It’s been a great Christmas holiday week in Austria, France, Italy and Switzerland with some of the best snow conditions for this time of the season in decades, and more and more terrain opening by the day.
The Three Valleys, France leads the way with 478km of piste available, followed by Switzerland’s 4 Valleys with 390km, Italy’s Via Lattea (Milky Way) ski area with 250km and Austria’s Ski Arlberg with 248km.
Storm Gerrit has been blasting the Scottish ski areas with heavy snow and high winds. Once the weather calms down and access roads and lifts have been cleared we should see wonderful Hogmanay celebrations and a great start to 2024.
The Mountain States of the USA have seen steady snowfalls of between 5-15cm with Steamboat, Colorado enjoying two deep powder days over the holidays after a storm cycle dropped 65cm of ‘Champagne’ powder snow.
The snow continues to fall by the bucket load on both Honshu and Hokkaido, Japan with daily snowfall of between 10-15cm and sub-zero temperatures delivering world leading powder snow skiing & snowboarding.
If you’re out in resort drop us a line via our social media channels to share your ‘on the snow’ experiences and photos.
We’ll be posting twice weekly snow reports on Mondays and Thursdays throughout the 2023/24 winter season, so bookmark us or better yet subscribe to get the latest snow news and our tips for where the snow will be.
Between snow reports please visit the ‘Stories’ section of the Welove2ski Instagram
What’s Open Now?
Austria
Ski Arlberg [St. Anton, St. Christoph, Stuben, Lech, Zürs, Warth, Schröcken] (83/85 lifts; 248/301km piste; 60-350cm base)
SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser-Brixental (76/82 lifts; 214/270km piste; 40-80cm base)
Ski Circus [Saalbach Hinterglemm, Leogang, Fieberbrunn] (66/70 lifts; 200/270km piste; 40-110cm base)
Silvretta Arena [Ischgl, Samnaun] (44/46 lifts; 197/239km piste; 80-160cm base)
KitzSki [Kitzbühel, Kirchberg] (57/58 lifts; 188/188km piste; 60-85cm base)
Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis (38/38 lifts; 183/214km piste; 35-160cm base)
Zillertal Arena [Zell am Ziller/, Gerlos, Königsleiten, Hochkrimml] (50/52 lifts; 138/150km piste; 100-200cm base)
Snow Space Salzburg [Flachau, Wagrain, St. Johann-Alpendorf] (39/45 lifts; 100/120km piste; 50-170cm base)
Gurgl [Obergurgl, Hochgurgl] (22/25 lifts; 96/112km piste; 60-135cm base)
Hochkönig [Maria Alm, Dienten, Mühlbach] (32/34 lifts; 90/120km piste; 40-100cm base)
Ski Juwel Alpbachtal Wildschönau (37/46 lifts; 87/97km piste; 35-120cm base)
Ski Optimal [Kaltenbach, Hochzillertal, Hochfügen] (33/39 lifts; 52/86km piste; 10-80cm base)
Dachstein West [Gosau, Russbach, Annaberg] (20/22 lifts; 51/51km piste; 25-100cm base)
