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Snow overview: 26 February

26th February 2010, by Wendy King

Fresh snow in Grimentz on Friday

Summary

What a particularly cloudy, foggy season this seems! As we put together this review, it is snowing again across parts of the Alps after a mixed week of sun and low cloud driven by a strong wind at times. There has been some fabulous sunshine too, though, notably in Switzerland. Snowfall has been fairly scattered, with most falling in France and the least in Austria and eastern Italy. Mild conditions are dominating the current weather, so the best snow is on the upper slopes – where there is oodles of powder reported.

And as for Scotland … they are in the midst of very stormy weather, which is dumping snow on the mountains. Quite an incredible season.

Austria

Some snow has fallen this week, but not a great deal. It has been mild too, with low pressure over Italy bringing a little rain to lower altitude resorts. As a result, runs to resort have become slushy with wet snow in places. Despite this, though, there is ample snow cover generally and plenty of excellent riding higher up. Snow is now falling in the west on Friday, with 5-20cm reported in St Anton and Obergurgl. Kaprun received 6cm on the glacier. Further east, all lifts are open in Dorfgastein (40/110cm), with soft/wet snow to packed powder.

France

Lots of fresh snow has fallen at fairly frequent intervals across France, but with a high-low split that has meant rain or wet snow below 1500m. The changeable weather has delivered a high avalanche risk in some resorts too: Serre Chevalier earlier this week, Val d’Isère on Friday for example. And there are some serious dumps on Friday, though conditions are pretty unpleasant right now – 60-70kph winds gusting above 2500m. Heavy, slushy snow can’t be ruled out below 1800m. Cover and settled snow depths are excellent in Avoriaz (230cm), though some lifts around the Portes du Soleil are on hold due to the strong winds on Thursday (noted on the Swiss side at Champèry).

Italy

The main feature has been a warmer trend to the weather. Freezing levels are expected to reach 2000m over the weekend, which will increase chances of softer, slushy runs and a freeze/thaw cycle. But this shouldn’t concern us too much; snow depths at altitude remain impressive. Snow is falling in the Aosta valley on Friday: La Thuile (110/280cm) has added 15-20cm. The Dolomites have received little new snow since last weekend’s dumps, the heavy cloud at times rather inactive. Light snow is dusting the pistes on Friday, 5cm in Selva (70/160cm) so far. Kronplatz reports 12cm and packed powder conditions.

Switzerland

It has been a variable week for Swiss resorts, with good sunny days and periods of snow showers – notably in the central and western areas. That snow increased to end the week, with 15-20cm reported in Nendaz and Champéry (40/110cm). Hard, icy surfaces lurk beneath runs that have been facing the sun but otherwise the pistes are in very good shape – though windblown snow is a feature off-piste in some areas. Upper snow bases in many resorts exceed 2m, so cover is pretty healthy for the time of year too. Check out Editor Gill’s blogs, for his recent updates.

Beyond the Alps

The big news is Scotland has been inundated with snow this week: 1-2m in places. All five ski centres are digging themselves out of huge snowdrifts; Glencoe is the only centre to open on Friday. But with brighter weather forecast for Saturday, the powder awaits …

In the Pyrenees, resorts in the west benefitted from light mid-week top-ups. Otherwise it has been a quieter week; the last reported snowfall in Andorra was 20 February. Pistes have firmed up in the sunshine too. Snow cover remains fine though – Soldeu (80/150cm). Formigal retains an upper snow depth of 240cm.

Bulgarian resorts have not reported any fresh snow this week and, like the Alps, it has been mild.

North America

Some of season’s deepest snowfalls have arrived in the US during the past two weeks. Hats off to California again, where Mammoth notched-up another huge dump. Of particular note, though, has been the improvement further north in Portland. After weeks of rain and mild weather, Mount Hood and Mount Bachelor can claim their first significant snowfalls of the season this week. The Cascade Mountains have had a generally poor snow pack this year, but now at least there is some good skiing and riding out there.

In Canada, the west enjoyed a few blue-sky days before the snow returned. The heaviest snowfall has been in Whistler, where visibility has been the biggest problem. Big White (202cm) received 12cm; Banff and Fernie light flurries –surface conditions in Fernie are described as fresh, windblown. Further east, the harder pistes of Tremblant were refreshed too: 15cm with more to come.

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