Big Snowfalls to Start May in the Alps
There has been up to a metre (40 inches) of new snowfalls reported at still open ski areas in the Alps to start May.
Several glaciers in Austria have reported up to 50cm of fresh snow so far over the weekend, and the Presena Glacier in Trentino, Italy, says it has had a metre (40 inches) of fresh snow above 3,000 metres over the past 72 hours. It is scheduled to stay open for another fortnight.
Temperatures have dropped in to double digits below zero and although the snowfall is now expected to ease off, it will remain very cold all week at most ski areas.
For most ski areas this meant it was a powder weekend, although as it kept snowing there was also low visibility and more like mid-winter rather than mid-spring conditions.
The snowfall has been reported down to low levels with the Hintertux glacier, which is open year round and has reported 50cm (20 inches) of snowfall in the past 48 hours, posting images of fresh snow right down to the base of the mountain at 1500m altitude (picture above taken on Sunday 5 May). It has 16 lifts operating at present serving 43km of runs.
The Stubai Glacier (open in to June, pictured top and below this weekend) has reported 65cm (over two feet) of snowfall and Solden 45cm (18 inches). Other open Austrian ski areas reported 10-30cm of new snow.
Heavy snow was also reported in the French Alps for the final weekend of the season there. Val Thorens posted images of snow covered cars and reported 34cm (14 inches) of fresh snow. French media reported that the cold weather delivered snowfall to the Cote d’Azur too.
In Switzerland, Engelberg, which is still reporting the deepest base in the Alps at 6.6 metres, has reported 82cm (33 inches) of snowfall since Friday. It is scheduled to stay open through to the last weekend of the month.
Snowfall was also reported, mostly before the weekend, further East in the Slovak Republic and in North America in the Colorado and Alberta Rockies.
Arapahoe Basin (open in to June) is pictured below on May 1st.
