WORLD SNOW ROUNDUP #301
Issued: 2nd August 2023
By Patrick “Snowhunter” Thorne
World Overview
There has been some stormy weather reported in many ski regions on both sides of the world over the last few days with ski areas in New Zealand and glacier areas in Europe’s Alps among areas closed by extreme weather at the start of August, if only for a day or two. The bigger picture though, for the southern hemisphere at least, is of gradually increasing snow depths and ever more terrain opening.
In the northern hemisphere, it remains hot for most of the time and we are due to lose at least one more of the seven summer ski areas currently open, with Mammoth Mountain in California due to end its nine-month 22-23 season on Sunday after staying open into August for only the third time in its history. There was a bit of a weather blip late last week though when there was suddenly fresh snowfall above 2500m in the Alps. This is not unheard of for July or any month of the year but with record highs in the mid +40s Celsius down in the Mediterranean, a few hundred kilometres south, it’s quite a contrast.
Southern Hemisphere
AUSTRALIA REPORT
A week of predominantly dry and sunny weather has had a bit of an impact on the snowpack on Australian slopes, although most resorts still report most of their terrain open, thanks to the snow build-up in the latter half of June and the first half of July. Plus, although daytime highs at resort bases have hit +1C in places at times, overnight lows of -5C have allowed snow-making systems to fire up and combat any melting. Unfortunately though, Selwyn Ski Area announced last Friday that it was being forced to temporarily close after rain damaged the snowpack. Perisher (60/131 cm / 24/52″), the country’s largest resort, continues to post the deepest snow and the most terrain open, about 75% of its full domain, with little change om the numbers from last week. There are about 48km/30 miles of slopes available. Falls Creek (50/70cm / 20/28”), over the border in the state of Victoria, has a similar amount of terrain open, in its case representing 100% of its domain.
AUSTRALIA FORECAST
There’s not much change in the current sunny weather, it’s just starting to look a little more unsettled from the weekend. But daytime highs in low single figures Celsius and overnight lows getting a few degrees below freezing continue to be forecast.
NEW ZEALAND REPORT
After its unfortunate first half of the season, which saw many of New Zealand’s ski areas able to open due to the warm and/or dry conditions and even the big centres only able to open limited terrain thanks largely to snow-making, the past 10 days have seen the long-awaited “transformation to winter” with most of the country’s smaller centres now open (though a few still aren’t able to) and improving conditions everywhere else. Mt. Hutt (80/160 cm / 32/64”) has probably seen the most improvement with one of the deepest bases in the world now and 80% of its terrain now open. That said it was closed by rough weather at the start of this week with snowy weather and gales currently impacting the country as we publish this week’s report. Mt Ruapehu on the country’s North Island is a little different to the rest of the country with most ski areas on the South Island. Ruapehu actually reported a better-than-usual start to winter 2023 with loads of snow but had different problems opening terrain at Turoa (70/200cm / 28/80”) and Whakapapa (55/80cm / 22/32”) and say they continue to do so. The lift company went bust after the pandemic was followed by a terrible snow season last season. A temporary government-backed rescue package was out in place in late June and the centres could open, but by then it was a big issue finding staff and the company says they’d have more terrain open now if they could get liftees and maintenance staff.
NEW ZEALAND FORECAST
The snowy, windy conditions are expected to ease over the next few days, leaving a calmer, drier end to the week for most of New Zealand’s ski areas. Cloudy though with not much sunshine expected and temperatures in the -5 to +5C range through the 24-hour cycle.
ARGENTINA REPORT
Conditions continue to be fairly good across Argentinian ski slopes with most resorts close to fully open and bases gradually building. The past few days have seen more snowfalls and temperatures close to freezing. The southern hemisphere’s largest, Cerro Catedral (10/80cm / 4/32”) near Bariloche is posting the most terrain open in the world at present, around 100km (60+ miles) of slopes. That’s about 80% of its total domain. It’s a very mixed picture being reported from another of Argentina’s big resorts, Las Lenas (20/50cm / 8/20”), however, with some video reports claiming over two feet (60cm) of fresh snowfall last week, but webcam images and published stats seeming to give a less positive picture. But base depths are reported to be double that of a week ago if not that impressive yet (unofficial snow depths on the mountains above the open in-bounds terrain are claimed to be many metres deep), and there are now about 40km (25 miles), representing 80% of the full in-bounds terrain now open. Caviahue (80/100cm / 32/40″) is the only centre in the country posting a metre-plus base.
