WORLD SNOW ROUNDUP #133
Issued: 08 April 2020
By Patrick “Snowhunter” Thorne
North American Roundup
European Roundup
Asia Roundup
INTRODUCTION NORTH AMERICA
Under normal circumstances, last weekend or the coming one would be the usual end of the season for the vast majority of North American ski areas. Although some would stay open in to late April, May, or even June and beyond. Some of those in that very-late-season opening category could possibly re-open in late spring if, and it’s a big if, it’s considered safe to do so by then.
Last weekend did see some fresh snow on western mountains to add to the frustration. It could have been a classic closing weekend, had we not had the pandemic.
Instead, the main debate in North American skiing this past week continues as to whether backcountry skiing is a good idea or not. The general consensus from medical professionals is “not” , especially after pictures emerged last week of large groups of skiers in close proximity arriving from long distances at popular backcountry ski areas. So more and more have been closed in the last seven days and the advice not to go backcountry skiing has been ramped up too. Some people, who live in resorts, are feeling aggrieved that they’ve lost out on skiing their local slopes, they believe this is due to the influx of out-of-towners.
The dangers were brought home last week when a man died in an avalanche near Jackson Hole; losing his life and tying up search and rescue resources, with more than 40 people trying to locate him, according to reports.
Avalanche warning agencies across North America have been closing down in recent weeks, some saying they’re doing so to follow government advice due to the virus, others saying they’re choosing to do so because they don’t want people even thinking about heading into the backcountry and using their information to plan a trip.
USA
ROCKIES
ROCKIES REPORT There was fresh snow in the Rockies at the weekend but with nowhere open and everyone being encouraged to stay home, this didn’t cause much joy. The only way for skiers and boarders, who lived locally, to see it really was to look up to the mountain tops or take a look at the snow stakes on webcams still displayed by most resorts, even though no one is measuring snow depths anymore. Most showed 3-6 inches (7.5-15cm) for what that’s worth. For those ski areas that enjoy skiing to late April and even into May this had been shaping up to be a good spring ski season before the virus hit and there’s still an outside chance some like Breckenridge and the summer Beartooth Pass ski areas might still re-open at the end of next month, if it’s considered safe and sensible to do so by then. Since that snowy weekend it has warmed up a good deal in the past few days. So at least freshly fallen snow is no longer an enticement at present.
ROCKIES FORECAST Temperatures hovering around the freezing mark with temperatures ranging a little below and a little above zero Celcius over the coming week in Colorado, warmer at lower elevations. There’s unsettled weather in the forecast so a mixture of sunshine and light snow showers.
WEST
USA WEST REPORT There’s been quite a lot of snowfall reported in the western US over the past few days. Mountain High, one of the more southerly ski areas in California, reported a six-inch (15cm) fall on Monday; unusually late in the season, if it were still the ski season, for its location. The snow was reported on higher slopes further north in California and indeed in the mountains up along the Pacific coast. The weather has been changeable though with some rain to high elevations and strong winds too. In any case, the focus remains on the lockdown and discouraging people from heading to the slopes.
USA WEST FORECAST It looks like a sunny week ahead in the west, with temperatures climbing up five to ten degrees above freezing. Therefore, a level of thawing is looking likely for many areas.
MIDWEST
MIDWEST REPORT The ski season would definitely be over by now for most ski areas in the midwest, even without the impact of the virus. Temperatures have been up in the high 59s/low 60s Fahrenheit so the snowpack is thawing fast and only ski areas that had built up deep bases would have been able to keep operating had they wished to.
MIDWEST FORECAST Largely warm weather in the forecast for the coming week: some sunny days, some cloud, some rain, more thawing, no snowfall.
EAST
USA EAST REPORT The weather has been warming up and it has been more rain than snow where there’s been precipitation over the past week. Many areas are seeing classic spring freeze-thaw conditions overnight. The main activity has been trying to limit and ideally stop people backcountry skiing due to the danger of virus spread and the need for medical services if things go well. Most ski resorts are emphasising backcountry skiing on their closed slopes is now banned, and unsafe, with the US Forest Service also closing down a few popular backcountry sports which have seen large gatherings in recent weeks. Mad River Glen is among the places usually open that has now closed.
