Where to Ski And Snowboard - Snowstorm hits European ski resorts

Snowstorm hits European ski resorts

6th November 2014, by Abi Butcher

View from the webcam in Findeln, Zermatt yesterday

In case your social media feeds aren’t telling you, too, a big snowstorm has hit the Alps.

The storm was forecast to blow in and hit the southern Alps, and yesterday it did — though it also dumped in the central and northern Alps, with lots of snow falling in Switzerland.

Snowing in Sölden this morning. Photo: Chris Moran

We have been inundated with images from Austria, France, Italy and Switzerland, with some resorts (Serre Chevalier, for example) receiving around a metre of snow. Good news for the non-glacial resorts that are opening at the end of this month.

In Switzerland, Verbier has just announced it will open this weekend, after more than 40cm of snow has fallen on Attelas (2’727m).

Val Thorens today — it opens for skiing on 22 November and WTSS will be there

Meanwhile, things aren’t looking quite so rosy in the States. Breckenridge yesterday announced it has postponed its opening day — due to be tomorrow, Friday 7 November.

“It’s simply been too warm to be able to make the quality snow we need to provide the best experience for our skiers and riders,” said a statement on its Facebook page.

“Although snowmaking operations began early on in October, our expert team and superior snowmaking infrastructure has been no match for the unusual weather pattern we’ve seen recently. We will announce a revised opening day as soon as possible.”