(Sierras Nevada, Spain)
The 2014-15 ski season continues to wind down of course and by this time next week less than 100 ski areas will be operational.
But it’s still snowing – a bit – on centres that are still open, as well as those that have already closed. More snow is also forecasdt over the next few days in parts of the Alps. With the start of May next week the ski season is pretty much finished in the Pyrenees, the Dolomites and eastern Europe with skiing in the Alps after this weekend limited to a few dozen high altitude resorts, many of them, with glacier skiing. In Scandinavia many of the bigger resorts are still operating and building up to big spring festivals, there are a few centres still open in Scotland too.
In North America less than a dozen centres will be open come Monday with high altitude resorts in the Canadian, Colorado and Utah Rockies the main places still open. Some fresh snow has been reported in Vermont.
Fresh snow has been hard to find this week but was reported at Gudauri in Georgia in the northern hemisphere and in Australia in the Southern hemisphere.
Austria
There’s been almost no fresh snow in Austria this week – well until the last 24 hours when the Kitzsteinhorn glacier reported 40cm of fresh snow falling! But otherwise it’s been sunny skies and great conditions most days at most of the few dozen ski areas that are still open – amongst them Ischgl, St Anton and Obertauern. Heading towards May and even June the glaciers are looking the best bet with 3m bases at ski areas like Kaunertal, the Stubai (pictured above) and Molltal.
France
There’s been little or no fresh snow in France either and most ski areas that have not already closed are set to do so this weekend. Some will keep operating however, amongst them Chamonix and Val d’Isere, open for another week, with still a fortnight of the season left on the high altitude slopes of Tignes and Val Thorens.
Italy
Most Italian resorts are now closed but the snow conditions remain good at those still operating, including Cervinia (pictured) and Livigno, both of which have a week of the season left. Only Passo Tonale expects to keep operating through May and in to June with a few runs open on its glacier where the snow was last measured at 4m deep.
Switzerland
The number of Swiss areas still operational will also plummet further after the coming weekend. Slopes open in to May are to be found at St Moritz (until the middle of the month) Zermatt (year round), Engelberg and Les Diablerets (until Sunday) amongst others. Once again there’s been no real fresh snowfall.
Scandinavia
Many Scandinavian ski centres are still open with a few feet of cover and will stay open to the first weekend of May which is a big party weekend at many areas – Are in Sweden and Hemsedal in Norway have big plans. Riksgransen in northern Sweden will come in to its own after that, open to late June, whilst Norwegian summer ski destinations will start to open too.
Spain
Most Spanish areas are closed but Europe’s most southerly resort, Sierra Nevada, will run its charity fund raiser ‘Slopes In Your Swimsuit’ day tomorrow.
Scotland
Cairngorm and Glencoe are both open and fresh snow is actually forecast with the return of wintry weather to the UK this weekend. Glencoe says this coming week will be the last of the season – due to a lack of skiers not a lack of snow.
Canada
Most Canadian resorts have now closed but a handful – Marmot Basin, Sunshine (pictured above) and Lake Louise in Alberta and Whistler in Canada are open through to May. All say their slopes are in good shape following snowfall last week on top of their established bases.
USA
The season is over or ending at most US areas too of course but the week started with heavy snow in Colorado and Utah and ended with fresh snow in Vermont in the past 24 hours – Killington, pictured above, is one of the areas open in to May. Others include A Basin in Colorado and Snowbird in Utah.