J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by J2SkiNews

Avoriaz and Tignes are posting the snow lying 3m (10 feet) deep on the highest slopes this morning, the deepest reported in two months.

The increased snow depth follows the first part of a major storm, which has seen resorts report up to 60cm (2 feet) of fresh snowfall in the past 48 hours, with much more to follow over the weekend.

The most intense snowfall is forecast over the north-western Alps of France, Italy and Switzerland with up to a metre more expected on higher slopes over the coming 48 hours. Most other parts of the Alps should see significant snowfall, but not quite so much.

The snowfall is arriving with strong wind gusts and higher lifts at many French areas are reportedly currently closed as a safety precaution.

Avalanche danger has also been raised to level 3 ("considerable") so far across a wide area and may rise further.

Unfortunately rain has been reported at some lower resorts and valley slopes with the snowline varying between about 1200m and 1800m. Zermatt at 1600m, reported 5cm of snowfall at resort level this morning but lower resorts like Kitzbuhel have reported rain in valleys.

What may turn out to be the biggest snowfall of the season so far is underway in the Alps.

Recent weeks has seen rapid changes in forecasts up to just hours before the forecast weather is due to arrive, but after several false dawns, snow is already falling and it doers appear this time we may be getting the big falls forecast over the next 72 hours.

Forecasts are for widespread snowfall, heaviest in the northwestern Alps of France and Switzerland. Here some high slopes could see a metre of snowfall by the end of the weekend and potentially double that by the end of next week.

Snow has already started falling, La Plagne has posted 25cm of fresh in the past 24 hours up high, taking its glacier base to 2 metres. However down in the valley the base has dropped a few centimetres due to thawing. Alpe d'Huez posted 20cm in the same period, Saas Fee 15cm.

The altitude of ski slopes will be a big factor over the next few days with the freezing point varying between 1200m and 2000m altitude. The concern is the heavy snow will be heavy rain below that line.

So while bases could be significantly boosted with some of the biggest falls of the winter to date above about 1800m, lower slopes already dealing with thin cover may have issues maintaining snow cover if the heavy rain has a major impact.

All will become clearer through the weekend. Those travelling to and from the Alps this weekend should be aware of possible weather disruption – a rarity this season.

The Zillertal Arena in Austria is pictured this morning (Thursday 9 March)

While much of Europe and indeed a chunk of the US East has suffered above average temperatures and below average snowfalls this winter, large parts of Western North America has seen some incredible snowfalls, and they just keep coming.

After seven day totals of up to 14 feet reported last week, ski areas in California have posted another 3-4 feet (90-120cm) to start this week. Along with the snow there have been gale force winds at times, and the combination of snow volume, low visibility and violent winds led to many areas closing for periods.

Mammoth, which has the deepest base in the world,. Now approaching 8 metres, suffered power outages, with Heavenly, which has had nearly 500 inches (12.5 metres) of snowfall this season closed due to access roads and lifts being buried. Palisades Tahoe meanwhile have hit the 575" snowfall total mark for the season.

As ski centres dig out and gradually reopen once more they're urging skiers and boarders to beware of avalanche danger ad keep on officially 'open' terrain and to be very cautious around trees due to the severe tree well danger.

The snowfall also continues to be heavy in the Rockies, with a number of resorts in Utah past the 500" mark seasonal snowfall total already. Brighton tops the US snowfall total table with 584" season to date. The largest ski area in the US, Park City, has extended its season by a fortnight Sunday, April 23, 2023 in response to the deep snowpack and great conditions.

There's been a brief lull the last few days but another huge storm expected to bring a further 4-8 feet of snowfall is expected to arrive from Thursday.

China Peak in California pictured top this week.

Wondering if there'll be a premium priced, collector's edition, special edition bar that does still have the Matterhorn on it...

Mount Norquay ski areas near Banff says it has become the first ski resort in Canada to be powered entirely by 100% renewable power.

The ski centre has partnered with Bullfrog Power which it describes as "Canada's leading green energy provider" to receive energy generated from a blend of wind and low-impact hydro power from new, Canadian renewable energy facilities.

While many Canadian ski areas are powered by hydro-electricity and some have invested in on-site hydro like Whistler's Fitzsimmons creek plant, Norquaty say they're the first in the country to have everything from keeping the resort's chair lifts moving, to lighting up its day lodges green energy powered.

