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Following a relatively cool week (for the time of year) with some fresh snow in places, the weather in the Alps is back in full spring mode again today. It will remain mostly sunny over the next few days too, though it will turn colder again later in the weekend, especially in the eastern Alps.

As to where this leaves snow conditions, many Austrian ski resorts saw significant new snow earlier this week, although the benefits have since been neutralised by the strong spring sun on all but the higher north-facing slopes. By mid-week it was the turn of the south-western Alps (e.g. Sestriere) to see a decent dump, however, as is the norm at this time of year, any serious improvements to snow conditions were again only temporary. That’s not to say that there isn’t still plenty of good skiing on offer across the Alps, it just means that dry powdery snow rarely lasts long in April!

So, with plenty of fine weather expected over the next few days, you need to expect classic spring conditions. This means rock-hard pistes first thing, then a softening of the snow, the speed of which depends on orientation and altitude, with low east- and south-facing slopes turning slushy first, followed by west-facing slopes, then finally those that face north. Depending on the ambient temperature, some high north-facing slopes will stay firm all day long, roughly above about 2500m today and tomorrow, but lowering again later in the weekend, especially in the east.

It should also be noted that snow depths remain largely below average, as they have been all season, with very little if any natural base below about 1300-1500m on north-facing slopes, and below 1800-2200m on sunnier ones.

Across the pond there is plenty of good skiing on offer, notably in parts of Utah where there have been further big dumps this week…

After a snowy start to the week, spring is back in full swing in Austria with freeze-thaw conditions the order of the day.

In the eastern Alps, high-altitude Obertauern (110/160cm) still has excellent cover though, even here, you should expect a rapid softening of the snow as the day goes on. Further west, Obergurgl (50/80cm) is as good a bet as any with its predominantly high west-facing slopes holding on to firmer conditions for a decent part of the day.

Austrian ski resorts can expect plenty of fine weather over the next few days, though it will turn noticeably colder over the weekend and early next week.  

The French Alps have also seen new snow this week, mostly close to the Italian border from about Val d’Isère (135/70cm) southwards, including Montgenèvre (150/170cm) and Isola 2000 (100/160cm), all of which still have excellent cover. Even here though the warmer temperatures mean that you can expect the full range of snow conditions in a single day, with only north-facing slopes above 2400m or so remaining firm all day long.

At lower altitudes, it will be slushy much earlier in the day in the likes of Les Gets (5/80cm) where there is very little natural snow lower down now but where you can still find some enjoyable spring skiing if you time it right.

Expect plenty more sunshine across the French ski resorts over the next few days. 

Some Italian ski resorts have seen significant new snow this week, including Sestriere (70/170cm) where there is some excellent spring-skiing on offer right now.

Other good options include Cervinia (60/180cm) and La Thuile (110/190cm) although, even here, you can expect soft or slushy slopes lower down later in the day.

Expect plenty of sun over the next few days though it will turn colder for a time later in the weekend and early next week.

Spring snow conditions are in full flow across Switzerland with the highest resorts like Zermatt (20/85cm) and Saas-Fee (25/295cm) holding on to the firmest snow for longest during the inevitable freeze-thaw cycle.

Lower down, you can still find some excellent piste-skiing in resorts like Wengen (10/80cm) and Klosters (0/100cm), but with the snow softening earlier in the day.

Expect plenty more sunshine over the coming days, albeit with colder air arriving from the east later in the weekend.

There is still plenty of skiing on offer at altitude in the Pyrenees, where just like the Alps, spring snow conditions should be expected in both Andorra’s Granvalira (240cm upper base) and Spain’s Baqueira Beret (120cm upper base).

Spring snow conditions are prevail in Norway, where Voss has settled snow depths of 70/90cm depending on altitude.

There is no proper lift-served skiing in Scotland right now.  

In the US, Utah’s Snowbird (330cm mid-mountain base) is in great shape following nearly 1m of new snow in the last week. It will turn warmer and sunnier this weekend though, with spring conditions likely to develop lower down.

Over in California, Mammoth (495cm upper base) has also seen significant new snow, with at least 40cm falling in the last three days. However, sunny and increasingly warm weather is also expected here over the next few days.

Colorado resorts are also skiing well, with 40cm of new snow in Breckenridge (183cm mid-mountain base) in the last week. 

In Canada, snow conditions will be spring-like this weekend in Whistler (273cm mid-mountain depth), but cover is healthy for the time of year and significant new snow is expected next week.

Further inland, the slopes of Lake Louise (180cm upper base) are also in good shape although only a dusting of new snow is forecast early next week. 

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Friday 11 April 2025