Axamer Lizum (7/9 lifts; 23/38km piste; 80-100cm base), Bad Gastein (16/18 lifts; 72/82km piste; 40-130cm base), Bad Kleinkirchheim (22/22 lifts; 100/103km piste; 50-90cm base), Damuls Mellau (20/20 lifts; 75/81km piste; 110-170cm base), Hintertux (18/21 lifts; 54/62km piste; 35-225cm base), Katschberg (17/17 lifts; 68/80km piste; 90-180cm base), Kaunertal (6/7 lifts; 45/55km piste; 210-335cm base), Kitzsteinhorn (19/21 lifts; 50/61km piste; 40-190cm base), Kuhtai (12/12 lifts; 41/47km piste; 150-210cm base), Mayrhofen (44/44 lifts; 140/142km piste; 5-100cm base), Molltaler (7/9 lifts; 24/36km piste; 15-160cm base), Nassfeld (21/30 lifts; 68/110km piste; 10-70cm base), Nauders (11/11 lifts; 75/75km piste; 50-120cm base), Obertauern (26/26 lifts; 100/100km piste; 140-200cm base), Pitztal (7/7 lifts; 35/41km piste; 30-265cm base), Schladming (45/47 lifts; 120/123km piste; 50-120cm base), Silvretta Montafon (35/36 lifts; 124/140km piste; 20-175cm base), Solden (29/31 lifts; 119/147km piste; 30-285cm base), Stubai (21/26 lifts; 65/68km piste; 70-280cm base), Tauplitz (16/17 lifts; 40/44km piste; 70-190cm base), and Zell am See (26/28 lifts; 68/77km piste; 25-140cm base)
France
The Three Valleys [Val Thorens, Les Menuires, Méribel, Courchevel] (130/156 lifts; 478/600km piste; 100-160cm base)
Les Portes du Soleil [Morzine, Avoriaz, Les Gets, Châtel, Morgins, Champéry] (120/165 lifts; 325/580km piste; 25-100cm base)
Tignes / Val d’Isere (77/79 lifts; 230/300km piste; 70-270cm base)
Les Sybelles [Le Corbier, La Toussuire, Les Bottière, St Colomban des Villards, St Sorlin, St Jean d’Arves] (47/68 lifts; 220/310km piste; 30-60cm base)
Le Grand Massif [Flaine, Les Carroz, Morillon, Samoëns, Sixt] (48/62 lifts; 195/265km piste; 25-320cm base)
Le Grand Domaine [Valmorel, Doucy, Celliers, St François Longchamp] (32/47 lifts; 130/165km piste; 10-100cm base)
Espace Diamant [Les Saisies, Notre-Dame-de-Bellecombe, Praz sur Arly/, Flumet, Crest-Voland] (41/82 lifts; 105/192km piste; 60-85cm base)
Grand Tourmalet/Pic du Midi [La Mongie, Barèges] (19/29 lifts; 100/100km piste; 30-40cm base)
Espace San Bernardo [La Rosière, La Thuile] (27/38 lifts; 90/144km piste; 70-290cm base)
Espace Lumière [Pra Loup, Val d’Allos] (15/36 lifts; 76/180km piste; 30-35cm base)
Alpe d’Huez (62/70 lifts; 140/250km piste; 60-240cm base), Chamonix (15/17 lifts; 51/56km piste; 45-75cm base), Font Romeu (14/23 lifts; 30/58km piste; 50-50cm base), Isola 2000 (10/20 lifts; 37/120km piste; 40-50cm base), La Clusaz (28/49 lifts; 73/125km piste; 5-170cm base), La Plagne (67/74 lifts; 163/225km piste; 30-240cm base), Les 2 Alpes (29/44 lifts; 180/200km piste; 20-200cm base), Les Arcs (47/53 lifts; 180/200km piste; 35-330cm base), Les Contamines (19/24 lifts; 90/120km piste; 10-120cm base), Megeve (71/81 lifts; 190/263km piste; 15-90cm base), Serre Chevalier (50/59 lifts; 190/250km piste; 20-155cm base), and Val Cenis (27/29 lifts; 105/125km piste; 30-85cm base)
Italy
Via Lattea [Sestriere, Sauze d’Oulx, San Sicario, Claviere, Montgenèvre] (51/69 lifts; 250/400km piste; 20-120cm base)
Monterosa Ski [Alagna Valsesia, Gressoney-La-Trinité, Champoluc, Frachey] (19/20 lifts; 91/132km piste; 20-60cm base)
3 Zinnen Dolomites [Helm, Stiergarten, Rotwand/Kreuzbergpass] (19/20 lifts; 74/86km piste; 15-30cm base)
Latemar [Obereggen, Pampeago, Predazzo] (18/18 lifts; 49/49km piste; 20-45cm base)
Civetta [Alleghe, Selva di Cadore, Palafavera, Zoldo] (16/24 lifts; 32/72km piste; 5-20cm base)
