WORLD SNOW ROUNDUP #298
Issued: 6th July 2023
By Patrick “Snowhunter” Thorne
World Overview
Winter is finally starting to get a grip in much of the Southern Hemisphere with some significant snow storms impacting the Andes, Patagonia and Australian ski regions at present and expected to continue in many areas through the first half of July. It’s only New Zealand where, unfortunately, it has not been full winter so far and although more areas have opened in the last week, others continue to delay and it is still fairly marginal in those areas that have opened.
In the Northern Hemisphere three US ski areas celebrated skiing on the 4th of July and summer skiing continues at more than half-a-dozen ski areas in Europe, one of which has even extended its summer ski season by a week reporting “superb” conditions on the glacier. One centre also remains open in Asia although it’s definitely in its final days or weeks as temperatures climb rapidly and the last of the snow cover melts away there.
Southern Hemisphere
AUSTRALIA REPORT
Australia’s season continues to look good after more snowfall and cold weather over the last seven days. The country’s largest resort, Perisher (30/60cm / 12/24”), now has more than 40km (25 miles) of slopes open, the most terrain open anywhere in the world at present. Falls Creek (70/90cm / 28/36”) has the deepest snowpack in Australia and throughout the Southern Hemisphere. Mt Hotham reports that all of its lifts are working for the first time in four years. The resort’s Gotcha, Keogh’s and Orchard chairlifts, providing access for skiers and boarders to some of Australia’s most highly regarded intermediate and advanced terrain, were turned on at the weekend for the first time since winter 2019.
AUSTRALIA FORECAST
It’s looking like full-on winter for the remainder of the week with snowfall totals of 30-60cm (1-2) feet expected but also gale force winds so potential blizzard conditions at times. The longer-term forecast is also looking good with more than a metre of snowfall expected by mid-July if things play out as it appears they will.
NEW ZEALAND REPORT
It’s a gradually improving picture in New Zealand with colder temperatures and some snowfall over the past week allowing ski centres to open at least some terrain. Centres like Mt Hutt (10/50cm / 4/20”) and Coronet Peak (5/25cm / 2/10”) that had opened but been forced to close again by mild temperatures for much of last month have re-opened since the weekend and other resorts that had delayed opening have either opened in the last few days (or plan to in the next few days) in many cases. Some are still waiting though and what is open remains limited. At some resorts, it’s beginner slopes only, at others just advanced terrain with beginners advised to stay away for now. The latest weather factor to hit was gale-force winds for some areas over the last few days. After its fortnight of unexpected enforced closure due to rain, Mt Hutt is posting the most terrain open, about 14km/9 miles of slopes. The Remarkables (10/60cm / 4/24”) has the deepest snow. Treble Cone is one of those opening more advanced terrain about a fortnight later than planned. “The grooming and snow-making teams have put in tireless mahi and Triple Treat is ready to go. Be aware, the run will be thin and narrow at the bottom but groomed and skiable. We don’t advise beginners to ski or ride at TC at this time. The platter will not be open”, a resort statement advises. Porters Alpine Resort says they’ll open from Wednesday, “after a stellar effort from our snow-making team”. Initially, it will be just beginner terrain with the Carpet and Platter lifts. The resort advises, “The Easyrider Chairlift still requires more snow-making and as such, there will be no open terrain above the platter.”
NEW ZEALAND FORECAST
It’s a fairly promising picture with snowfall forecast at times through the coming week although it’s looking sunny for the next few days for many areas. Overnight low around -5C, daytime highs at bases nearer +6C.
ARGENTINA REPORT
There’s been heavy snowfall in Patagonia as the picture continues to improve for Argentinian ski resorts. Although there’s a lot more snow needed before normal operations are on the cards. The continent’s largest area Catedral (5/40cm / 2/16”), near Bariloche, opened last Thursday and reports 8km (5 miles) of runs open so far, about 5% of its total terrain. The snow depths are better at Chapelco (25/75cm / 10/30”), which also reports 16km (10 miles) of slopes open so far. Most of Argentina’s other ski areas have now opened including the world’s most southerly Cerro Castor (20/25cm / 8/10”). But all with only limited terrain open so far. The only major centre that remains closed is Las Lenas, which has hardly opened since 2019 and although it has snow reported over 4 metres deep on its upper runs, still has very little snow cover down as its base.
