Europe Snow Wrap – This Could Be it!
Arabba, Italy 14 December, blue skies between snowfalls! Image:: Arabba
Weekly Snow Wrap
Snow depth, top five in Europe: 1 – Saas Fee, Switzerland with 245cm, 2 – Ghiacciaio Presena, Italy with 200cm, 3 – Cervinia, Italy and Roldal Norway with 180cm , 4 – Funivie Speikboden and Macugnaga Italy with 170cm and 5 – Pitztaler Gletscher, Austria with 164cm, 4
Recent snow:
Snow everywhere this week – the average fall was around 30cm – 40cm, mostly falling on the weekend and at the beginning of the week. In the last three days notable snowfalls have included:
- Parts of France including Les Saisies 40cm and la Grave 30cm
- Gstaad, Switzerland 30cm
- St Anton 103cm
- St Moriz 20cm
On the forecast:
Friday will be the big day! 30cm, 40cm, 50cm (here’s hoping) across the alps generally with France looking like the major beneficiary at this stage. Then perhaps 5cm, perhaps 10cm every day for the following six days.
If we could pick anywhere this week, we’d be: Saas Fee, always seems to be doing the best snow-wise in the pre-Christmas month…
France
Status: France’s major resorts are all open, with anywhere from 5% of trails – Chamonix – to 50% or more of trails open. But on the balance, there are more resorts shut than open at the moment.
Recent snow: It’s been the best week of the season so far with a decent 40cm or so in the last three days at resorts such as Les Saisies and Montegenevre. on average, most of the resorts received around 20cm at the beginning of the week, adding to the 60cm or so from the previous week.
Sunset moon over Chamonix 13 December. Image:: Federico Gilardi
Coming snow: It will keep snowing all week and Friday should be the big day – around 30cm or so for most areas, on top of 8cm – 10cm most other days this week.
Conditions generally: We might be able to start using the word powder… Base depths are creeping up over 1m and even 1.5m.
Austria
Status: The Austrian glaciers are doing well, as is the Alberg, Lech Zurs has 60% of its trails open, St Anton 61% while over in the Tyrol resorts like Zell Am Zee have more like 35% of trails open.
Recent snow: A lovely 30cm or so fell on Sunday, following last week’s generous falls. Then there was about 15cm in most regions at the beginning of the week.
Coming snow: Snow will continue to fall consistently for the rest of the week, perhaps 10cm each day. There may be a couple of bigger days, most likely Thursday or Friday, with the Alberg resorts reaping most of the benefits.
Conditions generally: Improving quickly. Warmer weather burnt off some of the base depth created last week but quite a few resorts are sporting based well over 1m.
Freshies at Arabba 14 December. Image:: Arabba
Switzerland
Status: A greater number of Swiss resorts are open than otherwise, doing quite well with a bit under half their trails open. Klosters is one third up and running.
Recent snow: It’s been snowing all week in Switzerland, for most resorts the new snow measurement is around the 20cm – 30cm mark, with one or two of the little known resorts scoring something like 80cm
Coming snow: It will remain snowy for the rest of the week and into next. Friday will be the big day with well over 20cm – hopefully! As for the other days, between 5cm and 8cm can be expected.
Conditions generally: Base depths are sitting around the 1m mark, a little lower than the Austrian and French resorts for the most part, but with all this snow things are improving daily! Special mention to Saas Fee with a 245cm base.
Italy
Status: A good number of the Italian resorts are now open and with plenty of trails up and running.
Recent snow: Italy’s done well out of this snow storm with snowfalls significantly over 30cm for most resorts in the past four days.
Coming snow: Italy will benefit from the storm hovering over Europe for the next week. Friday should be the big day, with well into double digit falls, and light top ups on most other days.
Conditions generally: Italy has lost some base coverage this week and many resorts have dropped below the 1m snow depth, but with snow falling consistently the snow is fresh!
