(The Dolomites this morning)
The Dolomites are seeing big snowfalls at present – the first really significant snowfalls of the season in the North Eastern Italian mountains.
Accumulations reported in the last 24 hours include 28cm (11 inches) at Arabba and 40cm (16 inches) in Cortina. Alta Badia posted 20cm (8 inches) and Canazei 30cm (a foot).
These snowfalls come on top of falls of 10-30cm reported on Sunday/Monday meaning some areas have now had up tpo 70cm in the past few days – more than most have seen all season.
Dolomiti Superski had managed to open large amounts of terrain, and stage World Cup races in December, thanks to its huge snowmaking system, but the area has seen very little natural snowfall all season, with just one moderate fall in mid-January of 10-20cm.
The region has now been transformed by the fresh snow which is expected to continue in to next week with some forecasts suggesting some resorts may get another metre of cover.