What a difference a week makes! After an almost completely dry December a week of snowy weather has deposited more than a metre of snow to parts of the alps and 30-60cm to most others. The West (French and most Swiss and some Austrian and Italian areas) have done particularly well so far, there’s been less heavy snow to the east but the mega snow storm is only half way through and much more is expected for the week ahead. Elsewhere there’s been snow in the Pyrenees, Eastern Europe, Bulgaria, Scandinavia, across North America and even Scotland finally got its season started yesterday at Aviemore.
Austria
There’s been fresh snow in Austria but so far, in most places, not as much as resorts would like. That may change in the coming week as big snow is forecast. So far Lech has had the most with about two feet, most other areas have had 10-20cm. Saalbach is pictured above.
France
France has had the best of the past week’s snow with Chamonix reporting more than four feet (135cm in fact). Many other resorts have had 40-80cm and at least as much again is expected over the coming week too. As a result of all the snow the avalanche risk is very high and several people have died in avalanches this week so resorts are warning you to stay on the piste.
Italy
Like Austria, resorts in Eastern Italy (the Dolomites) have so far not had the big snowfalls there have been in the West of the country. There’s been some some but more would be great – and more is expected this coming week. Madonna di Campiglio is pictured.
Switzerland
Switzerland has seen some big snowfalls with around a metre of snow in Verbier. The best snow has been in the West but most resorts have had some snow, typically 30-60cm. Again much more is still forecast to fall over the coming week. Saas Fee is pictured.
Pyrenees
(Grandvalira) The snow came a little later to the Pyrenees and wasn’t quite the volume as further north but by any normal standards it has still been a healthy dump with 30cm or so falling across the area and again, more forecast.
Scotland
After months of weather extremes (gales, floods, blizzards, thaws…) things have finally settled down on Scottish mountains and Cairngorm above Aviemore (above) opened for the season at last yesterday lunchtime (Jan 8th). The other centres hope to open in the next few days and weeks too.
Scandinavia
Scandinavia has seen moderate snowfalls over the last week and is looking increasingly like it should, as this image snapped at Beitostolen in Norway illustrates. Depths are typically 40-80cm across the region with most runs open.
Eastern Europe
It has been an increasingly snowy week in Eastern Europe too with bases beginning to build. The past 48 hours have seen heavy snow in countries like the Slovak Republic and around half a metre of snow is due to accumulate in Bulgaria’s Balkans.
Canada
(Red Mountain pic: Ryan Flett Media). Not too snowy a week in Canada so far, with the biggest snowfall (about a foot/30cm) in red Mountain, BC, above. The snow has slowed in Quebec where it’s still needed, in the West base depths remain great after all the November and December snow.
USA
‘El Nino’ is back on the pacific Coast bringing big snowfalls once again to ski areas in California. Resorts in the region have now reported up to 8 metres of snow in the first two months of the season. The snow has continued east to Utah and over in New England there’s been more snow too, including a foot (30cm) in the past week at Stowe in Vermont.
