J2Ski Snow Report - October 1st 2026

Thu, 1 Oct 2026 19:58:53 GMT

Pitztal Glacier, the latest to open in Austria for this winter

Northern Hemisphere ski areas are gradually opening, led by Austrian and Italian glaciers and Scandinavia's snow-farmed pistes, while most Southern Hemisphere resorts are winding down their 2026 seasons.

The Snow Headlines - October 1st
- Finland's 26-27 season starts at Levi and Ruka thanks to snowfarming.
- Pitztal becomes the first Austrian glacier resort to open for the 26-27 season.
- More snowfall in Western Canada and the north-western US.
- Most ski areas in Argentina end their seasons, but Catedral, the largest, continues.

As we switch our focus to the Northern Hemisphere there's a little snow forecast for the high Alps!

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World Overview

As we move into October, the number of Southern Hemisphere centres still open for their 2026 season is diminishing, whilst the number open in Europe and North America is growing and is expected to hit double figures this weekend, despite still mild temperatures in the Alps.

In the Southern Hemisphere, New Zealand's ski season is pushing into spring with another burst of snowfall, delivering fresh turns for early-week visitors and even giving Treble Cone a powder-day send-off as it closed for 2026. It's the first of the country's headline resorts to wrap up, and more will follow over the next few weekends.

Across the Pacific, Argentina's season is also winding down. Las Lenas has closed after a late extension, and most other centres have already finished.

Chile remains in a snowy pattern, despite an advancing spring. Portillo has pushed past the 10 metres/33 feet seasonal milestone, while several areas have closed or will end their seasons shortly. Others, including Valle Nevado and Corralco, plan to stay open into mid-month.

In the Northern Hemisphere, Pitztal became Austria's latest glacier to open, joining Italy's Passo Stelvio and Val Senales. Coverage and open terrain is fairly minimal at all three, but momentum may build with Saas-Fee, Hintertux, Kaunertal and Zermatt all signalling possible openings. Warm air continues to dominate, but further east and north, snowfall has been reported on Carpathian peaks at much lower altitudes than the Alpine glaciers.

Further north, Scandinavia is gearing up for its first turns of the winter. Levi and Ruka are spreading vast snow reserves to create early-season pistes, while Norway's Galdhopiggen glacier is currently open but strictly for race teams.

In North America, October's familiar pattern has begun: high-elevation snow in Alberta, BC, Oregon, the Rockies and as far south as Arizona and California, snowmaking countdowns in Colorado, all-weather snowmaking on the East Coast and so on. But for now, there's nowhere actually open, unless you head indoors to Big Snow in New Jersey.

Southern Hemisphere

New Zealand
We're getting deeper into spring, but snow has continued to fall across New Zealand's ski fields, with 10 cm to 30 cm/4 to 12 inches early-week falls and Treble Cone signing off its season with a powder day on Monday. It's the first major resort to close, with others set to wrap up over the next three or four weekends, starting with Coronet Peak on Sunday.

Clear spells followed the snowfall, but spring warmth is now causing some thawing.

Cardrona remains fully open with nearly three weeks left, while Mount Hutt is operating at close to full capacity.

Cold weather is forecast to persist this week, with frequent sub-zero summit temperatures, passing snow showers, and occasional lower-elevation sleet as spring conditions fluctuate.

Argentina
As is usual for October, Argentina's ski season is tapering off, with Las Lenas among the major centres to close after a short extension.

Most of the country's resorts have now shut for 2026, except Catedral, South America's largest by uplift, which has extended its season by another week to the 12th, and Cerro Castor, the world's southernmost ski area.

Overnight freezes have continued on higher terrain, but spring warmth is pushing base temperatures well into double digits, keeping rain, sleet and snow showers in the mix. Cold weather will persist over the coming week, with sub-zero upper-mountain temperatures, modest daytime warming, sunny breaks and recurring mixed precipitation maintaining variable surface conditions.

Chile
Spring is gaining ground in Chile too, but you might not know it, with the most snowfall here of anywhere this week.

Portillo logged another 55 cm/22 inches this week, pushing its season total past 10 m/33 ft.

Antillanca has now closed, joining Nevados de Chillan. El Colorado and Pillan-Villarrica are expected to join them at the end of this weekend.

Several centres have a few weeks more thanks to season extensions following July's heavy snowfall, including Valle Nevado, open until the 18th, and Portillo and Corralco (the latter still posting the world's current deepest upper depth at nearly 5 metres/16 feet), which plan to stay open until the 11th.

Looking ahead, cold conditions should persist this week, with sub-zero upper-mountain temperatures, limited daytime warming, sunny breaks and recurring rain, sleet and snow showers across the Andes.

Northern Hemisphere

The Alps
Austria's highest lift-served glacier, Pitztal, opened last weekend, using its long-running all-weather snowmaking system to ensure September coverage. It joins Italy's Passo Stelvio and Val Senales, with terrain limited to 1 km to 2 km/0.6 to 1.2 mi and largely focused on race-team training.

Up to four more glaciers may open this coming weekend: Saas-Fee plans a partial return after nearly two months closed; Hintertux looks set to reopen with a major park-launch weekend; Kaunertal and Zermatt may also join if conditions allow.

The weather has stayed marginal, with freezing levels hovering between 3,500 m and 4,000 m/11,483 ft and 13,123 ft and daytime highs near +10 oC/50 oF, although sub-zero nights have delivered fresh snow at Kitzsteinhorn.

Colder air has pushed snowfall down to 2,000 m/6,562 ft in the Carpathians, with Bulgaria, Serbia and Slovakia reporting early dustings.

Mostly sunny, stable weather is expected to dominate the coming week, with cold nights above 2,500 m/8,202 ft. A cooler air mass early next week should lower freezing levels and bring light high-peak snow showers.

Scandinavia
Finland's season begins this Friday as Levi and Ruka launch their seven-month operations, using vast stored-snow reserves to build around 2 km/1 mi of early runs and terrain-park features at each, similar to current Alpine glacier offerings.

Temperatures are cooling, with overnight lows near freezing, but light rain has fallen on the old snow. Daily ranges have sat between 0 oC and +10 oC/32 oF and 50 oF.

Over in Norway, the Galdhopiggen glacier has reopened but remains restricted to pre-booked race teams.

Cold early-autumn weather is forecast to persist across Scandinavia, with mostly dry conditions and occasional light flurries on Norway's higher terrain.

North America
October marks the true start of North America's ski build-up, with fresh snow returning to high terrain across Alberta, BC and the US Northwest, including Oregon, and even the California Sierras on Monday and Arizona on Tuesday.

Breckenridge was among the areas in the Colorado Rockies posting images of its higher terrain turning white on Wednesday.

Snowmaking season is also about to begin, with Loveland's countdown clock hitting zero this weekend, and all-weather snowmaking already pumping out snow at little Ski Ward in Massachusetts on the East Coast. Cold early-autumn conditions should persist over the coming week, with flurries at altitude and mild afternoons lower down.

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J2Ski Snow Report - October 1st 2026