J2Ski Snow Report - February 5th 2015
J2Ski Snow Report - February 5th 2015
Published : 05-Feb-2015 12:14
J2Ski Snow Report - February 5th 2015Re-publication :- our Snow Report Summary, being the text up to "The Alps", is free to re-publish, but must be clearly credited to www.J2ski.com with text including "J2Ski Snow Report" linked to this page - thank you.
Snow Report Summary
Well, what a difference a week or two of snow makes; snow depths across The Alps are now greater than a year ago, for the majority of ski areas, and are setting up a classic half-term and late season skiing.
Le Grand Bornand - photo courtesy of LGB Tourist Office
This Week's Headlines
- Up to six feet (2m) of snow in the Alps.
- Nearly six feet of snow in the Pyrenees.
- Up to 50cm/20 Inches of snow for Eastern Europe.
- More heavy snowfall in New England
Another snowy week in the Alps has left most of the resorts in the region in great shape with deep powder snow across the area. Resorts in France and Switzerland have fared the best this past week although there's been significant snowfall again in Austria and Western Italy. The big snow has been accompanied by low temperatures - down to double digits below zero at night above 2,000m. The rate of snowfall is expected to slow over the coming week, although Austria may get a few feet more.
The Pyrenees, along with all of Spain's mountainous regions, as well as the highlands of Portugal have had big snow this week too - with up to 1.8m/six feet falling, providing remarkable images of neck deep powder.
Across the Atlantic In North America conditions remain good across most of the country and there's been heavy snow in New England with up to two feet of fresh snow.
Please go carefully, if venturing off-piste, as there are locations still with unstable snow-packs. There have been more than a dozen avalanche fatalities in the last week - so please; always take local advice and never venture off-piste alone or without the proper equipment.
Check the J2Ski Forecasts regularly for the latest updates!
Alps
Austria
There's been further healthy snowfall in the Austrian Alps, although this has slowed in the last week. Forecasters expect bigger falls again next week. The Arlberg saw the biggest snowfalls with accumulations of 45 to 70cm, many other areas reported 20-30cm. the Skiwelt posted 25cm, Mayrhofen and Schladming 20cm a piece. Aside from the country's glaciers, where the snow depth is around the 3m mark, the Arlberg is also scoring highly for snow depth. St Anton now has two feet of snow at resort level and 2.4m (eight feet) up top. While the picture is good across most of Austria, Bad Kleinkirchheim in the south east of the country has the least impressive stats of the major Austrian resort, 10cm at resort level, 40cm up top.
France
French ski resorts have seen the most snow in the world for a second week, with resorts in the Alps (Chamonix) and Pyrenees (Cauterets) both posting more than five feet (1.5m) of fresh snow. Other big scorers include Meribel (116cm), Le Grand Bornand (123cm), La Plagne and Avoriaz (both 125cm), Les Arcs (131cm), Alpe d'Huez (137cm), Courchevel (142cm) and Flaine (145cm) - all the kind of numbers that resorts dream of. All of France's leading ski areas now have great snow depths which should see them through the remainder of the season, many with 2-3m on upper runs and at least 60cm, many more than a metre at resort level.
Italy
The best of the snow in Italy over the past week has been in the West of the country, where most Italian Alpine resorts have received 20-60cm of new snow, and Cervinia claims 90cm (three feet). The Dolomites have had smaller snowfalls, typically 10-20cm, and could really do with more, particularly down at resort level, although snowmaking ensures that most areas remain open. Some Italian areas continue to post amongst the biggest snowbases in the world at present with 4.3m at Madesio and 4m at Passo Tonale.
Switzerland
Switzerland has seen big snowfalls of up to 125cm in the last week. The biggest snowfalls of a metre or more were recorded at some of the resorts that had had the worst start to the season with little snow cover until the past few weeks – including Champery in the Portes du Soleil, Crans Montana, Les Diablerets and Leysin which all report a metre or more of fresh snow. Other areas doing well include the Jungfrau (90cm), Saas Fee (75cm), Engelberg (70cm) and Klosters (69cm). Andermatt has one of the deepest snow bases in the world at 4m and it has had another 60cm (two feet) of fresh snow. More snow is expected over the next week but ar less than the past week.
Scandinavia
Another week of snowy weather in Scandinavia with snowfall reported across the region right through the week. Accumulations have typically been in the area of 10-30cm, although Voss, which continues to claim the area's deepest base at 195cm, says it has had another 75cm of fresh snow. The largest resort in Scandinavia, Are, has 17cm of new snow and a 60cm base while in Finland there's been 15-35cm of new snow and 75-95cm bases.
Pyrenees
There have been spectacular snowfalls in the Pyrenees over the last week, peaking at the weekend. In fact the snow continued right across the Iberian peninsular bringing heavy snow to other ski areas in Spain and even to Portugal's lone ski centre. The biggest snowfalls were reported by Grandvalira in Andorra with 1.8m (six feet) of fresh snow but many areas reported at least a metre of snow so it has really been the biggest snow storm for several seasons here.
Eastern Europe
A great snowy week in Eastern Europe too with up to 50cm (20 inches) of new snow reported (at Kranjska Gora in Slovenia) and 45cm (18 inches) of fresh snow reported in Bulgaria (at Borovets). Most other areas in Slovenia, Romania and Bulgarian report 20-30cm of new snow. Base depths are the best they've been in several years at up to 2.8m (six feet).
Scotland
Scotland has had another good week with fresh snow, low to moderate winds and often clear skies. The five Highland centres have typically received around 50cm of new snow and have bases in the 50cm to 1.2m bracket. Temperatures have remained below freezing keeping the snow in good shape.
North America
Canada
The powder snow is back in inland BC as well as Alberta with Big White topping the scales for fresh white stuff this week – clocking up another 42cm of fresh. Whistler too had around 25cm although it is struggling a little with the West coast's warm winter so describes its off piste as heavy. It has snowed similar volumes in Quebec with Tremblant reporting 20cm of fresh snow too. Base depths remain good with 120-180cm (4-6 feet) depths the norm from coast to coast.
USA
Another week of serious snowfall in the eastern US with not a lot of fresh in the west as is clear from those watching the Alpine Skiing World Championships in Vail – although it is reporting 20cm of fresh snow spread over the last seven days at about an inch a time. Snowfalls at the end of last year and in early January mean this isn't a great problem in the West, although those looking for powder would do better in the Alps, Pyrenees or New England this week. Here falls of 30-55cm have widely been reported, the biggest in New Hampshire. Although things are rather dire again in California, Mammoth still has a 50-100cm base, Squaw says 76cm top and bottom, Heavenly 81cm.
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