USA EAST FORECAST More freeze-thaw conditions for the week ahead as conditions gradually warm up. Precipitation over Easter weekend may bring an inch or two of snow to higher slopes but it looks more likely to be raining for many areas.
CANADA
WEST
CANADA WEST REPORT To the frustration of many Canadian skiers and boarders it has stayed mostly cold and frequently snowy in the west of the country over the past week, giving what would have been great spring skiing conditions. That said, even without the virus, many western Canadian ski areas would have closed last weekend or would be doing next Sunday anyway. Many resorts have (unofficially) posted 10-20cm (4-8 inch) accumulations over the past few days. The message continues to be ‘remain indoors’, or at least off the slopes, as coronavirus cases and deaths in Alberta and BC continue to rise. The boss of Fernie resort took to social media to strengthen that message this week saying those hiking on to the closed resort’s territory risked setting off avalanches and hurting themselves with few people around to help them. He said long term lift pass bans would be considered for those found to be transgressing.
CANADA WEST FORECAST Another week of cold, often snowy weather is on the cards for ski areas in western Canada. Temperatures are expected to stay largely subzero down to base level up to Easter weekend with a few clear, sunny days midweek before snowfall, increasingly heavy, returns around Friday and continues through the weekend.
EAST
CANADA EAST REPORT Ski areas in Ontario and Quebec remain fully closed and there are plans for the lockdown to continue now to the end of April at least, which makes it unlikely that any will re-open this season. The exception, perhaps, is Mont Saint Sauveur which has run a summertime snowpark in recent years, that’s if restrictions are eased later in the spring. As far as the weather is concerned, recent days have seen temperatures hovering just below freezing.
CANADA EAST FORECAST It’s actually looking like quite a snowy end to the week and Easter weekend in eastern Canada with temperatures set to stay low through the remainder of this week with frequent small to moderate snow showers which could add up to 15-30cm (6-12 inches) of fresh snowfall by Monday. The only blip in the snowy picture is Easter Sunday itself when, currently, it appears warmer weather could bring rain for a period.
INTRODUCTION EUROPE
It’s the third week of lockdown in most of Europe’s (and the world’s) ski resorts, the fourth week for Italy. We’re moving further into April and springtime which means even if we could get out on the slopes for what is, after all, ‘Easter week’, we’d find an increasing number of areas had ended their season anyway.
The general mood is of increased resolve with ever-tighter restrictions on movement in the mountains (and into the mountains) and ever stronger advice to avoid backcountry skiing.
Other than what would have been standard April closures anyway, if the areas concerned had still been open, the big change in the last week was the decision by many Swedish resorts to shut down on Sunday. Sweden was the last major European nation not to advise a full lockdown of ski areas, and many had still been operating (although some had closed due to lack of snow). But medical advice changed to that issued in Norway a fortnight earlier, asking ski areas to consider if they could cope if they had an outbreak affecting a lot of visiting skiers? Many then decided to close, including two of the biggest, Are and Salen. But, at the time of writing at least, a few areas up in the far north including famous Riksgransen, have decided they can keep going and they remain open for the time being. Ski areas in Iceland also remain open.
But what of the snow? Well, as you would expect for the time of year things have, on the whole, been warming up, particularly down in the valleys where double-digit temperatures have been the norm in recent days, sometimes getting as high as 20 degrees above freezing now. So things are looking very green down below about 1500 metres.
After the heavy snowfall a little over a week ago it has been largely dry and sunny in the Alps, but not everywhere. There’s been more heavy snowfall down in Bulgarian ski areas in recent days and some more snow in Scotland and Scandinavia too; mixed in with warmer days.
If we want to find countries with more than a handful of ski areas open you need to look further afield. Japan continues to operate fairly normally, although resorts have been closing here due to it being the end of the season; however, quite a few do keep operating to the start of May. In China too most of the ski areas that re-open in April have now re-opened and skiers who have green government health certificates can apply to buy lift passes.
AUSTRIA
AUSTRIA REPORT Spring is really starting to take hold in Austria with temperatures down in the lower mountain valleys peaking at 20 degrees above freezing. So, whilst most of the lower resorts would be closed by now anyway, it would have been tough to maintain valley runs from higher resorts with the current rate of thaw. Up high it is cooler but mostly above freezing. After the snow a week ago it has been mostly sunny. Images posted by resorts like year-round Hintertux show pristine fresh-snow slopes waiting for whenever it is determined safe again to re-open the lifts. The country has announced plans to ease its lockdown depending on how the pandemic plays out there in coming weeks and months, which could see a return to normality through May and June.
