WORLD SNOW ROUNDUP #245
Issued: 22nd June 2022
By Patrick “Snowhunter” Thorne
European Roundup
North American Roundup
Asia Roundup
WORLD OVERVIEW
This week marks the start of winter, by
the astronomical measure of the seasons, in the southern hemisphere,
three weeks after winter by the meteorological measure began. In the
northern hemisphere, it is now summertime by both measures, but about
a dozen ski areas remain open, most of them on European glaciers.
The two main snow news stories of the past week are the 2022 ski season getting underway in the Andes, and the major snowstorm that has hit New Zealand leading to some of the best early season conditions in years. Elsewhere in the skiing world, there’s been colder than average temperatures for late June in North America, and hotter than average weather in Europe’s Alps.
The start of the season in the Andes means that for a few weeks lift-served skiing and boarding are now available on all six populated continents, with centres in Australia, Southern Africa and New Zealand already open and resorts in Asia, Europe and North America still open from the start of the 21-22 season there. The last centre still open for 21-22 in Asia is due to close early next month.
Of course, passing the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere means that the days are getting shorter and it’s a downhill run to winter 2022-23.
SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE INTRO
Most of the leading ski areas in
Argentina and Chile have opened for the 2022 season. For some, it is
their first operation since 2019. It is also the first time in three
years that skiers from around the world can head back to the Andes.
Various restrictions remain in place, but it is possible at least to
travel so long as you meet the criteria, now largely focused on
ensuring you have adequate medical insurance to cover repatriation if
required. Conditions in most areas are good after up to a metre (40″)
of snowfall in June and generally low temperatures this month.
Meanwhile, the ski season in New Zealand has properly got underway after the violent storms including 100kph winds and blizzard conditions brought up to a metre of snow. Now that resorts have dug out they’re rapidly opening more terrain with more centres open and some of the best early season conditions in years. That mirrors Australia where records continue to be set for the most early-season terrain open after the huge snowfalls there at the start of the month. It’s now reported to be snowing again down under.
AUSTRALIA REPORT
Following the very snowy start to the season in Australia things snowfall-wise have quietened down considerably and there had been very little fresh snowfall for over a week now. But things started to change on Tuesday with initial 10cm (4”) falls reported as we complete this report and more is in the forecast. Before then most of what we’ve seen this last week have been light flurries. Skies have been mostly sunny too and daytime highs touching +10C down at resort level. However, it has not reached half that on the upper mountain and overnight lows well below freezing have allowed snowmaking systems to fire up and top up cover overnight. All of Australia’s ski areas are open, most reporting a half to two-thirds of their terrain open and with the deepest snow of the main centres reported at Mt Hotham (60/94cm / 24/38″). Other centres are just a few centimetres below. The amount of terrain each centre has open is similar too but Thredbo (60/90cm / 24/36″) was initially taking it for the most with 30km (19 miles) of slopes reported prepped and open going into the weekend. Then Falls Creek overtook it announcing it had its full 50km (31 miles) of slopes open, including its famous International lift and runs, which doesn’t open at all some winters unless the snow is really good. So it’s great news it is opening so early in the winter. In fact, Falls Creek can currently claim the largest ski area open anywhere in the world.
AUSTRALIA FORECAST
There’s more snowfall in Australia’s short-term forecast with up to 50cm (20”) expected by the weekend for most areas. After that it’s more a mix of sunshine and cloud with occasional snow flurries, most likely over the next few days. In the longer term, it looks more promising for a return to some serious snowfall, potentially 50-80cm (20-32”) by the end of next week.
NEW ZEALAND REPORT
After several false starts New Zealand’s season ‘proper’ got underway last Thursday with Coronet Peak (60/120cm / 24/48”) opening early and Cardrona (91/120cm / 36/48”) re-opening after a four-day storm closure. It now has 20km (13 miles) of slopes open, about half of its full area. These two areas are actually posting the deepest bases in the southern hemisphere right now and you could argue the most fresh snow anywhere in the world, as the deeper snow on glaciers in the north is generally getting pretty old. Mt Hutt (5/55cm / 2/22”) joined them on Friday, opening a week late due to the storm, also with about 20km (13 miles) of their slopes open. The Remarkables (70/90cm / 28/36”) opened as planned at the weekend with a surprise visit from New Zealand’s Prime Minister adding to the sense of relief and joy that a potentially normal ski season with international guests able to return was underway for the first time in three years. New Zealand’s COVID-19 Minister Ayesha Verrall also announced that it was lifting the requirement that visitors from overseas have a pre-departure negative virus test before arrival in New Zealand. Rainbow was another area to open early, on the 24th June, thanks to all the early season snowfall.
Mt Hutt noted that one consequence of
the storm was that the strong winds kept much snow from building up
on the upper mountain. So lower slopes received over a metre (40”)
of snowfall and saw drifts three times as deep, giving great
conditions on the lower mountain. The centre’s Summit Six chair
initially stayed closed until there was a chance for the base to
build higher up but it was open for limited hours and terrain at the
weekend. There has been more snowfall since the storm but clear
spells too, and a perennial New Zealand ski area problem of ice rime
build-up on the machinery has put in an appearance too.
