Where to Ski And Snowboard -

Snow overview Europe: 19 February

19th February 2010, by Wendy King

Sun before the snow in Champéry - generates the crowds though ...

It has certainly warmed up in Europe this week, with predominantly blue-sky day weather across much of the Alps until Thursday. Combine mild weather, a dry week and increased traffic on the slopes and there are bound to be a few calls of ‘slush’, ‘ice’, and ‘what, no powder?’ Still, generally the slopes are in good shape at mid-February – January’s regular snowfalls having ensured decent cover. Slopes that receive a lot of sun will have firmed up during the past week, so the new layer of snow is likely to be concealing crud or ice. And where cover has thinned, one or two rocks or stones can’t be ruled out. Snow/rain has arrived from the south-west to close out the week, though Austria remains largely dry.

Austria

There has been little fresh snow in Austrian resorts for a week or so now, though cover is holding well in most places. Some lower runs are becoming slushy in the mild conditions. Off-piste is variable. It is above freezing at valley level in St Anton, Serfaus (40/100cm) and Galtur at present, which could present softer, chopped conditions by the end of the day. One exception to the dry spell is Carinthia, with snow showers flirting with the upper slopes – it is snowing on BKK’s mountain on Friday, though accumulations are more likely to refresh than impress.

France

The sunny few days in France has produced some glorious skiing, though the heavy pounding of more visitors began to affect the snow quality on some (particularly lower) runs. Resorts in the Grenoble region were the first to welcome new snowfall this week and it is snowing heavily there on Friday. Serre Chevalier (105/225cm) is on avalanche 4 alert, following the rise in temperatures then 10-20cm powder so far. Villard de Lans (70/140cm) has everything open and 5-10cm new snow. The Mont Blanc region already reports 10-20cm new snow, with the freezing level dropping back to 900m. Champèry looked busy on Tuesday (see pic). Chamonix (45/360cm) still has some of the deepest settled snow depths on the upper slopes, providing excellent riding.

Italy

Western Italian resorts have fared best in the country again this week, a sunny start followed by lots of fresh powder. The Piedmont and Aosta resorts saw moderate snowfall on Thursday night / Friday morning; Bardonecchia (180cm) and Courmayeur are good examples, receiving 20-30cm so far. But cloud and snow flurries are affecting Lombardy and the Dolomites too (5cm so far in the Val di Femme region.)

Switzerland

Very little change in Switzerland, though it is significantly milder than last week. The early part was bright, followed by cloud, fog and scattered snow flurries to end the week – the being reserved for the far south-east again. Further useful contributions fell in St Moritz and Zermatt (133cm) to refresh the pistes, though elsewhere there is little significant precipitation at present. This will inevitably take its toll on south-facing slopes that have been exposed to the sun all week, so a fresh layer on top is welcome. Out west, there was a dusting of new snow in Gryon/Villars and poor visibility is affecting the skiing up there on Friday. Rain is likely at lower levels. But most resorts can claim ample snow cover and plenty of good riding.

Pyrenees

As with the Alps, resorts in the Pyrenees have basked in a few days of settled, bright weather with little fresh snow until Friday. It is now snowing in Grandvalira (80/140cm), where they report 8cm to refresh the slopes so far. This should give a nice soft layer on the harder packed snow of late. Light snowfall is also refreshing the slopes in Barèges, where all lifts and runs are open.

Elsewhere

Slope conditions in Bulgarian resorts are much better than they were a few weeks ago, with recent snowfall boosting settled snow depths in Pamporovo to 140cm. This week has been largely mild, with sunny spells. This week’s warmer weather has reached Slovenia too, thinning snow cover. But there is still good riding around Kranjska Gora’s slopes – quiet too as the local holidays are over and their season is shorter generally. Scotland continues to amaze, with all four of the five centres offering 100% slopes and lifts open on Friday. Recent snowfall has boosted piste quality there; combine that with light winds for the next few days and it’s well worth a visit if you can get there …

It’s mid-February – where are all the people in Kranjska Gora?

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