Re-publication :- our Snow Report Summary, being the text up to "The Alps", is free to re-publish, but must be clearly credited to www.J2ski.com with text including "J2Ski Snow Report" linked to this page - thank you.
Snow Report Summary
Running into the big half-term week for Europe, conditions could hardly be looking better for right now and the week ahead, but we are going to sound a note of caution...
This Week's Headlines
- Sunshine in the Western Alps after all the fresh snow.
- Heavy snow for many Eastern European slopes.
- Up to half a metre of snow in California (which needed it).
- Some rain and area closures in Western Canada.
- A mixed week of weather around the world's major ski regions this week.
The Western Alps and Pyrenees have been largely dry after the heavy snow of recent weeks. Although the off piste powder is mostly skied out (despite the avalanche danger remaining high), on the pistes conditions have been superb in the sunshine on the still fresh snow. The Eastern Alps and Eastern Europe has had more fresh snow, mixed with sunny spells, again bringing great conditions - so most of Europe is in good shape for the half term holidays that are getting underway. Scottish slopes are also in good shape, as are Scandinavian and there's been more fresh snow in many parts of North America; although some areas are closed due to lack of snow.
Substantial fresh snowfall is now forecast for large parts of the Alps and Dolomites over the coming week. The major snowfalls look to be to the South of the main Alpine ridge, with the Pyrenees also likely to see good falls.
If travelling this weekend - check the forecasts, as some of Saturday's snowfall may be heavy in places; although it will be much less widespread than previous weekends, there will be heavy traffic on the half-term changeover days.
Avalanche Risk Still High!
Please go carefully, if venturing off-piste, as the snow pack remains treacherous in places. Alpine avalanche casualties this season already include more than 75 deaths; always take local advice, never venture off-piste alone, and always have the proper equipment and know how to use it.
Check the J2Ski Forecasts regularly for the latest updates!
New Snow Mail Options
Imperial Measurements - get your snow mails in inches and Fahrenheit.
Snow Storm Early Warnings - get an early warning of major snow storms.
You can find more information here - New Snow Mail Options.
The Alps
Austria
Austria has seen the most fresh snow of the last week of the big four alpine nations. Whilst the others have been under bright blue skies and sunshine, Austrian areas have had periods of serious snowfall – then lots of days of blue skies and sunshine too. Fieberbrunn clocked up two feet of fresh snow in the last week, with the final foot falling on Sunday/Monday, Wagrain had 40cm. Conditions are very good to excellent across most of the country with almost all areas having at least a foot of snow at resort level (most two feet or more) and good cover on upper runs. The thinnest base is reported at Bad Kleinkirchheim, Zell am See and Zell am Ziller with 20-30cm at resort level.
France
Conditions in the French Alps remain generally excellent after the heavy snow of nearly a fortnight ago. Although there has been limited fresh snow the sky has been blue, winds light since the weekend and all in all, conditions on the piste as near perfect as they can get. The only problem faced at some of the most popular resorts are the start of half term crowds causing tailbacks on the lifts. Snow depths remain good across the country, with several resorts in the French alps and Pyrenees now at the 3m (10 feet) upper slope base depth (Cauterets and Valfrejus) but many more have a healthy 1.5 – 2.5m lying and, importantly, good cover down at resort level too.
Italy
There's been little or no fresh snow in Italy over the last week although substantial fresh snowfall is expected in the coming week. Masdesimo still reports the deepest snowbase in the Alps (and indeed the Western world) at present with 1.7m of snow on lower slopes, 4.3m (over 14 feet) on upper runs. Elsewhere in the country the cover is best in the West, in the alpine regions, where the snow is very deep. The Dolomites remain in "OK but could be better" shape, still awaiting their first really big snowfall of the season – although smaller falls and snowmaking mean most runs are open.
Switzerland
Most Swiss resorts are in good shape thanks to the heavy snow in the last week of January. There has been light snow in some resorts over the past week, but much less than before. However the snow depths are good across the country and the pistes in good shape almost everywhere. The deepest snow – lying nearly 13 feet (3.8m) deep – at the top is at Andermatt and Engelberg, but most resorts have healthy depths anyway, if not quite so deep – most in the 1.5-3m bracket (5-10 feet). Most areas also have healthy base depths at resort level, the thinnest reported at Grindelwald, with six inches/15cm at resort level. Most others have 30-90cm (1- 3 feet depths), or more, however.
Scandinavia
It's still snowing in Scandinavia – as it has every week all season since November now – but this has been a lighter snowfall week with only 5-15cm accumulations reported and pleasant conditions on the pistes. In Norway base depths are typically in the 90-120cm (3-4 feet) range although Voss still leads the way with 1.9m. In Sweden and Finland it's more commonly 70-100cm, which are good depths for the region.
Pyrenees
There's been no real fresh snow in the Pyrenees for the past week, which is not a bad thing as those lucky enough to be on the slopes there over the last seven days have been able to enjoy the epic conditions following the huge snowfalls of the previous week. Base depths remain very heathy in the 1.5 – 2.5m bracket across the region.
Eastern Europe
Large swathes of Eastern Europe received heavy snow earlier this week, with resorts in the Tatra mountains including Poland's Zakopane and Stary Smokovec in the Slovak Republic among the many reporting 20cm of fresh snow in 24 hours from Sunday to Monday. Tatranská Lomnica say they got 30cm (a foot) in the same period. Snow depths in Bulgaria are now at the best they've been for several seasons with more than 2m lying on upper slopes at Bansko and Borovets and good cover at resort level too.
Scotland
Scottish slopes remain in good condition – on piste at least – with virtually all of the groomed runs in the country currently open. Some areas are starting to wear a little thin and are in need of new snow, and/or are icy, but most are in good nick. Conditions have been pleasant too with light winds and sunny skies.
North America
Canada
Quite a lot of snow in Canada over the past week – more than the one before - although there have been reports of temperatures being rather high and unusual rain falling in BC at some centres and 2010 Olympic Venue Cypress Mountain on the coast has had to close for lack of snow. In land Kicking Horse has reported the most fresh snow in the past week however – 60cm or two feet so it obviously got snow not rain. Most other Alberta and BC areas have reported 20-40cm of new cover with less on the east this week – the most 15cm/6 inches at Mont Ste Anne in Quebec. Revelstoke in BC reports the deepest base in the country on upper runs at just under 2.4m/8 feet – so looking good for skiing North America's biggest vertical.
USA
There's been significant snowfall across the US in the last seven days, but most noteworthy is the fresh snow in California, which has been suffering another warm dry winter to date. Squaw Valley has posted the biggest accumulation of 50cm giving the longed for powder conditions and taking snow depths above the metre mark. Heavenly reported 40cm. There's been another foot of snow at Jackson Hole too which continues to have the country's deepest base at just under eight feet and reports it has 6.5m of snow so far this season. Elsewhere there's been decent snowfall in New England for the third week running with resorts like Smugglers Notch in Vermont and Attitash in New Hampshire also reporting around 40-50cm more snow.