North America’s in Deep, While Europe Waits – World Snow Wrap
A typical Colorado faceshot in typical Colorado powder, November 26 in Vail Image:: Vail Resorts
Mountainwatch | World Snow Wrap
Early-season turns and cheesy Christmas carols are the flavour of the month across North America, but over in Europe lower elevations are still decidedly green. Thankfully, good news for the Alps is just around the corner. Read on for more…
TOP 5 FORECAST TOTALS THIS WEEK (7-DAYS)
1. Whistler, British Columbia – 158 cm
2. Niseko, Japan – 85 cm
3. Heavenly, California – 47 cm
4. Mammoth, California – 27 cm
5. Hakuba, Japan – 23 cm
*As at 08/12/14
Revelstoke’s Opening Day looked so fun:
Canada
Whistler Blackcomb’s pole position on the snowfall table above is indicative of just how good they’re getting it right now, with plenty more snowfall due in the next week. Over in Revelstoke they have been copping a heap of pow making for an opening weekend to remember – they’ve now had close to three metres of cumulative snowfall already. In Alberta, Lake Louise, Sunshine, Norquay and the other resorts in the Banff area have the majority of their terrain open already. British Columbia’s smaller resorts, like Fernie and Red Mountain are expected to open for 2014 this coming weekend.
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Flippin’ out in Whistler, B.C. Image:: Whistler Blackcomb
USA
Colorado received a healthy top-up of snow at the end of last week, helping to refresh the already strong cover. Utah also received a good dose of fresh pow last week, enabling them to open up more terrain. A sunny week is ahead this week. California stole the show in North America mid last week, they received up to 50cm of new snow in Mammoth with plenty falling across the Tahoe resorts as well. It’s good to see California off to a strong start after a very dry year.
A car completely covered in Mammoth Image:: Mammoth Mountain
Temperatures warmed across the Pacifc North-west last week, and Mt Baker has only been able to open for limited operations on the weekend. They await a return to cooler temperatures before being able to open for regular hours. Stevens Pass doesn’t quite have the required snow to open yet, but that hasn’t stopped them opening the rope tow for a good ol’ community rail jam.
Jackson Hole, December 4 Image:: Jackson Hole
Europe
Unfortunately warm temps and a dominant high pressure cell have put a dampener on the start of the European winter, with only resorts that have significant elevation being able to open. However, this seems to have finally changed across the weekend. Forecast temperatures have dropped, and so has the freezing level. Snow fell across the French and Austrian alps over the weekend, with accumulations of up to 20cm in some places. Most resorts across the Northern Alps – France, Switzerland and Austria – expect to open by this weekend.
Aspen Mountain hosted the first FIS World Cup of the season last weekend, the Aspen Winternational Image:: Aspen
Summary
Overall, things are about average. Still plenty of time before we know how this season is really fairing. Shred til yer dead!
Where We Would Like To Be This Week
Lapping up the powder in Mammoth Mountain would be perfect…
Lake Louise forecasts,
snow reports and
live snow cams.
Heavenly forecasts,
snow reports and
live snow cams.
Big White forecasts,
snow reports and
live snow cams.
Whistler forecasts,
snow reports and
live snow cams.
Vail forecasts,
snow reports and
live snow cams.
Steamboat forecasts,
snow reports and
live snow cams.
Fernie forecasts,
snow reports and
live snow cams.
Snowbird forecasts,
snow reports and
live snow cams.
Sun Peaks forecasts,
snow reports and
live snow cams.
Park City forecasts,
snow reports and
live snow cams.
Mammoth forecasts,
snow reports and
live snow cams.
