J2Ski Snow Report - December 13th 2012
J2Ski Snow Report - December 13th 2012
Published : 12-Dec-2012 05:30
The J2Ski Snow Report - Week Ending December 14th, 2012(* Free to re-publish in whole or part so long as credited to www.J2ski.com with hyperlink to http://www.j2ski.com/snow_forecast )
More snow arrived in Europe and North America this week, and more is on its way.
Although temperatures across The Alps are set to rise somewhat over the next few days, it will be a brief interlude. More precipitation will push into the area through the weekend. Rain is likely to lower areas, with the snow line rising to perhaps 1750 metres on Saturday before starting to descend again. By Monday, temperatures will have fallen to their normal December levels.
Although they're dancing around a little, the forecasts are indicating a fair bit more snow next week and quite possibly through toward the end of the month.
This Week's Headlines
- 275km of piste open at Zermatt.
- Snow reaches the Rockies at last in the USA with resorts reporting substantial falls.
- Base depths pass 2.5m (more than eight feet) in the French Alps.
- Resorts in the Portes du Soleil open early.
- Revelstoke reports more than 5m of snow fall since start of season.
Please remember that all early season opening is subject to last-minute change and may consist of partial or weekend opening depending on snow conditions. Check with the local Tourist Office for the latest information.
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Europe
Austria
It's snowy and cold in Austria, some of the lower lying big name ski areas in Europe like The Skiwelt have received two-foot (60cm) falls in the past week so are in great shape for pre-Christmas openings. At Kitzbuhel there's been more than a foot of snow in the past week and base depths are now between two and three feet (60-90cm). Temperatures have been dropping well into double-digits sub-zero making it colder than current Arctic Circle temperatures up in Lapland at times but the cold is expected to be replaced by a fresh band of snow in the next few days moving across the country. The deepest snowpack remains yup on the glaciers where it's now lying up to 1.8m (six feet) deep at resorts like Pitztal and Solden as well as its neighbour Obergurgl – so they should all be well set now right through to next May.
France
It's one of the best start to the season's in years in France. Last season it was very warm and dry until early December and then there was a snowy deluge – good news but so heavy at times access roads were closed and resorts closed for avalanche danger. This season, so far, it has been a much smoother ride with regular, reliable snowfalls allowing resorts to build up serious base depths now among the best in the world. 2.6m at Alpe d'Huez, 2.5m at Val Thorens – conditions are simply excellent. It looks set to continue – Les 2 Alpes for example received a little over 60cm (two feet) of snow in the past seven days and we're expecting similar accumulations in the next seven.
Most of the country's main resorts including those in the Southern Alps and Pyrenees are now open or will open this weekend. In fact areas in the Portes du Soleil that were not due to open until the weekend are opening early this Wednesday because of the great conditions.
"It's Xmas before Xmas with a free ski pass for children up to age 16 when adults buy a day pass for 15 Euros" said a statement from Chatel, "Regarding the good snow conditions (over 2.2 meters of fresh snow at the top of the slopes) we are pleased to tell you that the Châtel ski area will be partially open on Wednesday 12th December on Pre-la-Joux area."
The slopes between Morzine and les Gets will open on Saturday, a week earlier than planned.
Italy
There's not been much new snow in Italy over the past week and depths aren't as great as further north and west but conditions are still reported to be good at most areas.
The Dolomiti Superski region is now more than half open and bases are building at resorts like Arabba (1.2m), the full Sella Ronda circuit opened at the weekend too.
The deepest snow in the country by far is at Cervinia where a new black run has opened for the first time this season. Its upper slope depth of 2.4m (8 feet) is among the deepest in the world at present.
The coming week is expected to be snowier in Italy with most areas receiving a 30cm accumulation.
Switzerland
Swiss resorts are seeing some of the best conditions in the Alps with most areas reporting between 1.5 and 2.5m snow depths. Many areas also reported another foot of snow in the past week although Davos says more than 80cm has fallen there. The coming week looks like it will bring similar 30cm falls to many areas.
Zermatt now has 275km of terrain open including the link over to Cervinia, one of the biggest ski areas in the world open at present and with one of the biggest verticals too.
Verbier has a 143cm base following another foot of snow and we expect 40cm more in the next week keeping conditions excellent.
Pyrenees
It's looking good in the Pyrenees too with snow depths of up to 70cm reported in Andorra at Vallnord and the large ski areas on the Spanish side of the border almost fully open with more than 100km of piste to enjoy at both Baqueira Beret and Formigal.