AUSTRIA FORECAST The warm sunny weather looks likely to continue for the coming week with temperatures very warm in the valleys and remaining well above freezing at mid-mountain; however, sub-zero temperatures should continue up above 2,500 metres and snow is expected to keep falling later this week up on Austrian glaciers. 20-30cm (8-12 inches) is possible up at 3,000 metres altitude by Easter Sunday.
SWITZERLAND
SWITZERLAND REPORT After fresh snowfall a week ago, Switzerland has been seeing very pleasant springtime conditions, with sunny days and warm temperatures in the valleys; however, it has stayed sub-zero up high, preserving the snow at ski areas that can open later in spring and even in summer, such as Zermatt. Indeed, they have been grooming the glacier slopes there in readiness for re-opening whenever it is considered safe to do so. A picture of a groomer falling sideways into a glacier crevasse on Monday when doing just that went viral. Most importantly, the driver was reported to be uninjured.
SWITZERLAND FORECAST In common with most of the Alps it looks like it will be dry and sunny for the rest of this week, but with precipitation arriving in Switzerland at the weekend. Temperatures in the valleys will be well into double figures above freezing, but higher on the slopes we’re looking at it still remaining below freezing above around 2000 metres. So, it should be rain at the weekend lower down but some fresh Easter snow up high.
FRANCE
FRANCE REPORT It has been dry for the past week for most French resorts, after the snowfall the weekend before last. It has been getting progressively warmer too, although still sub-zero up on higher ski slopes. There are no snow depth measurements being taken at present and the country remains on tight lockdown with people in ski resorts sadly unable to get on the snow.
FRANCE FORECAST The sunshine is set in France for the rest of this week. It will be warm down in the valleys at 10-20 degrees above freezing and it’s looking like being a lovely week. There’ll be a resulting thaw below around 2000 metres although higher slopes should stay sub-zero most of the time, by a few degrees at least. The only change in the forecast at present isn’t foreseen until early next week when there may be some precipitation. It’s looking a lot like a warmer version of how January was.
ITALY
ITALY REPORT It has been warm and sunny for much of Italy, at least down in the valleys, where once again temperatures have been climbing up towards +20C. The country was the first in Europe to go into lockdown and is now approaching a month of closure. There have been positive signs in the past week that the policy is starting to bear fruit. Most Italian areas would be closing in the first half of April but some would be open to May and a few, including the Presena Glacier, Cervinia and Passo Stelvio, are open for summer skiing in June or July most years. So, it remains to be seen if that can happen in 2020. We should find out over the coming weeks and month.
ITALY FORECAST A mixed week ahead with the current sunny weather due to end on Thursday/Friday; more unsettled conditions with some precipitation moving in. In the Dolomites snowfall on high slopes (rain below) is expected from Thursday. In The Alps, the snow (again falling as rain below around 2000metres) is likely to arrive slightly later.
SCANDINAVIA
SCANDINAVIA REPORT The big change in Scandinavia this week is Sweden finally following the rest of Europe by closing resorts. Actually, it has followed Norway’s model and is asking ski resorts to decide whether or not they feel they should close in case their local health systems couldn’t cope. Most resorts decided they would close at the weekend including the biggest, Are and Salen, but a few have decided to stay open. The four that are still open, stressing that could change at any time, include Riksgransen (510/510cm / 204/204″) which has been posting the deepest base in the world for some weeks; now it doesn’t have a lot of competition. It has been open for just over a month and if it stays open should be offering its annual skiing under the midnight sun next month. It has also had plenty of fresh snow again in the past week.
SCANDINAVIA FORECAST There’s more snow on the way for northern Scandinavia, where the still open ski areas are located. Temperatures are set to stay below freezing for the remainder of the week with 5-10cm (2-4 inches) of snowfall most days.
GERMANY
GERMANY REPORT German ski areas did not have a great 19-20 winter even before the virus, with warm temperatures and often rain rather than snow for many of them until late February/early March. The virus then closed all areas down in mid-March, but several had already given up on fully opening before then anyway, due to the warm winter. This past week has been warm again so any that had planned to still be open might have been struggling to make it to Easter Sunday. The highest ski area, the Zugspitz glacier, would have stayed open to the start of May.