ARGENTINA FORECAST
We are in a fairly snowy cycle which should see plenty of snowfall through the remainder of this week. Daytime highs of around +3C but overnight lows below -10C are possible, so this will hopefully really set up Argentina’s ski areas for the rest of the season now and allow Las Lenas to get its 40th season underway.
CHILE REPORT
Most of Chile’s ski centres have opened for their 2023 seasons over the past week, although snow conditions are not yet optimal. Valle Nevado (20/60cm / 8/24″) was the first to start its lifts turning, last Wednesday, and has 20km of slopes open already, about half of its terrain and one of the larger areas open in South America so far. Corralco (30/50cm / 12/20”) is also open, with 16km/10 miles of slopes initially, as is the famous resort of Portillo (50/75cm / 20/30”), which has begun the season with about half of its slopes open from day one. Nevados de Chillan, to the south, is one of the few areas that is yet to open.
CHILE FORECAST
A cold but rather dry week is forecast for Chile with some prolonged sunny periods as well as some cloudy days. Highs around freezing at most areas, temperatures down towards -6 to -8C overnight. So good snow-making conditions.
SOUTHERN AFRICA REPORT
Afriski, in Lesotho, reported a good natural snowfall on top of a small area of machine-made snow. So it appears you could ski there if you hiked up the slope but the ski area is not officially open for skiing this winter and lifts are not running. The snowfall that arrived was perfectly timed for a “Christmas in July” celebratory weekend being staged there, however. Tiffindell, in South Africa, appears to be permanently closed down although there have been rumours it may reopen at some point.
SOUTHERN AFRICA FORECAST
Staying cold but mostly sunny over the coming week in southern Africa. Afriski is expected to keep making snow for snow play.
Europe
EUROPE INTRO
The surprise news in the Alps this last week was Les 2 Alpes deciding to extend its summer skiing, which had been expected to end at the end of June, for another week to this coming weekend thanks to what they’re saying are “superb” conditions. So we start June with six centres open in the Alps three of them in France, but two are due to close this coming weekend. There are also still two ski centres open up in Norway. It’s a very different picture from a year ago when most centres were closed due to the summer sun melting snow cover from the glacial ice.
AUSTRIA REPORT
The snow depth has finally started to drop at the one centre open in Austria, year-round Hintertux (0/165cm / 0/66″). But it is still reporting 20km (13 miles) of slopes open, one of the largest in the Northern Hemisphere at present. There’s been plenty of sunshine here over the past week with rain showers to high elevations. The temperature on the glacier has been a few degrees on either side of freezing.
AUSTRIA FORECAST
Temperatures in the -5C to +5C forecast at Hintertux for the coming week with some snow showers possible but mostly dry and sunny weather.
SWITZERLAND REPORT
The main excitement for Europe’s highest ski slopes above Zermatt (0/200cm / 0/80″) at the Matterhorn glacier paradise was the completion of the long-planned ‘Alpine Crossing’ series of cable cars and gondolas crossing the border to Cervinia in Italy. For skiers and boarders, the glacier remains the only centre open in Switzerland until Saas Fee is due to open for its 23-24 season the weekend after next. Conditions are reported to remain excellent, despite warm temperatures, with some light snow showers overnight helping to build bases.
SWITZERLAND FORECAST
More of the same is expected with overnight light snow showers possible almost every night through to the weekend. Sunny in the daytime with potential highs of +5C.
FRANCE REPORT
Three French ski areas remain open including Les 2 Alpes (0/100cm / 0/40″), which is a little unexpected as it had originally said its summer ski season would end in June. But, unlike 2022, conditions were so good they’ve extended to close this coming Sunday, 9th of July. “The snow conditions are superb, and the athletes are all happy with their training,” a spokesperson commented. It means Les 2 Alpes will have clocked up 10 weeks of spring/summer skiing, whereas Val d’Isere(0/215cm / 0/86”), which also plans to close this coming weekend, will have just had a four-week run. It means that this time next week only Tignes (0/215cm / 0/86″) is expected to be open in France. There are 20km (13 miles) of slopes open there, still one of the largest areas skiable in the world at present.