Scandinavia
Most of the major ski areas in Finland, Norway and Sweden are in double digits below freezing and not seeing too much daylight so the snow guns have been firing up to compliment the limited natural snowfall. Conditions are slowly improving at are, Sweden. The region's largest resorts which has been open over a month already but seen limited snowfall. Cover is now 25cm (10 inches) deep and nearly a quarter of the lifts are operating. In Ruka, Finland, where the Freestyle World Cup is in town this weekend, it's a similar picture with the snow a foot deep and half of the mountain open – although here that's in part due to lack of demand before the Christmas Holidays when everything will open. There's deeper snow in Norway, 50cm at Geilo, 70cm at Hemsedal – and with the low temperatures it's not going anywhere.
Eastern Europe
It's cold too in Eastern Europe and most ski areas are opening this weekend if they did not last, with 20-40cm bases, in many cases a mix of snowmaking and the more limited natural snowfall. Precise numbers are as usual difficult to come by, but Bulgaria's leading resort Bansko, which is already open, has put its head above the parapet and dared to publish some – they tell us 10cm on resort runs, 40cm at the top of the mountain and that pistes are in "excellent condition."
Scotland
Scotland too is enjoying the best early December conditions it's likely to have with four of the country's five resorts now open, the exception being Glenshee which reports it's pretty white but needs more snow. Ironically some of the best conditions are to be had only a few miles to the north at The Lecht where by Tuesday the centre which had opened with only four runs complete 11 days earlier said every run was no operating. Cairngorm and over on the West Coast, Nevis Range and Glencoe are all open too with ever better conditions as temperatures stay low and it keeps snowing.
North America
Canada
The rate of snowfall in Western Canada has slowed a little but conditions are excellent at all resorts. Red Mountain was among the latest to open, last weekend, and has reported a slightly deeper base than Whistler – which is running at near record December snowfall levels – both resorts with just over five feet (1.5m) of snow on upper slopes. The past week has seen most areas receive another 10-30cm and it's a similar picture for the coming seven days.
Revelstoke is also doing well, "Revelstoke Mountain Resort has experienced incredible snow conditions since opening on Saturday December 1, 2012! Closing out this past weekend, the resort had received 90cm of snow over the previous 5 days, and has now received 523cm of snowfall to date," said a resort statement.
It remains less inspiring on the East Coast where Mont Sutton was forced to close on Tuesday. Monte Sainte Anne in Quebec reports 30-60cm snow depth but that seems to be limited to a few pistes with a lot of snowmaking, 2 of its 11 lifts are currently operating.
USA
There was palpable relief in the big destination resorts of Colorado and Utah earlier this week as resorts started firing out emails reporting snow falls of up to 40cm on Sunday/Monday, providing some of the famous powder images on which they rely. Most resorts in the region benefitted, Aspen Snowmass getting the top end in the snowfall numbers and reporting more snow expected through the remainder of this week.
Further north Snowbird received 18 inches of new snow, and was keen to stress that it hasn't been needing it as much as others and that in any case average annual cover is good,
"Snowbird guests have enjoyed top-to-bottom skiing and riding from the Tram since opening day and consistent storms have allowed the Utah resort that averages 500 inches a year to steadily open more terrain"
"We have some of the best conditions and best deals in the country right now," said Dave Fields, Snowbird's Vice President of Resort Operations. "The new Little Cloud high speed quad carries skiers and snowboarders to South Ridge in about four minutes, giving quick and easy access to amazing terrain and powder,"
Snowbird plans to have open nine of its 11 lifts by the weekend, including the new Little Cloud chairlift, Gad 2 and Mineral Basin. This accounts for approximately 85 percent of Snowbird terrain.
The West Coast has had the most snow to date and Mammoth is looking good with a six foot base. Californian resorts haven't had it all their own way though, Mountain High which prides itself on being the closest area to LA and thus one of the most southerly in the state with a long, normally snowsure season, had had to close due to lack of snow and warm temperatures. That's due to change over the next few days, they hope,
Says Ben Smith, General Manager, "We've been waiting for a change in the weather and with fresh snow and the best snowmaking conditions of the season Mountain High will be open just in time for the holidays."
On the East Coast there has been some colder weather to allow for more snowmaking but conditions remain "challenging" and the terrain open "limited."
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