GERMANY FORECAST In common with much of central Europe, we’re looking at a largely warm, dry and sunny week ahead for German ski areas. So any remaining snow will be thawing fast below about 2000 metres, which is where many of the country’s centres are based.
BULGARIA and ROMANIA
BULGARIA / ROMANIA REPORT Ski areas in Bulgaria posted some of the snowiest conditions of the past week anywhere in Europe over the last week, for the second week in a row. Webcam pictures and video showed deep snow at ski areas including Borovets and Pamporovo.
BULGARIA / ROMANIA FORECAST The recent period of snowy weather looks to be finally over in south-eastern Europe and it’s mostly sunshine in the forecast for the coming week, with the possibility of some rain at the weekend. Temperatures will be double-digits above freezing down in the valleys and above freezing at quite high altitudes (top of the ski slopes) too, signalling an end to the season.
CZECH REPUBLIC and SLOVAKIA
CZECH REPUBLIC / SLOVAKIA REPORT It has been dry and sunny across the Czech and Slovak Republics in recent days with temperatures above freezing right up to the tops of the ski slopes and very warm, approaching 20 Celcius, down in the valleys. Therefore, even if areas weren’t closed by the virus here anyway, it would be the end of the season for many anyway and they’d be battling some rapid thawing conditions.
CZECH REPUBLIC / SLOVAKIA FORECAST The warm sunny weather is expected to continue for the rest of this week with more unsettled conditions here too from the weekend. Much of the precipitation though will probably be rain, just the possibility of some snowfall very high up.
SPAIN and ANDORRA
SPAIN / ANDORRA REPORT Again, even without the impact of the coronavirus, there’s a definite ‘end-of-the-season’ feel in Andorra and at Spanish ski resorts with temperatures above freezing even at the top of the mountains. It’s been cloudier in the Pyrenees, not quite so warm in the valleys as in the Alps, but still warm enough for what precipitation there has been to fall more as rain than snow.
SPAIN / ANDORRA FORECAST The unsettled weather of the past few days will continue through the remainder of this week. Cloudy weather with rain showers and temperatures 10-15 degrees above freezing in the valleys and still 2-8 degrees above up on the slopes.
SCOTLAND
SCOTLAND REPORT Conditions have been changeable on Scotland’s mountains with more fresh snowfall at the end of last week, but warmer weather at the weekend and some rain to start the week. From the cameras, it appears that the season would have been over in the east, at The Lecht, where the slopes are showing as grass and it looks like there would have been no Easter skiing even without the virus. On the west side though, the snow still looks to be lying deep on the runs at Glencoe and Nevis Range, although the grass is showing at the sides of the Snow Goose on Nevis too.
SCOTLAND FORECAST It’s definitely warming up, for now at least, as we move further into April. Temperatures look set to reach double-digits above freezing through the coming week, although long term forecasts show the possibility of snow on Easter Sunday on higher slopes in the west with rain in the valley. A little far off to be sure of that though.
JAPAN
JAPAN REPORT Japan’s ski season is winding down with a swathe of the country’s ski areas now closed for the season and others switching to weekends only for a final few weeks. This is just the season norm, not down to the virus, as ski resorts have stayed open through the pandemic here. And some are still open and planning to remain so for another month, to the start of May, again, as normal; however, the virus, which had resulted in a now-ended state of emergency on the northern island of Hokkaido from mid-Feb to mid-March, is resurging now on the main island of Honshu, and a state of emergency has now been declared there, so it remains to be seen how that plays out. Of the still open ski areas, there are reports of fresh snow, 5-10cm (2-4 inches) for most in recent days. Niseko (50/300cm / 20/120″) reported 5cm (two inches) of fresh snow on Tuesday morning, which could be one of the last snowfalls of the season as things inevitably get warmer.
JAPAN FORECAST It’s looking mostly dry and sunny, although with some cloudy periods, over the week ahead. Temperatures, which have been below freezing overnight, will increasingly creep a degree or two into positive temps, although hopefully not enough to cause major damage to the snowpack at those ski areas that still expect to have a month of the season left to run.
