Europe Weekly Roundup #257

In Europe, the situation remains mixed. Five glacier ski areas that typically open at the start of September are struggling. Only two have managed to open over the past week, while the others await colder temperatures. This includes ski centers in Scandinavia, where Norway's Galdhøpiggen glacier is also waiting for cooler conditions before reopening. Meanwhile, preparations are underway in Finland, with Levi and Ruka resorts set to kick off the 2024-2025 season on October 4th using stockpiled snow from last season to create a few kilometers of runs.

• Alps Glaciers Continue to Thaw Amid Above-Freezing Temperatures
• Limited Ski Openings in the Alps as Warm Weather Persists
• Slight Temperature Drop in Alps Forecasted, Snow Showers Possible

THE ALPS SNOW REPORT

There's no real change in conditions in the Alps over the last week, other than perhaps a further deterioration in conditions on glaciers as the war above-freezing temperatures have continued up to quite high elevations, resulting in further thawing of the remaining snowpack. Of the four centres that aim to open every day, two remain closed as they have been for several weeks now, although both are ready to reopen as soon as conditions allow. Hintertux (0/35cm / 0/14”) has revised its base depth downwards over the past week. Italy’s Passo Stelvio also remained closed last week but was open again at the weekend. So, the only open centres are in Switzerland, with Saas Fee (0/75cm / 0/30") and Zermatt (0/150cm / 0/60"), also accessible from Cervinia on the Italian side of the border, both reporting about 10km (six miles) of slopes open. Temperatures at 3,000m altitude have been in the +2 to +6C range on glacier slopes, but at 4,000m, we have seen subzero temperatures overnight and some snow flurries where there have been rain showers at lower levels.  However, sunshine is the main weather condition at all levels, regardless of the current conditions, the start of the 2024 autumn glacier ski season is getting ever closer, with Austria’s Pitztal glacier, expected to be one of the first to open on the final weekend of the month, announcing at the end of last week that it was just a month to their season start.

THE ALPS FORECAST

There are signs of a small improvement over the coming week with temperatures dropping slightly and getting below freezing to lower levels, increasing the chance of snow showers down as low as 3,000m altitudes, but still rain to that level and at times higher for what showers there are and continuing predominantly sunny weather much of the time.