J2Ski Snow Report - May 7th 2026

Thu, 7 May 2026 18:49:51 GMT

Kitzsteinhorn, Kaprun, Austria, open until the 25th May...

Northern Hemisphere ski season effectively done with fewer than 30 ski areas still operating across approximately 10 countries, primarily in North America and the Alps. Meanwhile, the Southern Hemisphere is preparing for its late-May season start with fresh snowfall reported in the Andes, Australia and southern Africa.

The Snow Headlines - May 7th
- Final ski areas still operating in Germany, Slovakia, Spain and Scotland end seasons.
- Heavy snowfall in the Rockies, but most ski areas already closed.
- First snowfall of autumn on ski slopes of southern Africa.
- 20 centimetres/8 inches of snowfall reported on French glaciers as most close for 2025-26 snowsports.
- Dusting of snowfall in Australia with 2026 season start less than a month away.
- Banff's Sunshine one of 3 Canadian centres still open and nearing 10 metres/33 feet 2025-26 snowfall total.
- More snowfall in the Andes as 2026 southern hemisphere season gets closer.

Most ski areas now closed, but there's Snow forecast for the Alps, America and Japan.

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World Overview
The Northern Hemisphere's 2025-26 ski season is effectively over and we are into summer ski conditions. There are fewer than 30 ski areas still operating across about 10 countries on three continents. North America has the widest choice, with around 15 centres open from coast to coast, while Austria leads Europe, where about a dozen centres remain open in the Alps and Scandinavia, thanks to its high-altitude glacier terrain.

Japan's season ended for most areas that had still been operating after the country's Golden Week, leaving only Shiga Kogen and Gassan still operating.

Alpine glaciers in Europe have posted up to 60 centimetres/24 inches this week whilst Colorado's high ski slopes saw similar - ironically one of the biggest falls of the season after almost all areas had closed.

As temperatures rise north of the equator, the Southern Hemisphere is cooling rapidly ahead of its late-May season start, with fresh snowfall reported in the Andes over the past few days and a dusting of snowfall in Australia on Thursday morning with Lesotho's Afriski in Southern Africa also reporting snowfall, its first of the autumn. One New Zealand area even operated briefly during an early-season snowfall last month.

The last resorts still operating in Germany, Spain and Slovakia closed at the weekend. Scotland's Cairngorm briefly indicated it might continue day-by-day with colder weather forecast, but reversed course and ended its long 2025-26 season at the end of the May Day bank holiday.

Europe
The Alps

The Alps is down to around seven ski areas still operating after roughly two-thirds of those that had still been operating at the start of May closed on Sunday 3 May. The final centres in Germany, Scotland and Spain have now ended their seasons, leaving only glacier resorts in the main Alpine nations still running.

Austria has the broadest choice still open with The Stubai near Innsbruck scheduled to run to 17 May; Kaunertal and Kitzsteinhorn to the end of the month; and Hintertux into July. It has the most terrain open in Europe now, 42 kilometres/26 miles of slopes, as well as the deepest reported snowpack at just over 3 metres/10 feet.

France is down to Les 2 Alpes, which reported 60 centimetres/24 inches of fresh snowfall on its glacier over the first half of the week.

Italy still has Cervinia and Val Senales operating, although the latter closes after this weekend. Switzerland has only Zermatt still operating, offering year-round glacier skiing up to almost 3,900 metres/12,795 feet.

Most regions have seen a sunny week with freezing levels between 2,000 and 3,000 metres/6,562 to 9,843 feet, light glacier snow showers and rain lower down. As May progresses mild, increasingly settled spring weather is expected, with limited snowfall, rising temperatures and mostly dry conditions into the weekend.

Scandinavia

Scandinavia's coolest mid-spring temperatures have not stopped most major Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish resorts from closing after the first weekend of May.

Ruka wrapped up a seven-month season, leaving Finland's largest resort Levi and its manmade 'glacier' slope the last one still open but it will follow this Sunday.

Sweden's Arctic Circle centre, Riksgransen remains open with 24-hour daylight and occasional midnight-sun skiing.

Norway's areas have now shut, although with the Galdhopiggen glacier opening for summer this weekend.

Conditions have been mostly sunny in the far north, with -6 oC overnight highs up top and +8 oC at bases. Lapland has seen 5-10 centimetres/2 to 4 inches of new snow, with mixed rain-snow showers easing into cooler, steadier weather.

North America
Canada

Canada is down to three operating ski areas: Whistler on the Pacific Coast, Banff Sunshine in Alberta, now near a seasonal snowfall record of about 10 metres/33 feet and Quebec's Sommet Saint-Sauveur running a weekend snowpark. All aim to stay open another two weeks.

Western conditions are warm and bright, with freezing nights up high but afternoon temperatures climbing above 10 oC and into the 20s at base. Sunshine stays cooler, with teens by day and occasional late-week showers.

In Quebec, Saint-Sauveur is seeing more unsettled weather, with light rain, cloud and low-to-mid-teens temperatures gradually stabilising toward the weekend.

USA

The US approaches mid-May with around a dozen ski areas still operating, despite increasingly warm, sunny weather in most areas and rising wildfire risk.

Open lift-served terrain still stretches from coast to coast, including centres open in the Midwest and Rockies as well as on the East and West Coasts.

Colorado, which ironically saw heavy snowfall this week with up to 90 centimetres/3 feet reported at already closed ski areas - the biggest falls all season in fact for most - appeared set for one of its earliest season endings in decades.

However, Arapahoe Basin reversed its May 3 season-end decision after more than 30 centimetres/12 inches of new snow last week (then more in the last few days), announcing a Friday-Sunday reopening this coming weekend.

Utah's Brighton and Snowbird have also both extended their seasons to Sunday, 10 May.

On the West Coast, California's Palisades Tahoe and Mammoth Mountain continue, with Mammoth still offering over a third of its terrain.

Washington's Crystal Mountain still has roughly half its runs open, and Oregon's Timberline is also still open.

Warm, dry, spring weather dominates the Pacific states, with freezing levels above 10,000 feet and daytime highs in the 50s-60s oF. Surfaces shift quickly to soft conditions each morning.

On the East Coast and in the Midwest just five centres remain open after further closures, including Sugarbush's brief May reopening. Vermont's Killington and Jay Peak continue with 5-10 per cent of higher terrain still operating. New Hampshire's Black Mountain and Pennsylvania's Camelback operate on limited weekend schedules. In the Midwest, Michigan's Boyne Mountain is the final holdout.

Mild, mostly dry weather prevails, with highs in the 50s-70s oF accelerating snowmelt and leaving patchy late-season cover.

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