SNOW PATROL

What are conditions like in Europe — and what’s in store next week?

THE situation in the Alps has changed dramatically. Anyone heading for the slopes will find plenty of skiing — but beware avalanches, which have killed at least 17 people since the start of the season.

FRANCE

AFTER almost a month of clear skies and little or no snow, the first significant fall arrived on Tuesday and continues throughout most of the week. Higher resorts have seen as much as 40cm.

SWITZERLAND

HEAVY snowfalls in most of the country in the past seven days. Ski resorts including Grusch-Danusa in Graubunden in the east are reporting up to three metres.

NORWAY/SWEDEN

AFTER a slow start due to a lack of snow, most runs are now open. Hovfjallet in western Sweden saw 20cm fall in 72 hours.

AUSTRIA

FOLLOWING a third week of heavy snowfall with some areas reaching four metres, the country has had several avalanches, including in St Anton am Arlberg on Wednesday.

GERMANY

SNOWFALL has intensified in the past week with some resorts posting up to a metre of coverage in just 72 hours. The volume of snow has caused some areas to close while access is cleared.

ITALY

LITTLE snowfall this week, but thanks to good coverage early in the season, most resorts have been able to stay fully open.

INFORMATION from snow-forecast.com