ARGENTINA FORECAST
A sunny end to the week for many Argentinian areas with temperatures reaching high single figures in the afternoons although falling back below freezing overnight. The exception is further south with Cerro Castor expecting to remain sub-zero 24-7 and even see temperatures as low as -15C at times. Snowfall is also expected here most days.
CHILE REPORT
It has been a predominantly sunny week in Chile, with the best of the snowfall there being at more southerly ski areas like Nevados de Chillan (60/100cm / 24/40”), which is also seeing lower temperatures down into double digits below freezing. Despite not having a huge base, El Colorado/Farellones (10/50cm / 4/20”) has overtaken Valle Nevado (30/40cm / 12/16”) to post the most terrain open in the country at 36km (23 miles), compared to 30km (19 miles) for the latter. Both have about 75% of their maximum terrain open. Portillo (54/114cm / 22/46”) has the deepest base in the country, little changed on a week ago, and is also posting about 75% of its terrain open.
CHILE FORECAST
Clear skies are forecast for the remainder of this week with daytime highs of +5C, and overnight lows around -10C. So good snow-making conditions.
SOUTHERN AFRICA REPORT
We have the ongoing scenario of cold weather and snowfall continuing to be reported on high slopes in southern Africa, but neither Lesotho’s Afriski nor South Africa’s Tiffindell is open for skiing and boarding. Normally August would be the last of the three-month season in the region. Tiffindell has not operated since 2019 and despite rumours has not shown any signs of reopening now pandemic preventative measures no longer stop it from doing so. Afriski appears to have power supply guarantee issues impacting its lifts and snow-making operations. So that’s why it is only offering tubing this winter and not risking turning on their ski lifts or full snow-making system.
SOUTHERN AFRICA FORECAST
Largely sunny conditions with temperatures fluctuating between 6-8 degrees below freezing overnight to +12C possible in the afternoons on ski slopes.
Europe
EUROPE INTRO
Despite record high temperatures in the Mediterranean and valley temperatures reaching +30C in recent weeks in the Alps, there was a respite late last week when it managed to snow overnight on high slopes. The Zugspitze Glacier in Germany was one of several posting fresh snow images. More unsettled weather moved into the mountains last week bringing gale and even hurricane-force winds and torrential rains at times. This closed lifts at times and in the more severe cases caused flooding and other weather-related disruption down in valleys. Currently, four ski areas remain open for summer glacier skiing in Austria, Italy and Switzerland, despite the heat in valleys and plus temperatures even at glacier level. The summer glacier ski season has ended in France and the only other country with an open outdoor glacier ski area is Norway.
AUSTRIA REPORT
The base at the Hintertux glacier (0/45cm / 0/18″) has been dropping fast in recent weeks with temperatures reaching 10C on the glacier in afternoons, but overnight lows have still been getting below freezing some days and the centre is one of very few with snow-making on its glacier. Last summer this was the only ski area to stay open to the public throughout that heatwave so it remains to be seen if it’s going to be the same in 2023. It reports 12 km (7m miles) of slopes open.
AUSTRIA FORECAST
There’s the potential for more snowfall later in the week in the afternoons and evenings with temperatures hovering around or just below freezing and the weather becoming increasingly unsettled. Unfortunately, though there is also rain likely at other times.
