J2Ski Snow Report - December 19th 2024
J2Ski Snow Report - December 19th 2024
Published : 19-Dec-2024 08:24
Mountains at Andermatt, Switzerland, ahead of the snow arriving tonight.
Merry Xmas from J2Ski! If you asked Santa for snow, it looks as if he's delivering early... there were big snowfalls in North America last weekend, and cold and snow is rolling into the Alps as we write this. There's a lot more in the forecast, for Europe, America and Japan too, for the holiday season.
The Snow Headlines - December 19th
- Heavy snowfall (and violent gales) on North America's West Coast, up to five feet falls.
- Alps and Pyrenees saw temperatures climb earlier, but heavy snowfall is arriving.
- Verbier 4 Valleys open half their terrain to have second most in the world (behind The 3 Valleys).
- Whistler Blackcomb passes 6,000 acres open and sees a big fresh snowfall.
- Snowy conditions in western Norway bring powder to Scandinavia after warm autumn.
Incoming! Snow is in the house.
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World Overview
It's the start of winter now, according to the astronomical measure of the seasons, and the weather outlook certainly looks like it!
The most dramatic weather this week has impacted the full North American West Coast, with heavy snowfall reported over the weekend from California up to BC, whilst snow is now falling across the Alps and forecast to continue.
That North American snow arrived with a major storm accompanied by gale-force winds that caused some issues, however, storm totals of up to five feet (1.5m) of fresh snow were eventually reported.
Europe
Austria
About three-quarters of Austria's ski areas are open now with most of the rest joining them this weekend.
It's been a bit of a challenging few days after some positive weeks of cold and snowy weather with temperatures rising above +12C at the start of the week, impacting thin cover, especially at lower levels.
It's not yet clear if much damage has been done to the snowpack but temperatures are now falling again and there's a lot of snowfall in the forecast down to low elevations right up to Christmas.
Ischgl still has the most terrain open, followed by Kitzbuhel – which has leapt to second place after opening most of its terrain last weekend, and then the Arlberg.
France
The 3 Valleys continues to post the most terrain open in the world with about half their slopes open.
Other big areas joined them this week including the huge Paradiski (La Plagne and Les Arcs) and (with a partial opening) Les Portes du Soliel including Morzine, Les Gets, Avoriaz, Chatel and half-a-dozen others. These have not opened much of their terrain so far.
All will change for the upcoming Christmas Week (in a good way!). France saw some snowy, windy and sometimes foggy conditions at the weekend before temperatures began rising under mostly sunny skies at the start of the week, but the temperature gauge is plummeting again now with some very low numbers (-10C and below) and up to a metre of fresh snow forecast between now and Christmas.
Italy
After some cold and snowy weather to start this week, Italy also saw temperatures climb from Monday to Wednesday with valley highs getting above +10C under mostly sunny skies.
There's not thought to have been much damage to the snowpack although a decision on whether Bormio will be up to hosting its World Cup racing was briefly put on hold before the green light was given.
Temperatures are dropping fast now and snow is forecast to end the week (and continue into the next).
The Cervinia-Zermatt cross-border area has the most terrain open in the country (or at least accessible from it), around 200km, but Val Gardena is close behind with 175km or more than 95% of its runs open now.
Switzerland
After a mostly cold and snowy weekend, Switzerland also had some warm temperatures this week with low-lying resorts getting as high as +12C down at 1,000m altitudes under sunny skies.
Here too, temperatures are now dropping dramatically and snow has begun falling - and is expected to continue for the next few days. Big accumulations are expected above 2,000m but there will be snow down to the valley floor too.
The 4 Valleys opened all their sectors last weekend and is now about half open - just behind Zermatt for terrain currently available in the country.
Scandinavia
Some promising signs from Scandinavia that things are back on track after the warm autumn.
Temperatures are consistently below freezing, generally well below, and Western Norway in particular has been hit by multiple fronts bringing big snowfalls at last to resorts like Voss.
It's been snowier too at Hemsedal but going further east and north the numbers remain low on snow depth and open terrain with many areas still posting less than 20% of their slopes open and thin bases too.
The forecast is staying cold with some light snowfall, heavier in the west.
Pyrenees
It's been quite a month for the Pyrenees, missing the big holiday period at the start of the month with no snow, then racing to open last week after a big dump finally transformed things, and then this week seeing the temperature spike from Monday to Wednesday which took a toll on that snow at lower levels.
It's getting much colder again now. The larger areas like Grandvalira and Baqueira Beret hit 90km of slopes open before things warmed up, and should be in good shape after the new snow.
Scotland
Warm weather moved into the Highlands at the weekend after a few weeks of sub-zeroes. Unfortunately, that spelt the end of the limited amount of 'natural' skiing that had opened at Glencoe as snow cover thawed.
However, Glencoe and The Lecht have managed to maintain small areas using their Snow Factory all-weather snowmaking machines. Glenshee and Cairngorm plan to join them for the upcoming Christmas school holiday weeks.
Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe seemed to largely escape the temperature spike further west with the numbers staying just a few degrees above freezing.
Bulgaria is having a particularly good season start with Bansko starting the week with another healthy snowfall. Jasna in Slovakia in the Northeast of Europe has been opening more terrain and now has about 70% of its slopes open.
North America
Canada
Western Canada was hit by a big storm through the weekend and into the start of this week which brought more than half a metre of snowfall to Whistler Blackcomb and other westerly ski areas.
The snow arrived with very strong winds which impacted operations initially, before the full powdery glory could be enjoyed. It's now passed 6,000 acres open and the snow has kept falling all week and should continue into the weekend.
On the East Coast, there's still an issue with warm temperatures spiking once or twice a week, so bases remain thin and open terrain limited at resorts like Mont Ste Anne and Tremblant.
It is looking to stay well below freezing through into Christmas week now though.
USA
There were big snowfalls on America's Pacific Coast at the weekend and at the start of this week, with up to three feet falling.
The snow was driven in on gale-force winds so blizzard conditions ensued at times before some great powder days when the storm had passed through.
Less fresh stuff further inland in the southern Rockies, although from Utah northwards, some snow has fallen.
Challenging conditions continue in the East, with waves of warm, wet weather coming through between colder, snowier spells, setting progress back.
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