Alpe di Siusi (21/21 lifts; 62/63km piste; 10-30cm base), Alta Badia (53/53 lifts; 110/130km piste; 30-45cm base), Arabba/Marmolada (26/26 lifts; 55/63km piste; 10-40cm base), Bardonecchia (12/23 lifts; 60/100km piste; 30-50cm base), Bormio (11/14 lifts; 41/50km piste; 25-85cm base), Courmayeur (18/18 lifts; 35/42km piste; 70-110cm base), Cortina (22/27 lifts; 100/120km piste; 10-25cm base), Kronplatz (31/31 lifts; 120/121km piste; 20-60cm base), Livigno (29/32 lifts; 115/115km piste; 60-105cm base), Madesimo (10/10 lifts; 30/37km piste; 25-45cm base), Madonna di Campiglio (53/58 lifts; 122/155km piste; 35-60cm base), Meran 2000 (8/8 lifts; 40/40km piste; 50-90cm base), Passo Tonale (30/30 lifts; 90/100km piste; 40-250cm base), Pila (11/12 lifts; 40/50km piste; 30-50cm base), San Martino di Castrozza (20/21 lifts; 50/60km piste; 10-35cm base), Solda (11/11 lifts; 40/44km piste; 100-180cm base), and Val Gardena (79/79 lifts; 175/181km piste; 45-60cm base)
Switzerland
4 Valleys [Verbier, La Tzoumaz, Nendaz/, Veysonnaz, Thyon] (66/68 lifts; 390/412km piste; 30-180cm base), Aletsch Arena (35/35 lifts; 80/104km piste; 195-125cm base), Andermatt (13/13 lifts; 59/70km piste; 50-80cm base), Arolla (5/5 lifts; 40/47km piste; 70-160cm base), Arosa Lenzerheide (43/43 lifts; 197/225km piste; 60-100cm base), Champex-Lac (4/4 lifts; 15/15km piste; 80-180cm base), Crans Montana (13/19 lifts; 100/140km piste; 100-180cm base), Davos Klosters (18/18 lifts; 94/95km piste; 70-175cm base), Engelberg-Titlis (17/17 lifts; 64/80km piste; 10-245cm base), Flims Laax (28/28 lifts; 188/214km piste; 35-180cm base), Glacier 3000 (5/11 lifts; 9/31km piste; 5-260cm base), Grimentz Zinal (21/21 lifts; 114/115km piste; 40-130cm base), Grindlewald Wengen (17/23 lifts; 53/102km piste; 10-70cm base), Leukerbad (13/13 lifts; 47/48km piste; 40-185cm base), Murren (16/16 lifts; 36/54km piste; 40-150cm base), Saas Fee (21/23 lifts; 85/100km; 45-265cm base), St Moritz (23/23 lifts; 152/155km piste; 10-90cm base), Scuol (12/12 lifts; 41/70km piste; 35-95cm base), Villars (22/25 lifts; 64/84km piste; 40-85cm base), Zermatt (45/51 lifts; 273/322km piste; 10-200cm base)
Andorra
Arcalis (12/17 lifts; 16/30km piste; 30-50cm base), Grandvalira (54/74 lifts; 81/215km piste; 20-40cm base), and Valnord (25/32 lifts; 30/63km piste; 25-35cm base)
Spain
Baqueira Beret (35/36 lifts; 111/165km piste; 40-50cm base), Candanchu (4/24 lifts; 3/50km piste; 20-40cm base), Formigal (11/21 lifts; 21/143km piste; 20-45cm base), La Molina (15/33 lifts; 45/145km piste; 15-30cm base), and Sierra Nevada (11/24 lifts; 15/113km piste; 20-40cm base)
Nordic Resorts
Levi (20/26 lifts; 21/38.5km piste; 25-60cm base), Pyha (6/9 lifts; 8/11km piste; 30-40cm base), Ruka (21/22 lifts; 14/19km piste; 30-40cm base), and Yllas (18/26 lifts; 33/53km piste; 65-65cm base) in Finland
Beitostolen (4/6 lifts; 7/12km piste; 50-50cm base), Gaustablikk (10/14 lifts; 17/35km piste; 65-70cm base), Geilo (20/20 lifts; 31/34km piste; 40-70cm base), Hafjell (18/18 lifts; 49/50km piste; 50-70cm base), Hemsedal (19/21 lifts; 27/44km piste; 35-60cm base), Kvitfjell (13/14 lifts; 39/39km piste; 20-80cm base), Myrkdalen (9/9 lifts; 28/32km piste; 95-150cm base), Oppdal (12/16 lifts; 40/56km piste; 15-30cm base), Trysil (31/32 lifts; 72/78km piste; 35-55cm base), and Voss (10/11 lifts; 30/45km piste; 70-100cm base) in Norway
