The New PlanetSKI Snow Report
Monday 5th January
Cold conditions have hit the Alps with temperatures at 2,000m -10 to -12˚C.
“It will remain mostly fine but cold over the next few days, but with more in the way of cloud in the south-east (Dolomites, Carinthia), where some flurries are likely later on Monday and especially on Tuesday,” said the alpine weather expert, Fraser Wilkin from weathertoski.co.uk.
“Later this week there is then a good chance that we will see more significant and widespread snow as storms begin to pile into the Alps from the north-west.”
It has followed a long period in the Alps with precious little snow – four weeks in some places.
Snow depths are generally well below the annual average for early January.
High altitude areas were able to open 70-90% of their pistes over the all-important Xmas & New Year holiday period.
In Austria the Arlberg, that includes St Anton and Lech, only about half the ski area is open.
St Anton, Austria. Image © PlanetSKI
There are though some good piste conditions at altitude and the onset of the cold weather is helping snow-making.
“Excellent on piste conditions today in les Contammines above 1500m,” said Dan Fox from SkiWeekends over on the PlanetSKI Facebook page.
“Very cold, but they are doing a great job of piste management.
“Bluebird day and nobody on the slopes.”
Other readers out in the mountains have also reacted on Facebook:
Maddie Piasecki: High altitude resorts have snow.
Michel Gravier: On the Portes du Soleil, the snow conditions are not bad at all.
Alan McIntosh: Conditions are sh*t all over the 3V, don’t go until it snows A LOT
Megan Frances: Really shocking. 15yrs ago we had adbundant snow down to St Martin de Belleville (and lower) throughout January.
The images below come from PlanetSKI reader, Helen Gillespie, who is in Val Thorens and skiing some of the other areas in Les3Vallees.
Les3Vallees, France. Image © PlanetSKI/Helen Gillespie.
Les3Vallees, France. Image © PlanetSKI/Helen Gillespie.
More to follow…
Sunday 4th January
PlanetSKI’s editor, James Cove, has been based near Sunshine Village in Canada the past few weeks and here’s his weekend report as yet more snow falls:
View this post on Instagram
Elsewhere in North America there has finally been some snow in Utah, USA.
Saturday 3rd January
In contrast to many parts of the Alps, the Pyrenees has seen some fresh snow and has recorded the most snowfall in mainland Europe over the past week or so.
In Andorra most ski areas are fully open.
Andorra’s Grandvalira area (60/90cm) has 90% of its slopes open – 190km (120 miles).
That is more than any ski area in Austria or Italy at the moment.
Pal/Arinsal and Arcalis have 100% of their slopes open.
“Oh boy, has Andorra come good this winter!” said Duncan Gilroy from Absolutely Snow.
See more here about the UK operator: Absolutely Snow in Andorra
In Spain Baqueira Beret (40/80cm) has increased its open areas to 160km (100 miles) of runs.
The temperatures across the Pyrenees have remained cold which has preserved the snow that has fallen and allowed snow-making to continue apace.
Pal/Arinsal, Andorra. Image © PlanetSKI
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