SNOW REPORT

Overdue snow arrives in North America while France dominates the world’s depth charts – as cold temperatures and snow continue

It has been a snowy week in many of the world’s top ski resorts, with some areas seeing accumulations of more than a metre (3ft) in the past seven days.

The snowfall is particularly welcome in Canada and the United States, where ski areas had been battling to open terrain after a poor start to winter.

In the Alps, any fears of rain damage to low-lying slopes have been dispelled by heavy snowfall down to valley floors, while on higher runs more resorts are reporting snow 2-3 metres (6-10ft) deep, which should now see them through the rest of the season.

Elsewhere in Europe, there has been a big snowfall in the Pyrenees, more snow in Eastern Europe, less bitingly cold temperatures in Scandinavia, and a little more terrain open at ski areas in the Scottish Highlands.

These are some of the best January conditions in years, with the upcoming week promising cold and sunny weather and yet more snow.

FRANCE

France is dominating the depth tables at the moment, with Chamonix, Flaine and Les Arcs posting the three deepest snowpacks. This translates into almost all of the country’s ski runs now being open – the world’s biggest area, Les 3 Vallées, is reporting 92 per cent (552km or 343 miles) of slopes open. The forecast Cold and sunny weather continues with highs around freezing, and lows of –10C. Forecasts suggest snowfall in the middle of next week.

AUSTRIA

Austrian resorts have seen temperatures drop below freezing and snow fall to the lowest valley floors over the past week. St Anton continues to post the country’s deepest cover at 3.4m (11ft), with the wider Arlberg region reporting the most terrain open (270km or 168 miles). Ischgl, Saalbach, Söll, Westendorf and others have more than 200km (124 miles) of slopes open, and Kitzbühel reports every run open. The forecast The week ahead looks superb, with fresh snow, sun and low temperatures. Snowfall is next expected around Wednesday.

ITALY

It has been a cold and snowy week in Italy. Bormio posted 30cm (12in) of fresh snow and is 100 per cent open, while Livigno issued a powder alert after getting 52cm (20in) of snowfall in 24 hours. Cortina d’Ampezzo also did well, reporting powder conditions and 82 per cent of its slopes open. The forecast It is non-stop sunshine for the Italian Alps and Dolomites for the coming week, with temperatures mainly sub-zero but valley highs around 5C.

SWITZERLAND

Swiss ski centres have posted some of their biggest snow-depth increases of the season to date with ski areas in the south and east doing especially well. St Moritz reports a 111cm (44in) jump in its upper slope depth, more than doubling last week’s statistic. As with the rest of the Alps, it’s been cold, and conditions are excellent. The forecast Temperatures will stay low, typically between 2C and –12C. Mostly clear skies with some snowfall from around Tuesday next week.

CANADA

North America’s largest ski area, Whistler Blackcomb, finally reported a decent dump of 42cm (16in) last weekend, allowing it to increase its open terrain to 75 per cent, overtaking the US for most terrain open on the continent. The forecast Cold temperatures are a big factor, with lows in the –20sC and more snow forecast.

UNITED STATES

It has been the best week of the season by some margin in the US, with big falls of up to 60cm (2ft) in 24 hours reported and powder conditions in many areas. Hard-hit Mammoth, in California, is up to 75 per cent open after more than 50cm (20in) of snowfall, while Utah’s Snowbird is nearly 90 per cent operational. Vail continues to report the most terrain open in the country, ahead of the biggest ski area, Park City, which only has 75 per cent of slopes open. The forecast After the dry months, the snowfall shows no signs of stopping and some centres may have another metre by early next week.

i St Moritz in Switzerland has more than twice the depth of snow that it had last week