Are (32/35 lifts; 82/91km piste; 45-75cm base), Idre Fjall (22/24 lifts; 36/41km piste; 50-70cm base), Salen (40/40 lifts; 42/45km piste; 60-75cm base) and Vemdalen (16/16 lifts; 19/19 piste; 70-85cm base) in Sweden
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bjelasnica (2/7 lifts; 2/6 piste; 25-25cm base) and Jahorina (4/17 lifts; 15/52km piste; 30-35cm base)
Bulgaria
Bansko (12/14 lifts; 36/75km piste; 10-105cm base), Borovets (11/13 lifts; 50/58km piste; 90-120cm base), and Pamporovo (10/13 lifts; 15/30km piste; 70-80cm base)
Czech Republic
Špindlerův Mlýn (7/17 lifts; 19/28km piste; 50-100cm base)
Georgia
Bakuriani (3/20 lifts; 11/29km piste; 45-70cm base), Gudauri (8/15 lifts; 20/35km piste; 45-70cm base), and Tetnuldi (5/5 lifts; 14/14km piste; 45-70cm base)
Germany
Garmisch-Partenkirchen-
Liechtenstein
Malbun (7/7 lifts; 23/23km piste; 55-90cm base)
Poland
Białka Tatrzańska (17/19 lifts; 18/18km piste; 60-150cm base) and Zakopane (3/4 lifts; 3/3km piste; 15-65cm base)
Romania
Poiana Brasov (4/10 lifts; 5/14km piste; 20-30cm base)
Serbia
Kopaonik (16/26 lifts; 20/55km piste; 10-25cm base)
Slovakia
Jasna (17/19 lifts; 43/45km piste; 40-100cm base) and Tatranska Lomnica (8/9 lifts; 11/12km piste; 50-80cm base)
Slovenia
Kanin-Bovec (4/10 lifts; 11/30km piste; 15-100cm base), Kranjska Gora (3/15 lifts; 1/20km piste; 20-20cm base), Maribor (8/14 lifts; 9/35km piste; 10-30cm base), and Vogel (4/9 lifts; 2/22km piste; 10-50cm base)
Turkey
Ejder 3200 (13/13 lifts; 35/42 piste; 10-110cm base) and Erciyes (4/19 lifts; 3/34 piste)
United Kingdom
Cairngorm Mountain (2/11 lifts; 0.2/32km piste; 0-15cm base), The Lecht (1/13 lifts; 0.2/18km piste; 10-10cm base), and Glenshee (1/21 lifts; 0.1/40km piste; 0-10cm base) in Scotland
United States of America
Alyeska (7/7 lifts; 30/62km piste; 110-235cm base) in Alaska
Heavenly (15/27 lifts; 19/94km piste; 5-55cm base), June Mountain (6/7 lifts; 30/41km piste; 30-40cm base), Kirkwood (8/13 lifts; 28/65km piste; 35-65cm base), Mammoth (17/25 lifts; 50/90km piste; 50-70cm base), Northstar (11/19 lifts; 16/97km piste; 10-75cm base), Palisades Tahoe (23/43 lifts; 58/200km piste; 45-60cm base) and Snow Summit (6/11 lifts; 11/29km piste; 40-45cm base) in California
Arapahoe Basin (6/9 lifts; 20/105km piste; 40-60cm base), Aspen Highlands (5/5 lifts; 107/135km piste; 50-75cm base), Aspen Mountain (8/9 lifts; 75/103km piste; 20-50cm base), Beaver Creek (22/25 lifts; 60/150km piste: 40-90cm base), Breckenridge (27/35 lifts; 51/153km piste; 45-65cm base), Copper (15/24 lifts; 43/126km piste; 40-70cm base), Crested Butte (6/14 lifts; 90-90cm base), Keystone (19/21 lifts; 34/135km piste; 25-55cm base), Loveland (7/10 lifts; 22/93km piste; 30-55cm base), Monarch (5/6 lifts; 55-55cm base), Snowmass (14/20 lifts; 112/237km piste; 35-95cm base), Steamboat (17/20 lifts; 124/165km piste; 40-60cm base), Telluride (14/19 lifts; 30/88km piste; 25-55cm base), Vail (25/34 lifts; 168/234km piste; 60-85cm base), Winter Park (21/25 lifts; 106/143km piste; 60-80cm base) and Wolf Creek (9/11 lifts; 100/100km piste; 75-80cm base) in Colorado
