It has been one of the snowiest weeks in North America in recent years with some Canadian resorts reporting two feet of new snow landing in one day alone, and the next 48 hours looks set to see the big start to winter 15-16 in the Alps too with over a metre of snow forecast to fall on higher mountains before Monday morning. There’s snow forecast for Scotland, Scandinavia and the Pyrenees too. So it’s an exciting week and hopefully great timing for the start of winter 2015-16 which is now upon us!
Austria
Austria still has more ski areas open than any other country in Europe – as has been the case for two months now. But if the snow is as much as forecast and subsequent low temperatures allow snowmaking to get going, this could be the last week. The past week have been sunny again on the glaciers, but its due to get at least a foot of snow over the weekend. All eight glacier areas are open plus Obergurgl and Kitzbuhel. With 60km of runs Obergurgl has the most terrain open.
France
Only Tignes has been open in France this week and will be next week after Val Thorens decided to delay opening for seven days from the planned date this weekend. That’s because over a metre of snow is due to fall on the French Alps in 48 hours, which could cause logistical problems. This picture was taken of La Plagne of Friday as the first flakes started to fall.
Italy
Cervinia and Val Senales are currently the only two areas open in Italy. Both are due to be dumped on big time this weekend so it’s looking good next week when more Italian areas look set to open en masses next weekend.
Switzerland
Swiss slopes too have been sunny with great conditions on the glaciers. Saas Fee (pictured above this week) and Zermatt both have the largest areas in the country open with about 30km of runs each. TheDiavolezza glacier near St Moritz anD gflacier 3000 near Les Diablerets and Gstaad are also open but Crans Montana, Davos, Engelberg, Verbier and Laax are amongsdt those awaiting more snow which is supposed to fall abundantly this weekend.
Scotland
After turning white a week ago snow cover has been building on Scottish slopes and as heavy snow is expected over the weekend and in to next week it may not be long until the first opening dates are announced.
Scandinavia
There’s been the first ‘proper’ snowfalls across Scandinavia and things are all white there too. This is Hemsedal which will open at the end of the week. Conditions are good in Lapland where resorts like Ruka are already open.
Eastern Europe
Eastern European slopes have been fairly bare since the snowy blast at the start of the month but the snow heading to Europe is likely to hit them too, and the snow guns are working too as here at Jasna in the Czech Republic.
Pyrenees
The Pyrenees have also been warm and snowless through much of November but as with most of Europe that’s now changing and the snowguns are fired up as here at Vallnord today. Snowfall is expected here this weekend too.
Canada
An amazing week in Canada with Lake Louise (pictured above, and top), for example, reported 150cm (five feet) in seven days; whilst Kicking Horse and Nakiska both posted 60cm (two feet) in 24 hours. At the greatest snowfall intensity Kicking horse in fact received more than 10cm (four inches) of snow in one hour alone. Whistler opens this weekend joining already open Banff resorts, Marmot Basin, Big White and others.
USA
Great conditions in Western USA too where resorts have had up to a metre of snow in the last week. Ever more resorts have opened early including Aspen and Vail in Colorado and Snowbird (above) in Utah.