Europe Weekly Roundup #234
It’s pre-Easter week, and after a rather quiet week before this, things have turned a little wintery in many parts of the world now that springtime is officially here.
Ski Season Extends: Resorts Prolong Operations Amidst Snowfall Surge, Catering to Late-Season Enthusiasts
- Global Snowfall: Fresh snowfall has been widespread across North America, Europe, and Japan, making for excellent skiing conditions.
- Extended Seasons: Many ski areas are extending their seasons due to recent snowfalls, offering enthusiasts the opportunity to enjoy skiing well into April and beyond.
- Varied Conditions: While lower slopes may experience thawing due to warmer temperatures, higher elevations still offer powder days and excellent skiing conditions.
WORLD OVERVIEW:
There’s been plenty of fresh snowfall across North America from coast to coast; big snowfalls in Japan and much of Europe have seen temperatures drop and snowfall, too. This is the end of March not mid-January though, so lower slopes continue to see warm temperatures thawing the snow down there, just as powder days are still possible up high.
For many Northern Hemisphere ski areas, one of the next three weekends will mark the end of their 23-24 seasons, although hundreds will continue into the latter half of April. A growing number are also announcing extended seasons thanks to the recent snowfalls.
Although we’re still about 10 weeks from the start of the 2024 season, anticipation is building. Snow showers were reported on some high ground in New Zealand last week, and ski areas in Australia reported overnight lows down to freezing at the end of last week. Then, New Zealand’s Cardrona reported a decent covering down to resort level on Wednesday, 27th March.
EUROPE INTRO
We’ve had something of a return to winter in the Alps, at least on higher slopes, with plenty of fresh snowfall. Although, it being the end of March, that's often been rain on the lower mountain. In fact, we've had the full mix of conditions: overnight freezers, gusting winds, low cloud and flat light hitting visibility and even periods of beautiful, clear sunny weather to enjoy that fresh snow. This weather mix was the cause of the cancellation of the final Men's World Cup Downhill race at Saalbach Hinterglemm in Austria on Sunday. They reported 15cm (6") of fresh snowfall up top at the start of the day, rain at the base of the course and poor visibility, so not good for a World Cup high-speed run. The snowfall has been widespread, with ski areas across Eastern Europe, as well as the Alps, Pyrenees and Scandinavia, all posting colder temperatures and snow showers over the past few days.
AUSTRIA REPORT
Two weather extremes in Austria, really, with lower centres battling to keep runs open as valley high temperatures head up towards +20C in the afternoon, and it is even high single figures at 2,000m, above the highest lifts at some of the country's big areas. But then, up on the country's glaciers and other higher altitude areas, there are glorious conditions, so much so that the Mölltaler Glacier has now extended its season by three weeks to 16th June. The glaciers have been posting fresh snow and still increasing base depth as valley snow melts away. One of the country’s biggest ski areas, the Skiwelt, now has less than half of its runs open, but then it’s the final weekend of the season coming up there.
AUSTRIA FORECAST
The weather remains changeable. Valley highs will be +10C at 1000m altitude, +5C at 2,000m, and below freezing at 3000m. Heavy snowfall is possible over the next few days, and rain on lower slopes and plenty of sunny spells are forecast, too.
SWITZERLAND REPORT
Swiss resorts have had another week of mixed weather with plenty of sunny days and warm temperatures melting valley snow, but also snow accumulating on glaciers and high runs whilst falling as rain in valleys. Thus, Laax (0/461cm / 0/184”) has gone back up to posting one of the world’s deepest upper slope bases whilst losing the last of its valley cover, previously at 10cm (4”) a week ago. That’s all normal for springtime, of course, and it's really just a case of keeping higher terrain open through to projected closing dates now, which will start to arrive en masse from the weekend after Easter onwards. For now, though, most big areas remain 70-95% open. The 4 Valleys (20/290cm / 8/116") around Verbier have the most in the country, with 350km / 85% of their runs available for Christmas week.
SWITZERLAND FORECAST
There is plenty of precipitation in the forecast for the rest of the week, likely to fall as snow above around 1600m and rain below.
FRANCE REPORT
It's been quite a weather roller coaster this past week in the French mountains, with temperatures dipping close to freezing down to low elevations and snow falling over the weekend but shooting back up to double figures in valleys with the sunshine returning and the freezing point way above 2000m again, so it’s been a real mixed bag. Well, it is spring. But as we start the Easter fortnight, most French areas still have most of their terrain open with the ongoing normal spring scenario of the best conditions above 1800m (which is fortunately where most of the slopes at the bigger, well-known resorts are), and the most ’winterlike’ conditions above 2500m. French areas continue to post the most open terrain and the deepest snow in the world and there are also some notifications of extended season. Brevent (10/290cm / 4/116”), in the Chamonix Valley, will be staying open an extra week to the 21st of April; the Compagnie du Mont-Blanc, which runs the lifts in the Chamonix Valley, has announced that the Brevent ski area will remain open for a further week after its previously planned April 14th closure, now operating to 21 April 2024. Well, its upper slopes, accessed by the Planpraz lift and Parsa chairlift and at least six pistes (Combe des Vioz, Stade Géant, Blanchots, Retour Planpraz, Verte 2000 and Espace Débutant Funi 2000 pistes) open to the end.