NEW ZEALAND FORECAST
After a sunny few days with
temperatures in the – to +5 range a new front is expected to move in
at the weekend and that should bring fresh snowfall. At this point,
likely snow totals are difficult to predict but it’s looking like
10-30cm (4-12″) by Monday. Treble Cone and Tūroa are among the
areas expected to open for their 2022 seasons this coming weekend.
ARGENTINA REPORT
Argentina’s 2022 season got underway
at the weekend with international visitors welcome for the first time
during the ski season since 2019, provided they arrive with
comprehensive medical insurance including medical repatriation if
required, in place. Among the first to open was Las Leñas (30/60cm /
12/24”), which had not operated at all since 2019, when most other
Argentinian centres were open for at least a few weeks each winter in
2020 and 2021. The continent’s largest ski area by uplift, Cerro
Catedral (5/45cm / 2/18”) near Bariloche, was another to open. In
its case, it was actually reopening having opened at the end of April
after a fresh snowstorm, the first in the southern hemisphere to be
open in 2022, if only for a weekend, but it is now open daily. Cerro
Bayo (30/60cm / 12/24″) also kicked off its 2022 season at the
weekend. As to conditions, there had been a bit of a lull after the
big falls earlier this month. The past few days have seen snow clouds
move into many Argentinian ski areas and 10-30cm (4-12″) fresh
accumulations reported, giving excellent conditions.
ARGENTINA FORECAST
It’s set to remain quite snowy for
most Argentinian ski regions with temperatures staying below freezing
in the mountains day and night and only getting a degree or two above
freezing in valleys during the daytime. Some dry and some sunny
spells between snow showers rather than a constant deluge but bases
should keep building and snowmaking conditions should be good too.
Chapelco and the world’s most southerly major ski resort, Cerro
Castor down towards Tierra del Fuego, are expected to open for the
season this coming weekend.
CHILE REPORT
Chile’s ski season is underway with
most of the country’s leading ski areas getting their season’s
started. International skiers are able to return for the first time
since 2019 provided they have comprehensive medical insurance in
place prior to travel. Among the first to open, Portillo (40/70cm /
16/28”) opened a week early than planned after big snowfalls there
earlier in the month, reporting around a metre (40”)
accumulations. The centre just managed to open to locals for a few
weeks at the end of last winter when the country eased restrictions
after a number of false dawns. So this early start feels very
positive. Other resorts now open include the neighbouring ‘3
Valleys of South America’ resorts of Valle Nevado (40/80cm /
16/32”), El Colorado (40/80cm / 16/32”) close to capital Santiago
and Antillanca (25/40cm / 10/32”) is also open. After the snowy
start to June, most areas have seen more limited snowfall over the
past week or so but temperatures have stayed very low allowing
snowmaking systems free rein and maintaining the snowbase that’s
already established. For the early-season most centres only have
limited terrain open, typically in the 5-10km (3-6 miles) of runs
open, representing 10 – 50% of the available terrain, depending on
the size of the ski area concerned.
CHILE FORECAST
A mixture of sunshine and snow showers
with temperatures staying low, well below freezing, in the mountains,
with overnight lows around -10C. Getting a few degrees into positive
temperatures in the daytime at the base of the slopes but not enough
to impact cover. Most of the rest of Chile’s ski areas are expected
to open this coming weekend including Nevados de Chillán, Villarrica
– Pucón and Corralco.
AFRICA REPORT
Things have quietened down again at
Afriski (20/50cm / 8/20”) after the snowfall a week ago temporarily
closed the pass roads through to the resort. The centre continues to
have all of its terrain open and reports it is largely booked up for
much of the winter. Temperatures have been ranging from overnight
lows of -7C, allowing for more snowmaking, to daytime highs of +7C,
but have mostly been hovering a few degrees either side of freezing.
AFRICA FORECAST
The latter half of this week looks set
to deliver more changeable weather with the chance of snowfall from
Thursday to Saturday and potential 5-15cm (2-6″) accumulations
likely.
EUROPE INTRO
It was hot at the end of last week and
through much of the weekend in the Alps with afternoon temperatures
on glaciers hitting +10C, before dropping away since Sunday. There
are now six centres open in the Alps, with Tignes (0/85cm / 0/34”)
opening at the weekend, and a further three up in Norway.
In terms of new openings for the coming week. The number of ski areas open in Europe should scrape back into double figures with the second Italian ski area, Cervinia, opening this weekend. Although, technically, it accesses slopes already open above Zermatt. With seven resorts open in the Alps and three in Scandinavia, it means there will be ten resorts open if none close before Saturday.