SWITZERLAND REPORT
Switzerland has the most ski areas open of any country in Europe and from next Monday it will be any country in the northern hemisphere, even though it only has two to choose from. They were closed by wild weather at the start of the week though, as fresh storms moved in. They are still posting the world’s best snow depths, despite some warm temperatures on glaciers in recent weeks. Saas Fee (0/250cm / 0/100”) and Zermatt (0/200cm / 0/80″) are now the only two centres posting 2 metres (80″) plus bases and they each have about 13km (8 miles) of slopes open. Both are currently being heavily used for race team training.
SWITZERLAND FORECAST
Staying cold on glaciers with some fast-moving weather systems bringing frequently changeable conditions. Overnight lows are generally below freezing, sometimes as low as -9C and Thursday- Friday currently looks promising for some fresh August snowfall.
FRANCE REPORT
There’s nowhere currently open for snowsports in France, other than the indoor snow centre at Amneville in the northeast of the country, at 600 metres (around 2,000 feet), one of the world’s longest indoor snow slopes. The country’s glaciers are expected to begin re-opening in October if there’s adequate snow cover. Tignes, Les 2 Alpes and Val d’Isere all operated for summer glacier skiing up to last month. However, most of the glacier snow has now melted away as the summer heat continues to intensify. Although, fresh snowfall on high peaks was reported during a temperature dip last week.
FRANCE FORECAST
Quite changeable weather conditions for the week ahead with temperatures expected to get back below freezing 24/7 on higher slopes and glaciers and the chance of 10-20cm (4-8″) of snowfall over two-three days at the end of the week and into the weekend. Obviously, this is good news if that arrives as forecast.
ITALY REPORT
Passo Stelvio (0/65cm / 0/26”) remains open but it is battling to maintain terrain and has now dropped to 4km (2.5 miles) of runs still open, less than half of its maximum extent. That’s thanks to the continuing and not unexpected warm temperatures on the snowfield. Italian racers Frederica Brignone and Marta Bassino have been pictured training on the glacier at Zermatt this last week, which can also be accessed from the Cervinia side through the summer.
ITALY FORECAST
Temperatures are set to drop over the next few days and get back below freezing, even in the afternoons. By the end of the week overnight lows as low as -9C are possible. The current forecast is actually for 10-30cm (4-12”) of snowfall into the weekend. But, of course, that might change as the time gets nearer, particularly with the current very significant changes in the weather.
SCANDINAVIA REPORT
The Galdhøpiggen (0/150cm / 0/60”) summer ski area with Scandinavia’s highest ski slope is the only centre still open in the region, with 1.5km (a mile) of slopes open between 1850m and 2200m. Typical summer conditions at present with a mix of weather including snow showers rain and sunny spells. Overnight subzero temperatures are continuing to generate freeze-thaw conditions.
SCANDINAVIA FORECAST
Temperatures are expected to drop further in the latter half of this week ranging between around -2 and +2 degrees overnight with the potential from snow showers at times, as well as rain and sleet. Temperatures reach +8C in the afternoon though.
USA REPORT
It’s the last few days of the long 22/23 season at Mammoth Mountain (12/40″ / 30/100cm), which will close on Sunday after staying open for nine months and into August for the third time in its 69-year history. The resort had around 60 feet (over 18 metres) of snowfall on California’s highest chairlift-serviced peak. Whilst common for visitors to ski and ride through spring at Mammoth Mountain, skiing in August has only happened twice before there, in 1995 and 2017. Lifts will continue running out of Main Lodge until the 6th. After that, it will probably only be The Palmer Snowfield on Mt Hood above Timberline (0/38″ / 0/95cm), in Oregon, open next week and later into August. It has still not confirmed a closing date, although at the latest it usually stays open to the first weekend in September. Both resorts have had another week of mostly sunny weather, with temperatures in the 40s-70s Fahrenheit. Also worthy of note, snow-making usually starts at the end of September (next month) on the highest ski slopes in Colorado, with an aim of opening in about two months’ time for winter 23-24, if early Fall conditions are favourable.
USA FORECAST
There’s no change in the sunny weather expected for the coming week, with temperatures continuing to hit the 70s and 80s Fahrenheit in the afternoon but dropping to the 40s/50s in the mornings when the remaining snow sports take place.
