The PlanetSKI New Year Snow Report
Sunday 28th December
In Europe it is mainly sunny in the Alps with the best snow to be found in the south-west Alps after last week’s huge snowfalls.
The snow drought over large parts of the Alps continues, though there is some in the forecast for later in the week.
Exactly how much remains to be seen – keep the snow dances going folks!
There still remains some decent piste skiing at altitude though lower down it is getting pretty sketchy in places.
For an overall assessment we turn to Fraser Wilkin from weathertoski.co.uk.
“Over the next few days, it will remain mostly sunny in the Alps but will turn much colder, especially in the north-east,” said Fraser on Sunday.
“The next significant snow is forecast for early in the New Year but there is still lots of uncertainty over the detail.
“In the meantime, snow conditions in the Alps remain mixed.
“For most of the Alps, however, snow depths are considerably below par for late December, with some reasonable pistes at higher altitudes, but increasingly worn, patchy or icy slopes in many lower areas.”
More to follow…
Saturday 27th December
In the USA some snow is finally falling after a poor start to winter across many of the main resorts in the western USA.
Resorts have had to delay openings as little natural snow has fallen and December has seen unseasonably warm temperatures.
Most have been able to open some terrain over the Xmas period.
“While natural snow has been slow to fall this year, our operations teams have been working hard around the clock to get the best possible product ready for the holiday season,” said the Breckenridge and Keystone communications manager, Sarah McLear.
Most ski resorts only had a fraction of the amount of terrain open over Xmas compared to past seasons:
- Breckenridge in Colorado had 550 acres of terrain open – 19% of its total.
- Aspen-Snowmass had about 1,170 acres of skiing open 21% of its total.
- Arapahoe Basin had 11% open
- Keystone had 16% open
- Vail had less than 10% open
- Steamboat Resort had 9% open
- Beaver Creek had 10% open
Many resorts warned of “variable conditions” and a thin base coverage.
Aspen saw its second-warmest Christmas on record.
Now things are slowly changing.
After a delayed start at Mt. Hood Meadows people were finally able to hit the slopes.
It was the latest start to the ski season at the resort in more than 30 years.
In Mammoth Mountain in California two ski patrollers were caught in an avalanche as they worked to secure the slopes after heavy snowfall.
They were conducting avalanche mitigation work after more than 5 feet of snow fell at the resort in three days.
“One patroller sustained serious injuries and is being transported out of the area for further care, the second patroller is being evaluated with possible broken bones,” Mammoth Mountain said.
There was a Level 3 risk at the time meaning there was ‘considerable’ threat.
Mammoth Mountain. Image © PlanetSKI
The poor snow has also combined with a fall in international visitors in the USA, which some put down to President Trump and his policies.
PlanetSKI editor, James Cove, is currently skiing in the resorts around Banff in Canada.
“I have no facts and figures at this stage but many Canadians wouldn’t dream of heading over the border into the USA after Trump’s comments and policies against Canada.
“In short it is seen as unpatriotic and anti-Canadian to visit the USA.”
Canadian tourists have dropped as much as 25% in one ski town this year.
pic.twitter.com/J4B3TLM91M
— SnowBrains (@SnowBrains) December 27, 2025
“It is very fortunate for the ones I have spoken to who have stayed in Canada as the resorts around Banff have some of the best conditions anywhere in the world with December snow records broken,” added James.
“The Canadian conditions are in stark contract to those in the USA.”
There were big crowds at the bottom of the main lift at Sunshine Village on Sunday 28th.
Sunshine Village, Banff, Canada. Image © PlanetSKI
But up top the slopes were pretty much deserted, if you know where to go.
Sunshine Village, Banff, Canada. Image © PlanetSKI
For last week’s PlanetSKI snow report to see how things have been developing and to put the current conditions into context as the main part of the season gets underway, then see here:
The Wild West, Sunshine Village, Canada. Image © PlanetSKI
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