Huge Storm Hits Europe, More Pow for North America – World Snow Wrap
Even Santa managed to squeeze in a couple Christmas powder laps in between deliveries. FYI: he skis at Aspen Image:: Aspen Snowmass
Mountainwatch | World Snow Wrap
The big news this week is over in Europe. A huge mass of cold air and moisture is currently bombarding the European Alps with tonnes of pow – up to 100cm at high elevations. Snow is expected to continue for another few days, so expect to see some very high accumulations. North America is enjoying the holiday pow, too, with powder falling across the majority of resorts. Read on for more…
TOP 5 FORECAST TOTALS THIS WEEK (7-DAYS)
1. Hakuba, Japan – 57 cm
2. Niseko, Japan – 48 cm
3. Silver Star, British Columbia – 25 cm
4. Aspen, Colorado – 24 cm
5. Vail – 23 cm
*As at 28/12/14
Even the local Whistler avalanche dogs are frothing at how good it is out there Image:: Coast Mountain Photography
Canada
Whistler Blackcomb’s lucky streak continues, with about 40 cm falling over the weekend before Christmas and then another few centimetres falling daily since then. Revelstoke and the rest of the interior have been getting consistent daily dumps since mid last week, with 30 cm falling over Christmas. In Alberta, Lake Louise, Sunshine, Norquay and the other resorts in the Banff area have been getting a little less snow than their coastal cousins, but all are now open with a decent base that keeps on building.
Jackson Hole, December 27. It’s been like that for a week straight. Imagine how it will be when the snow breaks and it’s bluebird Image:: Jackson Hole
USA
Colorado, Utah and Wyoming are all smiles this week, all having experienced a white Christmas with plenty of powder on offer. Unfortunately California missed out on a big dump of fresh snow, but the sun has been shining all week making for some epic conditions nonetheless.
It seemed like Jackson Hole was the big winner, scoring 20 cm+ dumps consistently over the last week or so. Local hero, Travis Rice, even clogged Instagram with his gratuitous pow selfies all week long.
Cars buried under the fresh snow in Alpe d’Huez, France, late last night Image:: Alpe d’Huez
Europe
Europe is the clear winner this week. After such a long drawn out wait, with little other than man-made snow on offer, the pow finally came. The storm that is responsible is a low pressure cell dubbed Storm Hiltrud that came to the party loaded with moisture and cold air late on Boxing Day. That combination has delivered accumulations greater than 100 cm at resorts that enjoy higher elevations. The snow seems to be concentrated around the French/Swiss border, but Austria is stil copping it, albeit a little less drastically. Details are still a little sketchy, but so far we have heard a first hand report of 100 cm above 3000 m at French ski resort, La Grave. Chamonix has had cars buried in the village, and locals in Verbier posted a tonne of epic pow shots all over social media.
The really great news is that the snow is expected to continue for another three days. Time will tell how this one will pan out, but great to see that winter has finally hit the Alps.
Swiss locals getting amongst it in Verbier today Image:: Verbier
Summary
It’s on now, that slow start seems to have subsided and now Ullr is doing his best to make up for it. Get out and enjoy it if you’re lucky enough!
It’s about car-roof deep in St Anton today Image:: St Anton
Where We Would Like To Be This Week
Sitting in a hot tub in Verbier, sipping Schnaaps in preparation to do it all again tomorrow…
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