First Snows of Autumn in Scotland, Pyrenees, Dolomites and Rockies

Ski areas and high peaks across the northern hemisphere have been reporting their first snowfalls of autumn in the past few days.

In fact it can still be considered summer for another week if you follow the astronomical seasons with autumn starting on September 22^nd this year after the autumnal equinox.  The meteorological  calendar had autumn begin on September 1^st.

Yesterday saw excitement in Banff, Canada as the first snow storms were reported falling there (video below) and there’s now a forecast for a major snow storm in Northwestern America with Jackson Hole expecting up to 50cm (20 inches) of pre-season snow this weekend.

There was also excitement and some relief in Scotland when 2.5cm (an inch) of snow dusted the top of the country’s highest peak, Ben Nevis, after one of the most snowless 12 month periods in the country’s history when almost all of the remaining snow spots melted from the country’s hills including some that had been lying for many years.  Two of Scotland’s five ski areas are now looking to purchase all weather snow making machines.

In the Pyrenees there was also a small amount of fresh snow overnight, with the picture above posted by the region’s largest ski area, Grandvalira (above)

For the Dolomites too, also hoping for a good winter after a challenging one last season, there was a good snowfall in Val di Fassa (below) a few days ago.

In the Alps, where there have been three big snowfalls on glacier high altitude slopes above 3000m  since August, the snow has also been falling to lower elevations in recent days with resorts above 1800m now posting snowy pictures and videos, including Val d’Isere (below).

Three more glacier ski areas are set to open over the next 24 hours: Val Senales in Italy and the Pitztal and Stubai (pictured yesterday top) glaciers in Austria.