Latest snow report
Updated: 6.30pm Friday 25 March 2022
High pressure is currently dominating the weather in the Alps and will continue to do so for several days to come. This means lots of dry fine and sunny weather for all regions with solid overnight refreezes and pleasant (but not excessively warm) days.
In short, this is perfect for skiers who enjoy spring snow conditions and are adept at following the sun round the mountain, with east-facing slopes softening first, followed by slopes facing south and then finally west- facing ones later in the day. Note that north- facing slopes above around 2300m have been staying firm for most, if not all, of the day.
Off-piste skiers can also enjoy some good spring (corn) snow at altitude, again depending on altitude and orientation, though note that snow cover/depths are below par everywhere and very meagre in the southern Alps.
Across the pond there may not be a huge amount of fresh snow to report but there is still plenty of good spring skiing on offer…
Austria
On-piste at least, snow cover is ok in many Austrian resorts, though it does pay to go to the higher ones like Obergurgl (30/120cm) or Ischgl (20/100cm) if you want your snow to stay grippy for much of the day.
Lower down, the freeze-thaw cycle is more noticeable in resorts such as Saalbach (30/120cm) and Söll (30/80cm), though some decent piste skiing is still on offer here as well.
France
Spring snow conditions rule across the French Alps, meaning that you need to head to resorts with plenty of north-facing terrain above 2000m such as Val Thorens (125/175cm) or Val d’Isère (115/190cm) if you want to be skiing firm and grippy snow all day.
That’s not to say that you can’t find some enjoyable spring skiing at lower altitudes, you just have to pay a little more attention to orientation and timing in resorts such as Morzine (5/120cm) and La Clusaz (20/245cm).
Italy
Snow cover is very meagre across the Italian Alps, though it is still possible to enjoy some good piste skiing, especially if get your timing right and follow the sun.
Of the Italian ski resorts, Cervinia (50/130cm) and Livigno (50/100cm) are among the better bets right now. Natural snow cover is far patchier in the Dolomites, but you can still find some good skiing on-piste in Cortina (30/70cm) and Madonna di Campiglio (35/80cm).
Switzerland
There is still lots of good piste skiing on offer in the Swiss Alps, especially if you enjoy spring snow. If you want your snow to say firm and grippy for as long as possible, however, you will need to head to resorts with plenty of skiing above 2000m, or even 2500m, such as Zermatt (0/130cm) or Saas-Fee (40/200cm).
Lower down, there is still some enjoyable skiing to be had in the likes of Villars (20/120cm) and Wengen (0/75cm), though the freeze-thaw cycle will be more marked, with runs turning softer or slushy more quickly.
Rest of Europe
Spring is very much in the air in the Pyrenees, with freeze-thaw conditions the order of the day in both Andorra’s Soldeu (80/120cm) and Spain’s Baqueira Beret (130/210cm).
The weather is also currently settled in Scotland, though only Glencoe (0/150cm) is offering any serious skiing right now, with good cover from mid-mountain upwards.
USA
It’s been a few days since most western US resorts have seen any new snow, though there is still good spring skiing on offer in the likes of Colarado’s Winter Park (170cm upper base) and Montana’s Big Sky (160cm upper base).
Canada
It’s been a few days since most western US resorts have seen any new snow, though there is still good spring skiing on offer in the likes of Colarado’s Winter Park (170cm upper base) and Montana’s Big Sky (160cm upper base).
Our next full snow report will be on
Thursday 31 March 2022
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