Word Snow Wrap, December 10 – A Heap of Snow in Europe, Snow On The Way For The US and Canada, Solid Storm Set to Hit Honshu.

December 10th, 2020

 

Zermatt, Switzerland – looking spectacular after last weekend’s snow storm. Photo: Zermatt Matterhorn

Mountainwatch | Reggae Elliss

After a slow start to winter, the forecast is for significant snowfalls in Hakuba and other Honshu resorts next week which should see the resorts kick off their season. A dry spell in the US will break with snow across the Rockies and northern Sierras this week while snowfalls will continue in Canada this weekend. The past week saw huge snowfalls in the European Alps with dangerous avalanche conditions in the backcountry as resort lockdowns continue except in Switzerland.

USA

It has been a quiet week in the USA although there were good snowfalls in the northeast last weekend.  The western states have been mainly fine with good on conditions on piste, but that is about to change with a storm and fresh snow due this weekend, the Cascades and Northern Rockies due for some moderate falls.  It is looking good for Utah with 20-25cms forecast for Snowbird and Alta while the southern resorts in Colorado will also fare well, Telluride and Wolf Creek in line for 20cms.

 

Early season conditions in Alta this week, but a good reset is due this weekend. Photo: Alta

After a few sunny days, Jackson Hole will also see some snow this weekend, a stronger storm on Sunday/Monday set to deliver 15-25cms and the snowy pattern will continue next week.

It has been a dry and sunny couple of weeks in California, but the northern Sierras are going to see some snow this weekend with the Tahoe resorts due for 10-15cms Sunday night into Monday followed by a few snow showers next week. Unfortunately, the storms will be too far north for Mammoth with only a few cms expected late in the weekend.

 

Aspen on Monday, Dec 7 but the sunshine is about to give way to 10-15cms of snow. Photo: Tae Westcott

The US continues to be Covid hotspot where the pandemic isn’t showing any signs of easing and new restrictions have been imposed in some states. Stay-at-home lockdowns have been ordered in some areas of California, including San Francisco, LA and the greater Sacramento area.  At this stage the resorts are permitted to stay open but overnight accomodation in Mammoth and tech Tahoe resorts is restricted to home-owners, retail stores are restricted to 20% capacity and no inside dining.

Resorts that are open throughout the US are operating under strict Covid-safe procedures with varying requirements from state to state, including limited on-mountain dining, reserved bookings for lift tickets and no walk-up day tickets. Fingers crossed things improve soon.

Canada

The past week saw some good snowfalls in the Rockies with resorts in Alberta reporting the best falls Monday night into Tuesday, Lake Louise topping the count with 25cms. Snowfalls should clear today with another 10-15cms possible by the time they ease this evening. In BC there has been a mixed bag in Whistler over the past couple of days with rain down low and 10cms on the upper mountain. Resorts in interior BC also had some snow this week with 15cms in Revelstoke on Tuesday/Wednesday while Big White had 10cm sin the past 48 hours.

 

Freshies in Lake Louise yesterday morning after another top up overnight. Photo: Lake Louise

The forecast is looking good for Whistler with a storm and colder temps forecast late in the weekend with 25cms due early next week. The storm will also make it to the interior BC resorts, Revelstoke set to receive 15cms by Tuesday. It looks like mainly fine weather this weekend for Lake Louise and the Banff resorts but it will be cold, with day time max temps if -12 degrees.

Canada has also seen a rise in Covid cases over the past three weeks and the advisory remains not to travel outside your local area. The resorts are all operating under a Covid Safe plan with reduced numbers, social distancing and mandatory face masks.

Japan

After good snowfalls across Hokkaido last week it has been a bit quieter over the past few days, although 30cms on Monday night set up a good powder day in Furano on Tuesday. The past couple of days have been mainly clear and cold with good on piste skiing in Furano. In Niseko all four resorts areas are open on limited terrain with the average base at 50cms. Rusutsu is also open and had had a few cms in the past 48 hours and has an early season base of 30-45cms. The forecast is for light snowfalls across the over the next seven days with Niseko expecting 20cms while Furano should see another 10-25cms early next week.

 

Furano freshies. Photo: Lucy Morrell

It has been a very quiet start to the winter for the resorts on Honshu, and although there is some snow up high in Hakuba, there are no lifts open at this stage. However, a solid system is on the way and it could be the start of a good season, the Grasshopper writing in his Japan Season Outlook yesterday that “Central and Western Honshu can expect average or above Japowder”. The resorts in Hakuba will open as soon as conditions allow and given the forecast that could be next weekend, while lifts are scheduled to open in Myoko on December 18. Nozowa and Shiga Kogen are also scheduled to open lifts this week and with snow on the way will be pushing to have some lifts open on Dec 18.

Europe

After a long period of dry weather in the European Alps, things changed in a big way this week with huge snowfalls, region sin the southern Alps some receiving two metres of snow over three-days, peaking last weekend.  The heaviest falls were in the south with resorts in Italy and the southern Tyrol in Austria reporting the biggest totals. While it is good to see the long dry-spell break, it is frustrating for local businesses as the resorts in Italy, France and Andorra are closed until early January. Austrian resorts are also closed now, but will re-open on December 24 for locals with lifts spinning but hotels and accommodation will remain closed until Jan 7.

 

Heavy snowfalls made for a powder Sunday  in Laax, Switzerland, last weekend. Switzerland is the only country in the Alps where resorts are open.Photo: Laax Resort

Switzerland, however, has not closed its resorts and around 20 ski resorts are currently open and those lucky enough to be there a couple of good powder days early in the week. However, while the lifts are spinning some restaurants and bars are closed and while social distancing and mandatory face coverings are required on the mountain.

Not surprisingly the closure of the resorts in France, Italy and Austria has led to many people heading into the backcountry. However, the avalanche danger is high, the big snowfalls after a lengthy dry spell and strong winds contributing to an unstable snow pack.

The snow has also been falling in the Pyrenees with 50cms earlier this week but most resorts in Spain remain closed. The forecast is for more snow this weekend for areas in France, Austria and Switzerland while Italy will be cold but mainly dry for the next week.

Where We Would Like to Be This Week

Switzerland. The resorts are open, the terrain is awesome and there’s more snow on the way. The photo above from Laax, says it all.