of its 2024 run. There's currently 24-hour daylight in its northerly location and skiing and boarding under the midnight sun is an option offered. It plans to re-open in just over a month for a few days of skiing and riding at Midsummer in late June, but its base has now dropped below 90cm (three feet) so at the current rate of thaw that might be a challenge. Norway's other summer glacier area, Stryn, has brought forward its 2024 season opening from June 1st to this Saturday 25th May warning the snow is melting fast and that it will be a short season. North America Freeze-thaw has continued for most of the North American ski areas still open (with thaw winning in most cases and temperatures climbing into the teens Celsius, most posting the best conditions between 7 and 11 am. The number open has dropped down to single figures after all three still-open Canadian areas ended their seasons last weekend. Banff's Sunshine was last, having had nearly a foot of fresh snowfall on its closing weekend. Whistler Blackcomb is now also closed until late November and the start of the 24-25 season; now having ruled out its usual Blackcomb glacier summer skiing/riding after a poor snowfall winter. Of the nine ski areas still open in Arizona, California, Colorado, Oregon and Utah most have been aiming to stay open to the coming Memorial Day long-weekend with Mount Bachelor, The Palisades, Mammoth, Winter Park and Snowbird making it clear this weekend will be their last of 23-24. Others, including Arapahoe Basin and Timberline, have confirmed they'll stay open into June. The surprise news is that the Arizona Snowbowl has announced its latest ever opening, Saturday June 1st. On the East Coast, Killington's long Superstar run is the only ski slope still open, and with the golf courses open in the valley the resort is pushing ski and golf days. Southern Hemisphere Australia There was excitement in Australia last weekend as snow started falling and temperatures dropped low enough for snowmaking to get underway at most of the country's major centres. Perisher posted 10-15cm accumulations through the weekend, while Mount Buller had their Bourke St main slope covered, thanks in part to their five all-weather snowmaking machines which had already fired up ahead of the temperature drop. Most Aussie areas are due to open in a fortnight for the King's Birthday long weekend so will be hoping the recent low temperatures and snow showers continue from now on. However, it is currently still rather marginal with sunshine back and temperatures ranging between -3 and +12C. New Zealand After some rather warm temperatures, cold weather and fresh snowfall moving up from the south at the start of this week increased anticipation for the start of the 2024 season in New Zealand this week. The first centres are expected to open in just three weeks. Argentina Argentina's Catedral opened limited terrain for locals the weekend before last after huge early-May snowfalls. It has stayed cold and there have been more big snowfalls this week on Argentinian ski slopes but so far Catedral has not opened again and it looks like other Argentinian areas don't yet have plans to open before the planned season start around June 20th, despite the deep early snow covering. Chile Three ski areas opened in Chile at the weekend; Corralco, Nevados de Chillan and Antillanca, all opening more than a month earlier than planned following some big autumn snowfalls, which have continued over the last few days with more big accumulations. It's currently unclear if all three will stay open through to the main season start in the latter half of June. So far Antillanca has confirmed it intends to reopen at weekends until then, conditions permitting. Southern Africa It's continued dry and sunny in southern Africa this week, but hopefully, overnight lows over the coming week will allow Lesotho's Afriski to open as planned in just over a week on June 1st. Although ski areas are already open in South America this will actually be the first scheduled opening of 2024 in the southern hemisphere, those others having opened early. It'll also be Afriski's first full opening in two years after its main run remained closed in 2023. |
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