(Squaw Valley, California, USA)
It may be approaching mid-April, and ski areas across the northern hemisphere may have begun closing for the season, but the snow has not stopped falling in many of the world’s leading ski regions.
There has been up to two feet of fresh snow in the Alps and ironically similar falls in California (as pictured above) – where most areas are already closed after a lacklustre winter there. So one of the best snowfalls of 14-15 has come after the season ended.
Austria
(Zell am See on Tuesday)
There was fresh snow in Austria on Easter Monday giving powder conditions on Tuesday across the country to the delight of those lucky enough to be on the slopes for Easter week. Temperatures have since shot up in to double figures and more resorts will close this weekend, following some like St Johann that closed last weekend.
France
(Peisey Vallandry)
French ski areas reported up to a foot of fresh snow over the Easter Weekend but after a brief powder fix it has been mostly blue skies and perfect spring skiing conditions, particularly on higher slopes.
Italy
(Courmayeur)
There was a little fresh snow in Italy at the weekend with the west of the country seeing the most new cover for Easter Monday. Areas have begin closing but in most cases there’s plenty of snow to see resorts through to the end of April at least if needed.
Switzerland
(Verbier)
Switzerland too had fresh snow earlier in the week with resorts including Verbier and Zermatt reporting some of the largest snowfalls – great news for spring skiers.
Pyrenees
It’s the final weekend of the season coming up at most resorts in the Pyrenees. Snow depths remain good at most areas thanks to the great season this southern mountain range has had but the temperatures are high now.
Eastern Europe
There has been some snow in parts of Eastern Europe as the snowfall over the Alps continued Easterly and the accumulated bases in Bulgaris means most centres are open for a few more days.
Scotland
The snow is thawing in Scotland with the warn weather in Britain at the moment, but as there was copious volumes of the stuff in the Western Highlands, spring skiing is still good at Cairngorm, Glencoe (pictured) and Nevis Range.
Scandinavia
The snowfall in Scandinavia has slowed at last but there’s been 20cm or snow up in the far north at Riksgransen (pictured) in the Arctic circle – open through to June. Most other areas are open to early May and have enough snow to make it through the next three or four weeks,
Canada
(Sunshine, Banff)
Up to 40cm of new snow has fallen in Alberta and Eastern BC bringing powder conditions for Easter week. Resorts around Banff, which saw the most snow, are due to stay open in to May, so that’s particularly good news. Elsewhere most areas have closed last weekend or will do this.
USA
The big story in the US this week are huge snowfalls in California, bringing up to two feet of fresh snow on slopes which are mostly closed. However Squaw Valley and mammoth are among the areas still battling on with winter 14-15 so there were whoops of joy there. There’s been more fresh snow in Colorado and on the East Coast but most US ski areas have either already closed or will do this weekend.