With the ski season fast approaching and some resorts already open, here’s the first snow report from the Ski Club.
More resorts are starting to open and snow is falling increasingly frequently. Many of the European glaciers continue to offer good conditions, whilst in Scandinavia, Ruka in Finland is also open.
In North America, three of our featured resorts in the USA are already open: Arapahoe Basin, Loveland and Timberline. Whistler, British Columbia is due to start its winter season on 23 November.
SNOW ALERT
Based on current weather forecasts for the next 9 days, the top three resorts for expected snowfall are:
Zermatt, Switzerland – 208cm
Canazei, Italy – 138cm
Arabba, Italy – 131cm
AUSTRIA
With the recent snowfall from the latter part of last week, snow conditions have improved. In the past week Kitzbuhel (50cm) has re-opened for the season. The Kitzsteinhorn at Kaprun (140cm) has had some great snow conditions so far this year, as they have been able to open every lift. In most resorts for the next two day the forecast shows for stable weather, with Kitzbuhel (50cm) and Solden (121cm) both experiencing mild temperatures of +4C and +3C respectively. As we approach the weekend, a cold front has been forecast to come over the vast majority of Austria. This should greatly improve snow conditions in the resorts that are already open, and in turn more resorts should be opening as we are getting closer to the main winter season. Obergurgl is due to open on 16th November.
FRANCE
Tignes (30cm) is our only featured French resort open so far, with two lifts serving two runs on the Grand Motte glacier, where coverage remains limited in places. A changing weather system is expected to bring this needed snow over the weekend however, getting colder on Saturday and the most significant snowfalls expected on Sunday with up to 30cm expected.
SWITZERLAND
Saas Fee (40cm) and Zermatt (40cm) are offering early season skiing in Switzerland having been running over the summer. Both are offering a worthwhile amount of pistes and several lifts, though skiing is limited to pisted runs and parks currently. Both resorts will benefit from the snow coming to the Western Alps, with the largest falls coming on Sunday and continuing at a lower level into the following week.
ITALY
In Italy, Cervinia (40cm) and Val Senales (30cm) are open, having been operating over the summer. Of the two, Val Senales is offering the superior conditions, having received a greater share of recent snowfalls. Huge snowfalls are forecast in the coming days as a new cold front arrives on the Western Alps, benefitting Cervinia most significantly with the chance of 50cm+ falling on Sunday.
ANDORRA
There is currently no skiing at any of our featured Andorran resorts.
SCANDANAVIA
Ruka (12cm) is open in Finland, having stored a large quantity of snow from last season. They are currently running 5 lifts, with impressive coverage at this time of year due to significant artificial snow production. Weather forecasts show changing conditions alongside fluctuating temperatures, with cloud cover bringing a mix of rain and snow.
GERMANY
There is currently no skiing at any of our featured German resorts.
EASTERN EUROPE
There is currently no skiing at any of our featured Eastern European resorts.
SCOTLAND
There is currently no skiing at any of our featured Scottish resorts.
USA
Timberline (15cm), Oregon, and Arapahoe Basin (46cm) and Loveland (46cm) in Colorado, are our only featured resorts in the USA offering skiing at present. Oregon is operating at weekends only for the time being, and early season riding conditions exist at Arapahoe, meaning there is no beginner skiing currently available.
Plenty of snow is being forecast to fall across America, and Timberline is expecting around 30cm on Saturday 4th. The Pacific North West in general should receive new snow this weekend, with resorts in California, Idaho, Utah, Colorado and into British Colombia all in line to receive some fresh.
CANADA
There is currently no skiing at any of our featured Canadian resorts.
JAPAN
There is currently no skiing at any of our featured Japanese resorts.
