It has been a quiet week for snowfall in most of the world’s major ski regions, with moderate falls in the Pyrenees, southern Alps, Scandinavia, Scotland, Colorado and New England, but very little anywhere else. This could be the calm before the snowstorm though as big falls are expected through the rest of February, particularly in the Alps.
Austria
There’s been no fresh snow in Austria in the past week but conditions remain generally good on the piste and the forecast is for several feet of snow across the country in the coming week. Most areas have good snow depths but it is getting thin at resort level at a few lower areas including Mayrhofen and Zell am See.
France
Snowfall in France was largely in the south of the country, including the southern Alps and Pyrenees, in the first half of this week when up to 50cm of new snow fell. There has been very little fresh snow in the north though, but conditions on pi9ste remain excellent at most areas. Heavy snow is forecast next week.
Italy
Western Italian areas benefitted from some good snowfalls over last weekend (up to three feet/90cm of new snow was reported) but it has been mostly sunny here since and the Dolomites again missed out on most of the new snow. A few Italian areas are reporting the deepest snowbases in the world at present – approaching 5m deep at Madesimo.
Switzerland
Not a whole lot of snow in Switzerland either although Verbier reported 10cm of fresh and there was 15-30cm in the Swiss Jungfrau. The biggest snowfall was in the south of the country however and at the start of the week, with Saas Fee getting nearly two feet of new snow. Conditions on the pistes are good throughout the country and once again big snowfalls are forecast.
Pyrenees
The Pyrenees received up to 40cm of fresh snow at the weekend and remain in great shape on the pistes, with many areas in Andorra and on the French and Spanish sides of the border reporting bases of at least 1.5m
Eastern Europe
Not much fresh snow in Eastern Europe but conditions on piste remain excellent thanks to heavy snow building bases at most areas in recent weeks.
Scandinavia
Scandinavian slopes remain in good shape with still more fresh snow – as there has been every week for three months now. All areas have good bases – typically 90-120cm (3-4 feet) with some off piste powder to be had.
Scotland
Mixed reports from Scotland although largely good news. There’s been a short thaw, some closure days for strong winds, but also lots of fresh snow – so most trails remain open. So February continues to be a good month.
Canada
Resorts in Western Canada including Panorama, Banff, Lake Louise and Marmot Basin have all felt the need to issue statements reassuring skiers that their conditions are, they say, excellent, after widespread media reports of warm temperatures, which have caused some smaller coastal ski areas to close until fresh snow arrives. There hasn’t been much fresh snow in Canada this week but for the leading resorts there was already good cover so on the groomed trails it looks good, although the famed powder is currently in short supply.
USA
Colorado ski areas received 30-50cm of fresh snow earlier this week (Breckenridge is pictured above) and New England areas have continued their snowy February so it’s looking good across most of the US – only the West Coast continues unseasonably warm.
