World Snow Wrap December 17 – Good snowfalls in Europe and Canada, Things Finally Turning on in Japan, Massive Snowfalls in California

Mountainwatch | Reggae Elliss

Well, things have been happening around the world over the past two weeks, and I’m not just talking Omicron. The real story is snow and lots of it, particularly in the US where the resorts in Californian and the Pacific northwest have been getting hammered, the Tahoe resorts and Mammoth getting 6-8 feet over four-day period!

Anyway, checking things out around the world is making me want to jump on a plane and if you are feeling the same way you can travel to the US, Canada and Europe. Unfortunately, Japan is no-go for international travellers and looks like it’ll stay that way for quite a while which is a bummer for everyone, particularly for businesses and resorts in Japan that have come to rely on international visitors.

Let’s get into it.

USA

After a dry, mild November, the past couple of weeks have seen a big change, particularly over the past seven days with some massive totals falling across the western resorts. As I said in the intro, the Californian resorts have had some massive totals, Mammoth receiving 152cms since Sunday and it is still snowing hard today. Further north Palisades Tahoe has received 198cms in the past week while Kirkwood is reporting a massive 205cms.

The storm was accompanied by super strong winds with a lot of wind-loading and all resorts have been busy with avalanche control. The weekend is looking good with clear weather ahead of another big storm next week, Mammoth in line for another 175cms over a five-day period while the Tahoe resorts could see another 175-201cms! Should be a good Christmas!

There has also been snow further inland with resorts in Colorado receiving 40-60cms over the past week, with Aspen and Telluride at the top end of the scale. Resorts in Utah also received plenty of snow with Alta reporting 50cms in the past 48 hours while Park City has had 25cms. Jackson Hole is also looking good thanks to a healthy 60cms in the past week. Looking ahead the Pacific Northwest will see plenty of snow this weekend while another storm is set to drop good totals across the Sierras, Cascades and the Rockies next week.

Canada.

The storm that hit the US west coast also delivered a lot of snow to the Coast Mountains in BC, Whistler Blackcomb reporting 102cms in the past week with snow to the base and conditions are getting better by the day. The interior BC resorts did not miss out, Revelstoke report 42cms in the past 5 days while Fernie saw 29cms of quality dry snow.

Snow showers are continuing today in interior BC and the forecast is for another good storm this weekend with heavy snowfalls at times delivering big totals to the Coast Mountains with the resorts north of Vancouver looking at 100cms while Whistler Blackcomb should see 65-70cms. The storm will reach interior BC, with 35cms in the five-day forecast for Fernie, Revelstoke and Kicking Horse.

In Alberta the good early season continues, Lake Louise receiving another 47cms in the past seven days, taking the base on the lower mountain to 119cms and it is 163cms up high. Panorama has similar totals with 46cms over the past week with good conditions across the resort. Typically cold temps are maintaining the snow quality with good condition son and off piste. The forecast is for snow showers across the weekend with 10-15cms possible in The Banff resorts by Tuesday, but it will be freezing with max temps down to -15!!

Japan

It has been a slow start to the season in Hokkaido with heavy rain last week taking its toll on the snowpack. Fortunately, that has changed and snowfalls across the past few days have improved the cover although skiers are downloading in Niseko – a rarity in December.  In Furano things are slowly improving with 26cms in the past 48 hours but the Kitanomine Zone is still closed and there are only three lifts open in the Furano Zone. Things are looking goof for Hokkaido over the next few days, the Grasshopper calling for snow with decent 50cms on the way for Niseko while Furano should get 15-20cms.

Conditions have been better in resorts across Honshu, with early season snowfalls establishing a decent base in Hakuba Valley with the resorts all having lifts spinning. A change has hit Hakuba with snow up high today, but temps will drop as a stronger system hits with a metre of snow possible by Tuesday. Unfortunately, it is low tide in Myoko and the resorts are scheduled to open this weekend, but there may be insufficient cover. However, the forecast is looking good for snow over the weekend ahead of more snow mid-week, so things should improve quickly.

Europe

Good news out of Europe with resorts opening in Austria after a brief lockdown and consistent snowfalls across the Alps over the past two weeks. Resorts in France, Switzerland and Italy have done very well with 7-day totals of over a metre. Engleberg in Switzerland reported over 80cms turning on a couple of awesome powder days last weekend. Further east there were good falls in Austria with resorts reporting 25-30cms setting up great conditions for the returning tourists.

After enduring closures last season and at the end of 2020, the resorts and locals are looking forward to a big winter and return to business and the recent snowfalls have set up a very good early season cover. The forecast is for mainly fine weather over the next few days.

Where we would like to be this week.

Tahoe. After 190cms of snow and more on the way next week it will be going off.  Plus there’s a few resorts to choose from all within an easy drive of each other – Palisades Tahoe, Sugarbowl, Kirkwood, Northstar, Homewood, Heavenly, Mt Rose…..