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Snow conditions in the Alps are a bit mixed right now. The current storm has delivered a lot of snow at high altitude across the northern and especially north-western Alps, with 50cm of more above 2300m in some French resorts, for example. There has also been some rain damage lower down though, which will only be partially repaired by the colder and snowier conditions tonight.

Some snow has also got through to the southern Alps during this storm, though generally in modest quantities, so snow depths here remain uniformly well below par. However, this isn’t stopping most southern Alpine resorts (e.g. the Dolomites) from offering lots of good piste-skiing.

Next week the weather in the Alps will turn much milder, with plenty of sunshine on offer especially in the south. Further north there is always the threat of further weather fronts bringing a little rain or snow at times.

Across the pond, snow conditions continue to improve across most western US and Canadian resorts, with Utah remaining the stand-out area right now… 

Snow conditions in Austria are a bit mixed right now, which has been compounded today by some rain falling in the north. This will turn to snow this evening though, leaving many resorts looking wintrier again by Friday.

For the best snow conditions, it still pays to go to resorts with plenty of skiing above 2000m, like Ischgl (50/160cm) and Obergurgl (82/145cm).

Lower down, snow quality may be more variable in the likes of Kitzbühel (30/90cm) and Zell am See (30/140cm). 

Many French resorts have in the last day or two seen rain to above 2000m, which has washed away a lot of the natural lying snow at lower altitudes. There are still plenty of pistes open in the likes of La Clusaz (10/195cm) and Megève (20/130cm), however, snow quality is understandably variable.

For the very best snow conditions you need to aim as high as possible, where Val Thorens (150/210cm) and Tignes (100/375cm) have had less rain and lots of snow at altitude. 

Most Italian resorts have also seen a bit of snow from this latest storm, but generally not as much as further north and north-west. La Thuile (65/200cm) is one exception, with significant fresh snow at altitude, though it also saw some rain for a time lower down.

Further east, the Dolomites continue to offer less volatile snow conditions and plenty of good piste-skiing. Arabba currently has base depths of 50/80cm, while Madonna di Campiglio has 75/88cm. 

Like France, many resorts in Switzerland have seen some rain today though it is largely turning back to snow this evening. Snow conditions are therefore very mixed in resorts like Gstaad (5/60cm), where snow cover is very modest lower down.

For better and more consistent snow conditions, you need head higher and further east, to resorts such as Davos (85/185cm) and Arosa (70/185cm).

There is plenty of good skiing on offer in the higher resorts of the Pyrenees right now, with a few centimetres of fresh snow for most areas today. Spain’s Baqueira Beret (120/150cm) is leading the way with 30 of its 35 lifts open. Andorra’s Granvalira (40/75cm) has less snow but is also offering plenty of good piste-skiing.

It has been cold across Scandinavia in recent days though it will warm up gradually next week. Some of the best skiing right now is in Norway, where Myrkdalen has impressive base depths of 100/130cm depending on altitude.

All Scottish ski areas have enough snow now to offer some limited lift-served skiing, with the best conditions at Cairngorm (30cm upper base), where the snow quality today was described as cold and powdery up top. 

Snow conditions continue to improve in many western US resorts, after what has been a very dry start to the season. Utah, has been particularly transformed over the last two weeks, with above average snow depths now in Alta (274cm mid-mountain), which has also seen another 20cm falling in the last 24 hours.

Things are also looking better in Colorado, with 50cm of new snow in the last 7 days on Aspen Mountain, where the mid-mountain base is now around 82cm deep. 

It’s been snowing again today in Whistler, though temperatures are set to turn milder which will mean rain lower down. Currently the mid-mountain base depth is 164cm - much improved on a couple of weeks back but still below par for mid-January.

Further inland, there has also been some fresh snow in Lake Louise (107cm mid-mountain base), with the cold weather helping to preserve good piste quality. 

Our next full snow report will be on
Saturday 3 February 2024

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