World Snow Wrap March 11 – Winter Makes a Comeback in North America, While Spring Takes Hold in Europe and Japan

March 11th, 2022
Kyle Toohey, revelling in some classic Utah powder in Alta this week. Photo: Isabelle La Motte

 Mountainwatch | Reggae Elliss

Many resorts in the northern hemisphere are now into the last month of operations for the 2021/22 season and while it is all about spring in Japan and the European Alps, there has been some good powder over the past week in North America and there is more on the way. Read on for the details.

USA

It has been a great week in parts of the US with the Rockies seeing some goods totals and a few fun powder days in Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and Montana. The storm dropped another 25cms across many Colorado resorts last night and Aspen received 50cms since Sunday while Steamboat received a big two-day total of 60cms by Thursday morning. In Wyoming Jackson Hole also registered big totals on Tuesday with 50cms and cold temps which turned on had a classic bluebird powder day yesterday. Checkout Owen Leeper’s video below!

Resorts in Utah didn’t miss out with good snow totals and and a couple of classic powder days, Alta reporting 55cms Tuesday/Wednesday. The forecast for the Rockies is a couple of dry days ahead of another storm late in the weekend/early next week with totals of 15-20cms expected by next Thursday.

 

Aspen this morning. This what they call “light and dry”. Photo: Matt Power

Further west the Tahoe resorts and Mammoth saw some snow last weekend (10-20cms), and it has been fine but cold over the past few days. There’s not much in the forecast over the next week but there is a chance of storm next weekend. In the Pacific Northwest the Cascades have been dry over the past five days but that is set to change this weekend with a solid storm moving out of the North Pacific, Mt Baker in line for a healthy 70cms by next Thursday while Crystal Mountain could see 50cms.

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/Ca6IU7uAlMA/

 

Canada

After some snow at the start of the month it has been dry and cold in Whistler over the past week. Interior BC resorts have seen a couple of snow falls over the past 10 days with varying totals, Revelstoke receiving just 4cm past week while Kicking Horse had 10cms on Tuesday. Fernie also saw a bit of snow with 18cms from March 5-8. The forecast is looking good with a series of storms on the way starting on the weekend with 10-20cms forecast for the Powder Highway resorts by Tuesday. Whistler Blackcomb and the Coast Mountains should see 30cms by Monday while a second storm could drop another 50cms from Tuesday through to next weekend although there may be some drizzle at lower elevations.

 

A nice day in Banff Sunshine Village today. Photo: Banff Sunshine Village

In Alberta, Lake Louise had a little top up last weekend things haven pretty quiet over the past few days with sunshine, light winds and pleasant conditions. Nakiska has received 30cms earlier in the week, with good sunshine and fun powder pockets over the past two days. The forecast is for snow on the way with a change due tonight for Lake Louise and the Banff resorts with 20-25cms forecast by early next week.

Japan

Spring conditions in most Honshu resorts over the past few days after a top up last Sunday/Monday, Hakuba receiving 20cmsa, Myoko 28cms while Nozawa Onsen topped the count with 40cms. It has been fine since with uncrowded mid-week slopes and a melt freeze cycle producing some classic spring corn yesterday and today. The forecast is for sunshine over the next couple of days ahead of a weak system early next week that could see showers at lower elevations and a few cms of snow up high.

 

Sunshine and freshies in Niseko on Tuesday and @bontah_yo knows where to find the goods. Photo: Glen Claydon/ @gcp_

In Hokkaido a storm dropped 35cm at Niseko from last Friday though to yesterday with around 5-10cms each day.  It has been fine for the past two days, but our snow reporter advised today that “good powder remains in the shadows at north and NW aspects”. Today is the first sunny day in Furano for a while after light snowfalls each day over the past week leaving a 7-day total of 35cms. The forecast is for snow flurries over the weekend ahead of snow Tuesday/Wednesday with Niseko set to received 20cms and 15cms in the forecast for Furano.

Europe

The up and down season continues in Europe with a melt-freeze cycle happening thanks to a long gap in between significant snowfall. Seems that has been the story for most of the winter. After a few snowfalls during the last week of February it has been fine across the European Alps for the start of March with sunshine and good conditions on piste but it is icy and hard packed off piste.  Should make for challenging conditions for the Freeride World Tour event in Fieberbruun, Austria next week.

 

The set-up in Leysin, Switzerland for the Park and Pipe Junior World Championships

The terrain parks are in good shape and the fine weather has been good for a number of competitions including the Park and Pipe Junior Worlds which are currently on in Leysin Switzerland.  Unfortunately, there is no significant snow in the forecast for the next week with sunshine for most regions over the next week with a dusting around the 17thfor resorts near the Swiss/French border. Other than it looks dry for most of the Alps until at least March 20.

Where we would like to be this week

Interior BC and with fresh snow in the forecast, a Powder Highway road trip sounds like the way to go,