Mt Norquay is a few years off its centenary and has a '100 Vision' plan for significant upgrades to make the resort more accessible and environmentally and economically sustainable.

The plans include replacing its chairlift built in 1946 with a two-station gondola, expanding and restoring Cliff House restaurant, creating a wheelchair accessible via ferrata route, and enhancing its shuttle system to better manage traffic on the Norquay access road through the Cascade Wildlife Corridor.

A large indoor snow centre has opened as part of a huge new mall in Wuhan, Hubei Province, Central China. Dubbed "the first urban centre indoor ski resort in central China" the 'Wushangmeng Era Hot Snow Miracle' is a four-season ice and snow era located on the 8th floor of the mall which, although its ground footprint is 102,500 square meters, has a total floor area of 800,000 square metres of development space thanks to its multi-storey nature.

The centre is the seventh indoor ski resort to be created by the Sunac group, now using the brand name 'Hot Snow Miracle' for their centres. They include the world's current three largest, all opened within the last six years.

The vast mall project where the snow centre is located, known as Wushang Dream Times Square, is China's biggest yet with over 1,000 shops and conceived at least as far back as 2017 is home to many other leisure attractions and has a price tag of 12 billion Yuan (€1.6 billion). Some reports claim it is the world's new largest mall. It has nine floors, four of them underground.

It's currently unclear exactly how big WS Hot Snow Miracle is but it is reported that there are beginner and intermediate ski trails.

Zhu Xiaoyan, head of WS Hot Snow Miracle Market, told local media that the project incorporates a Hot Snow Miracle Training Center, competitions, camps, and membership services, and provides systematic advanced skiing courses, professional skiing events and youth camps.

The centre's themes include Swiss Snow Mountain, Fairytale Snow Kingdom, Dream Ice Workshop, and Finnish Holiday Street. Besides skiing there are ice and snow entertainments including ice slides, ice mazes and tubing.

The wider mall also incorporates an indoor theme park with more than 20 rides and attractions including "sightseeing film and television special effects roller coasters, sightseeing towers, pirate ships, small pendulums, and 7D cinemas" and there'll also be a science and technology museum.

Wuhan Dream Times Square is located in Wuguo living area, Wuchang, with Shipailing Road in the east, Baotongsi Road in the west, Wuluo Road in the north, Ziyang East Road in the south, and is connected to Bairuijing Community.

"The Chinese dream on snow miracles is happening," said Lu Peng, Executive President of Sunac China and President of Sunac Cultural Tourism Group, adding, "Sunac Cultural Tourism will continue to empower the WS Hot Snow Miracle with its own advantages in multi-business operation, and is committed to bringing four season ice and snow to the people of Wuhan and the whole country."

The latest super storm to hit North America's Pacific Coast in a winter that has seen regular huge storms over the past three months is probably the biggest one yet.

Resorts along the coast have reported massive accumulations with many sating they've had over 100 inches (2.5 metres) of snowfall in the last seven days. The Palisades reported 146 inches or 3.7 metres taking its total seasonal accumulation to a new record total to the end of February for the past 53 years.

Mammoth Mountain has reached a 762cm base at the top of the slopes.

Despite all the snowfall causing practical and safety issues digging out access roads and lifts, many resorts have managed to keep operating, often with delayed starts and limited terrain made safe enough to open.

However some centres are staying closed while they dig out, including China Peak (pictured top) which posted,

"We are going to need a lot of shovel power. We have received 10-12 feet since this storm started, and now need to figure out the most efficient way to dig out the resort! The forecast starting Thursday through the weekend is much calmer weather, so we are hoping to open this weekend."

While some parts of the north-western US have reported over four feet of fresh snowfall in the past week and most major ski areas from coast to coast are currently being dumped on, the country's southeast has experienced two consecutive weeks of record warm temperatures, far above the seasonal norms for February.

Ski areas have been battling to stay open but it's a losing battle for many, including Wintergreen in Virginia.

"In spite of a valiant effort to keep the ski season going by making snow at every opportunity, we've made the difficult decision to conclude the 2022-23 winter season this Sunday, February 26 at 5pm," a resort spokesperson said, adding, "We would like to thank our Season Passholders, Members, Homeowners, and all Wintergreen Resort Guests for skiing and riding with us this winter, and we look forward to kicking off another ski season next December."

Across the southern US in Arizona, Sunrise Park was forced to close for several days last week as too much snowfall buried access roads and lifts.