FRANCE FORECAST
Continuing sunny weather with light snow showers expected some evenings. Clearer skies with temperatures getting to higher single figures above freezing from the end of the week and through the weekend.
ITALY REPORT
The opening on Saturday, after decades of planning and years of construction of the Alpine Crossing connection, from Plateau Rosa up to the Klein Matterhorn above Zermatt, makes access to the glacier above Cervinia (0/200cm / 0/80”) the best it has ever been. Other than skiing here there’s also the option to ski at Passo Stelvio (0/90cm / 0/36”), where about 80% of the slopes remain open, although the base has dropped by about a quarter so far with the summer warmth.
ITALY FORECAST
There have been sunny days and some light overnight snowfalls delivering 5-10 cm (2-4”) of fresh snowfall in recent days.
SCANDINAVIA REPORT
The two Norwegian summer glacier ski areas of Folgefonn (Fonna) (100/150cm / 40/60”) and Galdhopiggen (110/360cm / 44/146”), remain open into July. Galdhopiggen, which aims to stay open right through to early November all being well, has reported quieter slopes over the past week with fewer ski teams currently training there, which it notes means more available space for recreational summer skiers and boarders. It continues to post the world’s deepest base at present. Both resorts report a few kilometres of slopes open and spring snow conditions with the best skiing in the early morning. That said, the past few days have seen bitterly cold weather and some snow showers.
SCANDINAVIA FORECAST
It looks like it will remain cold and snowy over the next few days, with temperatures around freezing overnight, climbing just a few degrees into positive numbers later in the day. However, much warmer, sunnier weather is expected by the weekend with temperatures back to double digits above freezing.
USA REPORT
The 4th of July was the culmination of the ‘Freedom Fest” at the Alpine Meadows base of The Palisades, also marking the end of what ended up an eight-month-long ski season there. Fellow Californian resort Mammoth Mountain (52/132″ / 130/280cm) was also open for Independence Day and plans to stay open through July to make it to a nine-month season. The third option was Timberline (6/56″ / 15/140cm), in Oregon, where skiing and boarding continues at the Palmer Snowfield on Mt Hood. Until closure, The Palisades had been posting the world’s second deepest remaining snowpack at 11 feet (3.3 metres), behind Norway’s Galdhiopiggen, and one of the largest remaining ski areas still ski/ridable in the Northern Hemisphere. At Mammoth skiing and riding continues daily with lifts open between 7.30 am and 1 pm daily out of Main Lodge via Broadway (1), Stump Alley (2), Face Lift (3), High Five (5), Unbound (6), Discovery (11), Chair 23 and the Panorama Gondola. The weather has been sun, sun, sun for much of western North America with temperatures on ski slopes up in the 70s. So the snow is definitely at its best first thing. Elsewhere in North America, there are terrain parks open at Copper Mountain in Colorado, Blackcomb Mountain above Whistler in BC, western Canada, and at Sommet St Sauveur in Quebec on the eastern side of the country. But these are mostly only accessible to those signed up to private camps rather than for walk-up ticket sales. In Colorado, Summit County’s snowpack is reported to be quickly dwindling but The Woodward hike-to summer terrain park at Copper Mountain allows skiers and riders to continue to progress in the terrain park for as long as the snow lasts. Located in Center Village near the base area of Copper Mountain it costs $25 for each guest to enjoy the snow and terrain park all day long.
USA FORECAST
The sunny weather is expected to continue with daytime highs in the 70s and even low 80s on ski slopes over the coming week and most not seeing a cloud in the sky.
Asia
JAPAN REPORT
Japan’s Gassan ski centre (5/25cm / 2/10”) is just about still open although the snow has almost gone. It’s continuing to thaw fast with temperatures in the high teens or even low 20s Celsius. So it’s hard to see the remaining snow lasting to the target end-of-July season end date. But for now, there remains about 2km (just over a mile) of slopes open.
JAPAN FORECAST
The warm weather with temperatures typically between +15 and +25C is expected to continue for the next week. Plenty of sunshine, some cloudy spells and occasional rain showers.