ALPS REPORT
We currently have six centres open with
Tignes joining Les 2 Alpes (0/140cm / 056”) to give a second French
summer ski option through the remainder of June and all of July, all
being well. They are joined by Passo Stelvio (0/190cm / 0/76”) in
Italy, Zermatt (0/120cm / 0/48”) in Switzerland and the Hintertux
and Kitzsteinhorn (0/135cm / 0/54”) glaciers in Austria. So that’s
the thickest base in Italy (important as these are currently thawing
fast) whilst Hintertux is posting the most terrain open with 20km (13
miles) of slopes still skiable.
Tignes’ neighbour Val d’Isère announced at the start of this month that it would not open for summer skiing this year, for what’s believed to be the first time since it started offering it in 1958. Val d’Isère blamed the dry winter and hot May. Tignes is open from 6.45 am to early afternoon daily but is warning it faces similar issues and is warning people not to rely on the ski slopes staying open until the end of July, though they hope they will
“The winter season went well despite relatively dry conditions. Spring has also been drier and warmer than usual, and the last few days have been scorching,” an online statement from the resort advises, continuing, “We will keep you regularly informed of the evolution of the conditions on the glacier and we advise you not to purchase your ski passes more than two days before (you plan to ski.)”
Tignes used to offer skiing 365 days a year on its Grande Motte glacier, then moved to try to ensure skiing and boarding were possible at least one day of every month of the year. In recent years though it has given up on August and September operates as climate change takes hold and has now been overtaken by Les 2 Alpes for the length of summer ski season, with Les 2 Alpes already open and hoping to stay open through August. Tignes is open through October and November still though so still has the most months open for skiing in France.
ALPS FORECAST
Although temperatures should be a
little cooler than the highs last week and weekend, it’s still
looking very hot in the Alps as we officially start summertime by
both measures of the seasons. Temperatures on glaciers are not
expected to get to freezing even overnight and daytime highs will be
in the +5 to +9C range. Mostly sunny weather is expected with some
showers but these look more likely to be rain rather than snowfall
alas.
SCANDINAVIA REPORT
Norway’s three glacier centres all
remain open with all runs open at each and the highest, Galdhøpiggen
(280/320cm / 112/128”), is offering perhaps the best conditions in
Europe at present with some fresh snowfall as temperatures have kept
close to freezing when others have seen rain. The Stryn Sommerski
centre (200/300cm / 80/120”) and Fonna Glacier Ski Resort
(400/760cm / 160/304”) remain open too though with Fonna continuing
to post the world’s deepest snowpack at present.
SCANDINAVIA FORECAST
Temperatures are fairly cool for the
next few days with overnight lows down below freezing. But it does
look warmer (and drier) as the week goes on with potential
double-digit plus Celsius temps by the weekend. Probably not good
news for snow cover.
NORTH AMERICA INTRO
It has been unseasonably cold across
North America over the past week and especially the last few days
with snowfall reported on high peaks from the west coast to the east.
Some of the most dramatic pictures have come from the Rockies with
resorts like Alta and snowbird, in Utah, posting pictures of fresh
June snowfall, in some cases down to resort level. In the west
that’s becoming a recurring theme with some reporting their third
June snowfalls.
Some unexpected news from Canada included fresh snowfall on higher slopes here too being part responsible for a decision by Mt Washington on Vancouver Island to re-open some slopes last weekend in celebration of Father’s Day. It was the first time they’d done it since 2010 and fathers skied and boarded for free on Saturday and Sunday. The Blackcomb Glacier above Whistler is also into its second week of summer skiing and boarding operations after a three-year hiatus on June opening, but it is only open to those signed up for private ski or boarding camps.
Copper Mountain, in Colorado, continues to offer a summer snow terrain park for freestyle skiing and boarding too, again only for those using its Woodward facilities for private clients though. So that leaves only Timberline (0/132” / 0/330cm) on Mt Hood in Oregon open to the public, alongside race team training, with fresh snowfall on its Palmer permanent snowfield.
NORTH AMERICA FORECAST
After the unseasonably cold weather
with plenty of rain and some snowfall sunshine is forecast for the
week ahead. Overnight lows still dropping below freezing on the
snowfield but getting into the 50s in the afternoon, 60s and 70s down
in the valleys.
JAPAN REPORT
Gassan’s base (30/200cm/12/80) continues to thin and is now at less than a quarter of what it was when the centre opened for its 2022 season just over a month ago. It continues to be the only outdoor ski area still open in Asia, though the season here is expected to end in a few weeks’ time. It’s the centre’s upper slopes that are open still and daytime temperatures have been increasingly getting into the 20s even at the top of the slopes, and not dropping much below 10C overnight either. Meanwhile, Japan has now reopened to guided tours for the first time in two and a half years and there are growing hopes that less restricted tourism will be possible by next winter. Niseko has announced its 22-23 season dates and produced a countdown clock on its website to the start of next winter in early December there.
JAPAN FORECAST
The mixture of sunshine and showers at
Gassan is expected to continue through the week ahead with
temperatures in the +10 to +25C range.
