(Pictured above – there’s been amazing snowfall at Voss in Norway – a metre in the past week)
The first peak week of the 2014-15 ski season is upon us already and almost every ski resort in the northern hemisphere will open this weekend if it has not already.
So far it is not an epic season in the Alps, although equally it is not as bad as the newspaper scare stories make out. The snow is moderate to good above around 1500/1600m in most resorts. It has been snowing and continues to do so with many areas receiving 10-20cm of snow in the last few days and running their snowmaking systems at full blast. So while lower elevation resorts may still be looking rather lacking on the white stuff, most of their slopes above have cover.
Elsewhere in the skiing world there’s been more heavy snow in North America, so most resorts there are looking forward to a very good Christmas, there’s also deep snow in Japan and elsewhere in Europe the Pyrenees look good, the Dolomites, like the Alps, have had some snow and in the north Scandinavia has seen the biggest snowfalls of the last week at Voss in Norway (pictured above) and all five Scottish ski areas expect to open this weekend.
Austria
Many famous Austrian areas are among the lowest in elevation in the alps so are struggling the most for snow cover, although they do have some. But equally the country is home to more glacier areas than any other in the world and the cover there is still excellent after the big snowfalls of October and November which lulled us in to a false sense of security. But generally snow depths on lower slopes are in the 10-30cm range, and on glaciers 1.5-2m. 10-20cm of snow has fallen in recent days and is still falling. Here’s Kitzbuhel at the top.
France
It’s a very mixed picture in the French Alps with on the one hand Val d’Isere reporting 15cm of top to bottom snow cover in the last 24 hours and having to cancel World cup race training due to too much snow on the course, whilst the Grand Massif area around Flaine has had to postpones full opening due to the limited snow cover and will just have sectors operational for the time being. Most areas above 1800m like Avoriaz, Val Thorens and others have had 15-30cm, of fresh snow and are looking good on upper slopes, lower down it generally remains ‘challenging.’ Snowfall yesterdsay at Peisey Vallandry in Paradiski is pictured.
Italy
A good week in Cortina, where there’s been a foot of new snow and bases have reached 1.2m (four feet) at the top. On the Western side of the country too there’s been 20cm of news snow in the milky Way (pictured at Sestriere). It’s the same as for much of central Europe though – good cover above 1800m, more patchy at lower altitudes.
Switzerland
Swiss resorts have the same mixed picture as the rest of the Alps with good snow in most cases above 1800/2000m, but little below, so it’s white upper slopes, green in the valleys. 10-20cm of fresh snow has fallen and the snowmaking guns have been working. Saas Fee, having one of the higher base villages, has top to bottom snow cover with nearly 2m at the top.
Pyrenees
The Pyrenees have some of the best condition in Europe at present with most resorts reporting at least a foot of snow on lower slopes, and up to three feet (90cm) up at the top. Not much fresh snow this week but the region got much more than the Alps the previous week.
Eastern Europe
With lower elevation resorts and not much natural snow cover more is needed on slopes in Bulgaria, Romania and Slovenia. Currently there’s machine made snow on some slopes but not much else.
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is looking good still, with low temperatures and 10-20cm of fresh snow at most areas. One Norwegian centre, Voss, seems to be benefiting from its own micro climate and has had nearly a metre of snow in the last week, by far the best in Europe.
Scotland
Scottish slopes have received moderate to heavy snow for the past week and all five Highland centres, plus possibly the new area of Lowther Hills in the borders, should be open for Christmas Week from this weekend, weather permitting. Glencoe is pictured.
Japan
Japan is receiving the abundant powder snow for which it is famous. Resorts are already being buried and metres more is forecast. This picture is of the resort of Myoko.
Canada
Across the Pacific Canadian areas are looking good from East to West, even Whistler, which is looking a little green in the valley, has good snow three feet deep at the top, they’re jumping for joy (as per pic). There’s been another foot of powder in Alberta and inland BC and over in Quebec bases are up to 1.2m (four feet).
USA
Snow cover is good south of the border too with resorts reporting up[ to a metre of fresh snow on the West Coast in the last seven days, Mammoth Mountain was a particular beneficiary of all that. There’s been more healthy snowfalls of 30-60cm in recent days in Colorado and Utah too so it’s looking like a great Christmas in the snow out West. Pictured is Taos in New Mexico.