J2Ski Snow Report - September 26th 2024
J2Ski Snow Report - September 26th 2024
Published : 26-Sep-2024 07:46
Pitztaler Glacier, Austria, preparing to open on Saturday (28th September).
A handful of European alpine resorts will be open by the weekend, Chilean ski areas have extended their winter and Australia is done, while parts of NZ get an end-of-season boost.
The Snow Headlines - September 26th
- Chile's Valle Nevado announces a two-week season extension.
- Australia's 2024 season is over.
- Solden opens a week earlier than expected.
- Ski season resumes at Galdhopiggen in Norway.
- Fresh snowfall on Western North American peaks, although nowhere open yet.
- One week to the start of the season in Finland.
- Number of ski areas open in the Alps more than doubles from 3 to 8.
- Snow in Southern Africa three weeks after season ends.
Light pre-season snow coming in for the Alps, and some late-season cover for the southern hemisphere
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World Overview
The seasons have clicked over from summer to autumn in the northern hemisphere and winter to spring in the southern by the astronomical measure as well as the meteorological, so we can now say it's full autumn/fall or spring - depending where you are.
In the northern hemisphere, autumn has brought colder temperatures and wintery weather, with more snow on alpine glaciers and up in Scandinavia as well as Scottish peaks.
As a result, we're up from three to eight centres open in Europe compared to a week ago and will be in double figures from Saturday.
North America saw some snowfall on western peaks last weekend but it's been dry and sunny since with nowhere close to opening there yet – although things often change quickly in October.
It's season wind-down time in the southern hemisphere and it's completely over in Australia, a little prematurely but similar to last year when hopes of making it to October also faded. It joins Lesotho in Southern Africa as the second of the five southern hemisphere ski nations to end its 2024 seasons.
Ironically there was an unusually heavy snowfall in South Africa earlier this week, more than three weeks after the largely snowless season ended in the region.
Many centres in the other southern hemisphere ski nations have had fresh snowfall too, but most are closing this weekend or next with just a handful soldiering on later into October. Most have seen rising temperatures, diminishing bases and reducing open terrain - as normal - for the final weeks of the season.
Southern Hemisphere
Australia
There was some fresh snowfall in Tasmania at the weekend which led to the small Mount Mawson ski area there opening a few runs.
However, the warm and sunny daytime weather has continued to dominate conditions otherwise, with rain and strong winds thrown into the mix over the past few days.
The last mainland area open, Perisher, decided to close on Wednesday, abandoning their plan to continue through to Sunday.
New Zealand
New Zealand's weather continues to move between extremes, with another mix of snow, rain, wind and the odd perfect, still, blue sky, fresh snow day thrown into the mix over the last week.
Daytime temperatures are climbing gradually though, despite overnight lows still dropping below freezing.
For some ski areas, it's an ongoing battle to stay open and several more plan to close after the coming weekend.
Cardrona and Mount Hutt are among those aiming for a few more weeks and there was good news on the North Island at last for Turoa and Whakapapa which had significant fresh snowfall this week - and managed to open a bit more terrain for their final weeks as a result, in Whakapapa's case more than they've been able to offer all season.
Argentina
Argentina's season is drawing to a close with most of the country's centres expected to end their seasons this coming Sunday or the one after.
The past week has been predominantly dry with lots of sunshine and daytime highs above +10C at many resorts. That said, overnight lows continue to be sub-zero so the snowpack keeps freezing and bases haven't dropped much in most areas, although the amount of terrain available has.
Cerro Catedral, which had 100km of its 120km slopes open until last weekend, has dropped to 20km for the final weeks.
There's nothing too exciting in the forecast, more warm afternoons and rain showers are now more likely than snow.
Chile
Chile's season is winding down fast with mostly dry weather and warm afternoon conditions.
Most centres are reporting their snow depth down by 20-40% from a few weeks ago with some also closing sizable parts of their skiable terrain.
In fact, a few smaller resorts ended their 2024 seasons altogether last weekend and many more will close this weekend or the one after.
The news isn't all bad for Chilean skiers with one of the largest ski areas, Valle Nevado, announcing a fortnight's season extension through to the latter half of October and another big name, Portillo, still reporting its slopes 100% open for the final week of winter there.
Temperatures are still getting well below freezing overnight but climbing into double figures above zero (C) by the afternoon most days now.
Europe
After the snowy weather a fortnight ago things have been calmer in the Alps, although there has been more snowfall reported on high slopes, most recently in the south and east with open Italian glaciers Passo Stelvio and Val Senales reporting fresh cover.
Solden joined the Stubai in opening early last weekend and with the country's highest area Pitztal also opening this weekend and Hintertux re-opening too, Austria now has four centres open – half of Europe/the northern hemisphere's total.
Kaunertal and the Kitzsteinhorn, as well as Molltal, are due to open next month, the first in just over a week's time.
You can also ski at Saas-Fee and Zermatt in Switzerland, although the cross-border link from the latter's glacier down to Cervinia in Italy will remain closed for another month.
Things are starting to happen in Scandinavia too with the region's highest slopes at the Galdhopiggen summer ski area reopening with freezing temperatures and snow showers. Finland's Ruka and Levi also plan to start their 7-month long seasons at the end of next week, using snow stored through summer and now spread back out on the slopes.
North America
There's been more snowfall, last weekend, across western North America with the first snow reported on mountains in Utah as well as more snow in California, Alberta, BC and even a second fall for Arizona.
Since then the past few days have been a little warmer and mostly sunny and that remains the forecast for the coming days so we still seem a little way off from the start of snowmaking anywhere.
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