Val Thorens has just announced it won't be open this weekend for a planned pre-main-opening weekend from November 17th.
"The particularly anticyclonic weather does not allow us to open the resort and its ski area," a statement released by the resort a few minutes ago notes, adding, "The motivated teams of Val Thorens took the decision to focus on the Grand Premiere on November the 24th and 25th."
Val Thorens and Chamonix had both been due to open some terrain for the first time this autumn next weekend, joining Tignes and the less well known resort of Porte Puymorens in the French Pyrenees which opened for the first time last weekend.
Tignes delayed opening, planned for the end of September until mid-October due to unfavourable weather conditions, and Les 2 Alpes cancelled a planned late October glacier snowsports week for the second year in a row for the same reason. However there was significant snowfall on French mountains in late October and again in early November. The picture top was taken on 30th October.
"Currently the snow cover at 2700m is satisfactory but does not allow a return to the resort on skis. All the teams are ready to prepare the ski area as soon as the conditions are good," the statement continues, concluding, "Packages and accommodation previously purchased for November the 17th can be refunded or postponed to the weekend of November 24th."
There's no news of any plan to delay opening from Chamonix as yet.