Where to Ski And Snowboard - More snow for the Alps

More snow for the Alps

28th December 2009, by Chris Gill

Val d'anniviers

There was some superb skiing and riding across Europe for the Christmas weekend, with fresh snow for many resorts – as well as some glorious winter sunshine.

The good news as we approach the New Year is that cloud and snow has moved into parts of the western Alps today – Monday 28 December. With temperatures dropping again, most of this should fall as snow above 1000m.

At the time of writing, it is snowing in Val d’Isère, with strong westerly winds on the upper slopes. Champagny (La Plagne) reports 5cm fresh powder so far and it’s snowing in Chamonix, Vars (further south) and the Portes du Soleil. Low cloud and light snow showers are expected in Switzerland: Grimentz, Zermatt, Wengen, Saas Fee (2cm) and Verbier, for example. Italy’s Aosta valley is also benefitting from light snow showers at present, whereas Austria and the Dolomites are enjoying another dry day – though some light snow is on the way there too.

So where had the Christmas Day flakes? Well, 2-5cm snow fell across resorts in Switzerland (Saas Fee, Davos, Zermatt, Champèry); Val d’Isère in France and Cervinia in Italy also reported snow on Christmas Day. Oh, and Scotland is having a splendid week: Cairngorm received about 40cm of the white stuff in one of the snowiest Christmas periods for some years.