Latest snow reports: exceptional snow conditions on offer as the sun shines in the mountains
The highest pistes of the Alps hold deep and dry fresh snow and with sunshine in the forecast for this weekend there will be epic spring skiing on offer. Other European ski domains have a mix of conditions with many resorts already closed, but Scotland deserves a mention due to the exceptional snow cover in the Highlands where all pistes are fully complete at all elevations. The North American ski season is coming to an end in all but the highest premier resorts, however snow conditions and snow depths are as good as they have been all winter. Probably the best snow and skiing for the week ahead will be found in British Columbia where temperatures remain cool and powder snow is forecast.
France
High pistes in the French Alps hold deep fresh snow cover and when visibility is good, this is where skiers are finding the best sport right now. Temperatures are on the rise now and this weekend will see classic spring conditions develop across the Alps as the freezing level rises to 2,500m. Les Arcs (1,600m) is today running 50 of 53 lifts and upper slopes snow base depths are immense at 420cm. Next week overhead conditions will be mixed and average resort level temperature highs will be 6ºC, but on highest slopes 20cm of snowfall is predicted for Les Arcs.
The best ski resorts in France
Austria
Spring has arrived in Austria but the highest pistes still hold fresh, dry and deep snow cover and when visibility is good the skiing is excellent. This weekend should offer classic spring conditions with mild air and sunny skies. The forecast for the week ahead though is unsettled with significant fresh snow cover on Austria’s highest pistes, but rain and sleet at lower elevations. Obertauern (1,640m) should be a good location this weekend as with skiing to an elevation of 2,330m the upper pistes still hold 250cm of snow base. Today Obertauern is operating 25 of 26 lifts and next week 30cm of snowfall are predicted for the resort's upper slopes.
best ski resorts in Austria
Switzerland
Temperatures will climb next week in the Swiss Alps but for now fresh dry snow is falling on high elevation pistes and when visibility is decent there is great skiing on offer. Zermatt (1,620m) has uplift rising to 3,900m and at this elevation today skiers have powder snow and 400cm base depths to enjoy. These high pistes are expected to receive more snow than any other Swiss domain in the next week with over 50cm of snow forecast. With mild and mixed overhead conditions predicted for the week ahead, and a freezing level rising to around 2,500m, the best skiing will continue to be found on high slopes.
The best Swiss ski resorts
Italy
The season will soon end for low elevation Italian resorts but in the highest domains of the Aosta Valley and the Monterosa uplift continues until late April. Courmayeur (1,225m) by Mont Blanc today is boasting fresh dry snow on upper slopes rising to top station at 2,750m and at this height the snow base is still recorded at close to 250cm deep. On lower slopes snow depths are starting to sink and with average resort temperatures next week climbing to 8ºC, skiers will be heading high for the best sport. The Italian resorts will have mild and mixed weather through next week but when the sun shines skiing on upper slopes will be excellent thanks to still hugely impressive snow cover.
Best Italian ski resorts
Canada
The week ahead has significant snowfall predicted for Alberta and British Columbia and skiers can look forward to deep dry powder snow on high elevation trails. Whistler (650m) offers skiing to 2,300m on Blackcomb Glacier and today 25 of 35 lifts across the resort’s vast selection of terrain are open. Mid-mountain snow depth at the Whistler Roundhouse remains impressive at 300cm and over the next seven days as much as 90cm of fresh snow is forecast to dump. So it really looks like the superb Canadian season will be ending in style.
The best ski resorts in Canada
USA
The season will soon end in many domains across the USA but skiing conditions are right now as good as they have been all winter in many of the premier resorts. Colorado will be offering fine skiing next week with almost all trails still on offer and in Breckenridge (2,926m) today 33 of 34 lifts are operational with skiing on fresh and dry groomed snow and a mid-mountain snow base recorded at 150cm. The forecast for the resort is exciting with 40cm of fresh snow over the next seven days and with periods of warm spring sunshine.
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Andorra
The past week has offered excellent skiing in the Pyrenees but the forecast for the next seven days does not feature the sunshine many skiers would expect in the Grandvalira and Vallnord domains at this stage of the season. On lower slopes rain and sleet will fall but above mid station heavy snow is predicted. Arcalis (1,940m) is today running 14 of 15 lifts and all pistes are open. Upper slopes hold 270cm of snow base at 2,900m and as much as 50cm of fresh snow is forecast for this elevation over the next week.
Eastern Europe
Spring has finally arrived in the region and there is not much of the ski season left with many resorts now closed, however several resorts are holding way above normal snow depths and continue to offer good sport. In Bulgaria the resort of Bansko (2,000m) has spring snow conditions and today is operating 11 of 14 lifts with skiing on base snow depths of up to 220cm on top pistes at an elevation of 2,560m. High pistes here may catch as much as 20cm of snow over the next week but rain will fall on lower slopes as average daytime temperature highs climb to 12ºC at resort elevation.
The best ski resorts in Eastern Europe
Scandinavia
The premier resorts of Finland, Norway and Sweden continue to offer good winter sport and the week ahead looks relatively cool with light snowfalls forecast. Salen (350m) in Sweden would be a good choice for late-season Scandinavian skiing as the resort still holds impressive snow depths, 140cm deep on upper pistes rising to 890m. Salen has 20cm of fresh dry snowfall forecast for the next five days and today the resort is operating all 88 lifts across the domain skiing is on fresh groomed dry snow.
Scotland
Conditions for skiers in the Highlands are rarely as good as they are right now with all five of the Scottish ski centres able to boast of full snow cover at all elevations and today the snow is fresh and dry. The week ahead forecast looks really promising as by this weekend the winds will have eased and decent visibility will develop. Today Cairngorm is offering all pistes with average groomed snow base depths well over one metre right across the area. Temperatures will rise next week but nothing to dramatic and skiers can expect superb Scottish spring conditions in both the east and west Highlands.