FRANCE FORECAST
Light to moderate snowfall is expected on higher slopes through the rest of this week, most likely heaviest in the southern French Alps and over the coming 36 hours. Lighter showers and sunny spells later in the week. Temperatures will reach +10C in valleys so rain or fast melting snow at lower elevations.
ITALY REPORT
Italy, too, has seen some very warm valley temperatures, with snow (up high) and sleet and rain at lower elevations. So low-lying areas are struggling to maintain cover, while higher areas continue to post excellent conditions. Cervinia (0/250cm / 0/100”) has the most terrain open in the country, or at least from Italy, with a big chunk of the 195km (172 miles) of runs open over the seamless border with Switzerland’s Zermatt.
ITALY FORECAST
Moderate snowfalls, with the possibility of half-metre (20”) total accumulations by the weekend for higher slopes. Plenty of sunshine in the mix, too, and warm valley temperatures, so rain at lower levels.
GERMANY REPORT
After one of the worst seasons on record, only half a dozen German ski areas (about 1.5% of the country's total number of ski areas) are making it through to the Easter holiday weekend, and most of those still open have thin bases and only part of their terrain open. Mild temperatures and rain showers continue to be the main problem as most German centres are low-lying compared to the high Alps to the south. Garmisch Classic (0/145cm / 0/58”) was one of those dropping its prices as it was unable to offer a chunk of its terrain, now down to 65% of its area. The Zugspitze (145/291cm / 58/116”), open to the start of May, has the best condition thanks to its altitude. Oberstdorf (40/138cm / 16/55”) remains 100% open.
GERMANY FORECAST
Fairly dry for the coming days with sunshine. Valley temperatures at +15C will continue the thaw, with higher slopes just about touching freezing overnight but +5C in the afternoons.
SCANDINAVIA REPORT
Scandinavian ski areas have continued to post cold and snowy weather just as the rest of Europe has warmed up. Much of the snowfall reported in Europe up to the weekend was falling in Norway or Sweden, with the Myrkdalen (120/160cm / 48/64") ski area, near Voss on Norway's west Coast, as one of the big winners, reporting 20 cm (8") in 24 hours into the weekend, then a further 40cm (16”) at the start of this week. Geilo (100/150cm / 40/60”) posted just a few centimetres less, and Roldal (120/170cm / 48/68”) had a good fall too.
SCANDINAVIA FORECAST
Light to moderate snowfall is forecast for the rest of the week for most Scandinavian areas, with 5-15cm (2-6") accumulations expected most days. It will be drier by the weekend but remain overcast.
SCOTLAND REPORT
Scotland’s ski season continues its usual tightrope, perhaps a little better at the start of this week than at the end of last. Gales closed Cairngorms' higher slopes while Glencoe announced they had to close theirs due to a thawed snowpack, but it reopened on Sunday after a weekend of cold weather and fresh snow improved things. However, both say that their upper-mountain skiing requires a 30-minute hike up, with the funicular out of action in Cairngorm's case. Then what's available is suited to experts only on both mountains. The Lecht, Glenshee and Cairngorm also continue to offer beginner skiing on slopes maintained by all-weather snowmaking systems at their bases. Glencoe uses their equivalent for sledging but has a dry slope and snow patches for lessons. Nevis Range remains unable to offer any snowsports at present.
SCOTLAND FORECAST
It’s looking fairly promising for the week ahead. More cold weather and snow showers are forecast, hopefully enough to maintain the existing snow and keep the natural snow runs open.
SPAIN / ANDORRA REPORT
We’ve been back to the warm, sunny weather that dominated much of the winter in the Pyrenees over the past week, with valley highs reaching +20C and as much as +10C on high slopes in the afternoons, too, but at least now it is spring, and that’s pretty normal for the time of year. It has also turned much colder and snowier since the start of this week. Bases remain among the best they’ve been all season, however, and the region’s largest area, Andorra’s Grandvalira (100/180cm / 40/72”), including Pas de la Casa and Soldeu ski area, has had more than 70% of its terrain /160km (100 miles) of slopes open this week.
SPAIN / ANDORRA FORECAST
Rain/snow showers and sunny spells for most resorts through the week, with 5-10cm (2-4”) accumulations on higher slopes, the freezing point moving between 1000m and 2200m through the 24-hour cycle.
BULGARIA / ROMANIA REPORT
Conditions have been mixed in southeastern Europe, with warm weather continuing to melt the snow cover on lower terrain, but fresh snow reported up high. As a result, Bansko’s (0/170cm / 0/68”) lower base depth has dropped to zero, and its famous long ‘Road’ from the ski slopes back to the resort base, which had been reported in “great condition” only a few days before, is now closed for the season.
BULGARIA / ROMANIA FORECAST
Mostly dry and sunny with valley temperatures potentially reaching +20C by Easter Sunday, currently about half that. Overnight lows are still just below zero Celsius on higher slopes for freeze-thaw conditions.
CZECH REPUBLIC / SLOVAKIA REPORT
It’s been cold enough for snowmaking systems to fire back up overnight at Jasna, and with clear sunny skies most of the time, too, the past week has been one of the best of March so far in the Tatras. But the spring thaw continues to take its toll on lower slopes, and we are down to only about 10% of ski areas in the region. The better-known, higher areas are still operating into the Easter period.
CZECH REPUBLIC / SLOVAKIA FORECAST
It will be sunnier through the latter half of this week and getting warm again, too. It could be +1C at 1000m by the weekend and well above freezing on high slopes. Just some light snowfall is expected above 1500m around Thursday.
