The last week of February has been one of the snowiest of the season so far in much of Europe and North America, meaning things are looking good in many areas for the last few months of the ski season.
No more so than in the Pyrenees where massive snowfalls of up to 2,2 metres this week (over seven feet!) have caused many logistical issues just reaching the resorts, let alone opening the slopes.
Many other areas have had good snowfall too, if not quite such amazing volumes. Large snowfalls are expected to continue through the coming week.
Austria
Austrian areas got moderate snowfalls this week – perking up cover at virtually allk of the country’s ski areas. Most resorts got between 20 and 40cm of fresh snow. Conditions are good, particularly on the pistes, at virtually all Austrian areas.
France
Up to three feet of snow has fallen in the French Alps this week with Avoriaz reporting the biggest falls. All ski areas are in good shape. Down in the French Pyrenees there have been the biggest snowfalls of all – with Cauterets reporting more than seven feet of fresh snow this week and other areas almost as much. Access roads were closed and lifts buried, plus the avalanche danger was at maximum. It’s easing a little now and centres are re-opening.
Italy
Most Italian resorts have had good snowfalls too, although Cervinia has claimed by far the largest snowfall in the country with 1.2m (4 feet) of fresh snow, for most other areas on the Western side of the country the total were 30-60cm. There was snow in the Dolomites too, most areas there receiving 15-30cm.
Switzerland
Swiss resorts have enjoyed some of the biggest snowfalls of the last seven days with accumulations of 40cm to a metre across the country. Grindelwald and Gstaad had the biggest snowfalls – both reporting more than 3m of new snow. Andermatt’s 4.7m base is one of the world’s deepest.
Andorra
Andorra, in common with ski resorts on the French and Spanish sides of the Pyrenees, has seen huge snowfalls with up to six feet of new snow reported. At least one of the country’s ski areas – Arcalis in VallNord (pictured above) was cut off for a time by all the snow. It bodes well for the remaining two months of the season.
Eastern Europe
Just a few inches of fresh snow and temperatures above freezing at resort level in Eastern European areas but cover remains good thanks to snowfall earlier this month.
Scotland
Scottish ski centres have had more fresh snow this week, with up to a metre of new snow in places. Strong winds have caused some operational difficulties but mostly conditions are excellent. The new Scottish area at Lowther Hills in the Borders (pictured above) is is great condition too after the fresh snow.
Scandinavia
Conditions remain good at most Scandinavian ski areas. Snow depths are healthy and there’s been more fresh snow. Riksgransen (pictured above) the northerly Swedish ski centre within the Arctic Circle opened last weekend. It stays open to late June by which time it will offer skiing under the midnight sun during 24 hour dayllight at its latitude.
Canada
Very little fresh snow in Canada this week on either coast. There’s not really any of the famed powder of the country’s West available at present, pistes remain in reasonable condition.
USA
Colorado has seen the biggest snowfalls in North America by far this past week, with areas like Durango and Telluride in the south of the state reporting nearly 90cm/three feet of snow. The snow also arrived in the West of the country at Mammoth in California which reported a foot of new snow but sadly it didn’t extend northwards to Tahoe. There was also a little more snow for New England areas.