Schweitzer (5/10 lifts; 21/95km piste; 20-70cm base) and Sun Valley (10/18 lifts; 55-65cm base) in Idaho
Sugarloaf (4/15 lifts; 16/87km piste; 10-35cm base) and Sunday River (7/20 lifts; 28/85km piste; 60-70cm base) in Maine
Big Sky (17/38 lifts; 40/250km piste; 25-40cm base), Bridger Bowl (6/11 lifts; 41/71km piste; 25-35cm base), and Whitefish (9/14 lifts; 36/91km piste; 25-90cm base) in Montana
Mt Rose (6/8 lifts; 48/60km piste; 60-120cm base) in Nevada
Attitash (6/8 lifts; 14/37km piste; 40-45cm base), Loon (9/11 lifts; 26/49km piste; 15-30cm base), and Wildcat (3/5 lifts; 5/25km piste; 20-45cm base) in New Hampshire
Taos (9/14 lifts; 19/113km piste; 40-80cm base) in New Mexico
Mt Bachelor (10/15 lifts; 54/100km piste; 50-80cm base) and Mt Hood (6/12 lifts; 45/90km piste; 45-75cm base), and Timberline (2/7 lifts; 10/31km piste; 50-90cm base) in Oregon
Alta (8/8 lifts; 61/71km piste; 90-140cm base), Deer Valley (18/25 lifts; 56/103km piste; 65-70cm base), Park City (35/42 lifts; 120/250km piste; 55-85cm base), Powder Mountain (6/9 lifts; 28/68km piste; 50-80cm base), Snowbasin (5/9 lifts; 115-115cm base), Snowbird (12/14 lifts; 91/103km piste; 70-100cm base), and Solitude (7/9 lifts; 46/64km piste; 45-80cm base) in Utah
Killington (11/22 lifts; 48/121km piste; 5-35cm base), Mount Snow (6/26 lifts; 30-30cm base), Okemo (10/20 lifts; 20/70km piste; 25-40cm base), Smuggler’s Notch (4/8 lifts; 13/78km piste; 20-60cm base); Stowe (9/12 lifts; 18/70km piste; 45-60cm base), and Sugarbush (5/18 lifts; 30-90cm base) in Vermont
Crystal Mountain (7/11 lifts; 32/50km piste; 30-45cm base) and Mt Baker (6/10 lifts; 45/100km piste; 65-80cm base) in Washington
Snowshoe (10/12 lifts; 15/31km piste; 45-115cm base) in West Virginia
Grand Targhee (6/6 lifts; 33/35km piste; 70-110cm base) and Jackson Hole (13/13 lifts; 59/116km piste; 15-95cm base) in Wyoming
Canada
Castle Mountain (5/6 lifts; 33/94km piste; 25-50cm base), Marmot Basin (6/7 lifts; 37/91km piste; 25-45cm base), Mt Norquay (5/5 lifts; 13/16km piste; 50-75cm base), Lake Louise (11/11 lifts; 94/139km piste; 45-90cm base) and Sunshine (11/12 lifts; 96/109km piste; 45-85cm base) in Alberta
Big White (11/12 lifts; 25/105km piste; 30-100cm base), Fernie (9/10 lifts; 83/142km piste; 55-115cm base), Kicking Horse (4/5 lifts; 76/100km piste; 40-95cm base), Kimberley (5/5 lifts; 46/80km piste; 0-50cm base), Panorama (10/10 lifts; 98/100km piste; 40-70cm base), Revelstoke (4/7 lifts; 29/55km piste; 65-110cm base), Silver Star (7/10 lifts; 43/115km piste; 45-85cm base), Sun Peaks (12/12 lifts; 105/135km piste; 20-70cm base), Whistler Blackcomb (22/27 lifts; 120/200km piste; 0-90cm base), and Whitewater (4/5 lifts; 25/50km piste; 95-100cm base) in BC
Blue Mountain (3/11 lifts; 5/29km piste; 25-30cm base) in Ontario
Le Massif (5/9 lifts; 7/39km piste; 35-45cm base), Mont Saint Anne (6/9 lifts; 12/73 piste; 35-50cm base), Sommet-Saint-Sauveur (6/8 lift; 14/38km piste; 30-50cm base) and Tremblant (14/14 lifts; 42/82km piste; 10-180cm base) in Quebec
Japan
Happo One Hakuba (12/22 lifts; 21/52km piste; 40-130cm base), Naeba (5/15 lifts; 3/19km piste; 30-50cm base), Nozawa Onsen (7/17 lifts; 8/44km piste; 25-90cm base), ShigaKogen (25/48 lifts; 40/83km piste; 40-80cm base), and Zao Onsen (29/35 lifts; 30/50km piste; 30-60cm base) on Honshu
