World Snow Wrap, February 8th, 2026 – Dry Period about to end in North America, Things have slowed in Japan, Massive Storm on the Way for Europe
Mountainwatch | Reggae Elliss
While much of the snow world’s focus is currently on the Winter Olympics in Italy, there is still plenty of winter action in other parts of world. In Japan January went out with a bang with some huge snowfalls and insanely good powder days. The dry doldrums of the past month are about to end in North America while in Europe, things are about to ramp up with the biggest from of the year on the way.
Japan
After a couple of big storms to see out January, the first week of February has been relatively quiet in Japan, with mild temps and spring-like conditions. However, another storm has delivered snow this weekend with resorts on both Honshu and Hokkaido picking up 10-15cms on Friday and Saturday night. Heavier falls dropped another 20cms during Sunday in Central Honshu, Myoko, and Madarao picking up another further 20-30cms today and more is expected Sunday night into Monday before another warming trend mid-week.
For those who were in Japan during the back half of January there were some typically good powder days, although it’s fair to say many visitors couldn’t deal with the depth of snow at times. This was particularly true in central Honshu during the storm on Jan 25-25 when Myoko and Nozawa Onsen picked up 1.5m in two days, with a few of social media post showing people stuck in waist-deep snow.
Up in Hokkaido conditions we excellent up until last week, our on-the-ground Niseko reporters at Sea and Summit Collective describing the last week of January as the best of the season. That wrapped up a good month for Niseko and other resorts in that area, January recording the highest monthly snow total in 12 years. However, that was off the back of the worst December in 14 years, and Niseko’s snow depth is now sitting just above average for early February.
Canada
The theme for much of western Canada over the past two weeks has been high pressure, fine and mild weather, a melt/freeze cycle with hardpacked morning snow, softening in the afternoon. That reads like a snow report I’d write for Perisher in late August! Prior to that temps in interior BC and Alberta had been freezing, while any snowfalls falls have been small and few and far between.
Whistler Blackcomb picked up 25cms up high over four days to see out January but with the mild temps it was rain down low. Revelstoke also picked up 35cms over the same period, the best day was on Jan 31st after a cheeky 13cms overnight. It is a similar story in Alberta, with just a few little top-ups in the past three weeks and generally “hard and fast conditions”. A little different than December in the Canadian Rockies when Lake Louise and Kicking Horse picked up five metres for month.
Fortunately, it looks like the extended dry spell in over with a much snowy outlook over the next two weeks, particularly for the Coast Mountains in BC where the 7-day forecast for Whistler is looking at good for substantial snow. Check out the Grasshopper’s lastest North American forecast for the details on what to expect this week.
USA
For resorts in the western US this has not been a good winter with just a few light snowfalls this year and a snowpack that is well below average for the start of February. While the powder days have been few and far between, many resorts have 60-70% of terrain open, albeit most of that is on piste. Most of the advanced terrain is resorts in the Utah is still closed due to lack of snow cover and there is little snow at the base.
Resorts in Colorado picked up some snow to see out January, Aspen recording J13ins on January 24-26th, while Steamboat picked up 10ins over the same period. There has been little or no snow for resorts in Utah, Jackson Hole and California’s Sierras.
In what may be a season turnaround the long, long dry spell is about to end with widespread snowfalls on the way for much of the Western US. A storm has hit the Pacific Northwest this weekend and that storm is is set to track south and further inland mid-week with significant snow expected from the Sierras through to the Central Rockies. Hopefully it’ll be enough to secure cover for the back half of the season.
Europe
After a mainly dry January, the past couple of weeks have seen unsettled weather across the European Alps, with most regions receiving a nice refresh during the last week of January. The Pyrenees also picked up snow that week which set up good conditions for the Freeride World Championships in Andorra last week.
The result has been a mix of laps on the groomers, shallow freshies off piste with resorts in Austria, Switzerland, France and Italy all enjoying fun conditions.
Most storm across the Alps this winter have been quick and intense, dropping a lot of snow over a short period that has created very dangerous avalanche conditions at time. The next storm is due early this week and at this stage is looking like one of the longest and biggest of the winter. A series of back-to-back fronts could see snow falling across the Alps for at least week. The forecast snow totals for the western Alps are significant, with 96cms forecast for Verbier, 107cms for Val d’Isère while Chamonix could see 120cm over 10 days.
This storm could also impact the Winter Olympics with some snow forecast for Livigno, which is hosting the park and pipe, snowboard cross and freestyle events, on most days from Wednesday through to the end of the games. Expected snow totals aren’t huge, but visibility and wind may be an issue at times.
Where We’d to Be This Week
Livigno. Fun resort, great food and we’d get to watch some of Australia’s best snow athletes in action.