Furano (7/9 lifts; 25/32km piste; 85-130cm base), Kamui (5/6 lifts; 15/24km piste; 60-100cm base), Niseko United (23/32 lifts; 36/51km piste; 80-210cm base), Rusutsu (12/18 lifts; 33/42km piste; 75-100cm base), Sahoro (6/8 lifts; 12/25km piste; 50-60cm base), and Tomamu (6/6 lifts; 16/22km piste; 30-90cm base) on Hokkaido
Forecast for the Next 3-4 Days
The freezing level will drop to around 1,200m in Austria, France, Italy, and Switzerland through Monday bringing freeze thaw conditions down low but perfect pistes up high with a mix of sunshine and cloudy skies.
Christmas week will be warmer in the Pyrenees and Andorra with above freezing temperatures and sunny skies through to Monday, with the next snow cycle not set to return until the New Year.
The Nordic countries will see temperatures plummet to minus double digits maintaining the excellent conditions. Finland will see clear skies and no precipitation. Norway and Sweden will see between 20-40cm of new snow in the next storm cycle.
Outside of the big four European destinations (Austria, France, Italy, Switzerland), central and eastern Europe will see temperatures well above freezing with clear skies and sunshine.
Jasna, Slovakia is the exception with 5-10cm of snow forecast.
Further east, the Georgian resorts will remain cold and are forecast to receive between 10-30cm of new snow.
The Scottish resorts will finally see sustained low temperatures and snowfall through Monday and beyond, with 20-40cm forecast.
The East Coast of the USA will see rain through Friday, turning to snow as the temperatures drop.
The Mountain States of the US will enjoy below freezing temperatures and clear skies through to Monday.
The Western states of the US will see a mix of weather in the next 3-4 days with 10-20cm snow up high and rain down low. Alyeska, Alaska will be dry and cold.
Eastern Canada will see freeze thaw conditions followed by rain at all levels over the weekend. Then the rain will turn to snow with 10-15cm forecast.
The mountain provinces of Alberta and BC will see temperatures well below freezing through to Monday, with light snowfalls of between 5-15cm.
The freezing level is forecast to hover around 1400m at Whistler Blackcomb bringing heavy rain below mid-mountain but 20-30cm of new snow up high. Thank goodness for gondolas from the base, although the queues have been enormous.
Temperatures will remain well below freezing in Japan with snow forecast for the next 3-4 days. The Honshu and Hokkaido resorts are set to receive between 5-15cm of new snow.
Thanks for this – great info. We just came back from the Dolomites and nearly every run is open and fantastic. It would be nice to see them get more credit – it’s a much larger ski area than any of the areas mentioned in the 2nd para of your article….
Very glad to hear it’s looking good in the Dollies!
We might have looked elsewhere for snow news in this snow report, but we sung the Superski praises in our recent piece – https://welove2ski.com/best-value-ski-passes-sunweb/ – what a ski area…! We’ll be sure to check it out for the next one…