a massively snowy scene, huge evergreens covered in fresh snow, with a person and their dog walking along a flat trail through the snowy woods
Snow Report

Festivals, an Eclipse, Avalanches and Spring Snow | Snow Report

After 20-40cm fell across many resorts in the Alps yesterday the freezing level will skyrocket to almost 4,000m through Sunday with sunshine, blue skies, and temperatures close to 20C at village level. Perfect weather for the events taking place to mark the end of the season at a number of resorts over the next 3-4 days.

Late Sunday afternoon a new storm system will move through the region bringing colder temperatures and new snowfall.

It will be a similar story in the French and Spanish Pyrenees and Andorra.

high mountains and a skier with two kids on a piste at the top of a ski area
Cauterets conditions looking top for mid-April

Temperatures will rise across Finland bringing a rain/snow mix Saturday night into Sunday morning before dropping below freezing again next week.

It will be a turbulent end of the week in Norway with rain at village level and 15-20cm of snow in the alpine. Narvik in the far north could see 25-30cm.

Sweden will see cooler temperatures and 5-10cm of new snow through Monday.

a snow park is pictured from below
Ruka’s snow park

The freezing level will climb to 3,900m across much of Central and Eastern Europe bringing sunshine, freeze thaw conditions and double digit temperatures.

Further east, the Georgian resorts will see rainfall down low and 10-15cm of new snow above 2,500m.

The Scottish resorts will continue to see stormy weather through Monday bringing rainfall down low and 10-15cm of new snow up high.

After perfect weather for the eclipse viewing earlier in the week the East Coast of the USA will see a violent storm system moving through bringing heavy rain to 1,110m and the chance of snowfall above that.

Temperatures have also risen across the Mountain States of the USA with clear skies and sunshine forecast through Monday.

The California resorts will see rainfall to mid-mountain and 10-15cm of snow in the alpine through Monday. Palisades-Tahoe could see 25-30cm.

Further north, the Western US states of Oregon and Washington will see freeze thaw conditions and sunny skies.

Alyeska, Alaska saw 50cm of new snow yesterday bringing the season total to 18.4 m (727″) and they could see another 15-20cm of new snow through Monday.

Eastern Canada will see a violent storm system moving through bringing heavy rain top to bottom.

The mountain provinces of Alberta and BC will see freeze thaw conditions and sunshine through Monday.

Whistler Blackcomb will see light rain below 1,000m and 10-15cm of new snow in the alpine Thursday into Friday followed by a sunny weekend.

a skier half way round a backflip off a kicker, in front of a snow-topped volcano
Niseko spring scenes

The northern Japanese island of Hokkaido will continue to enjoy warm and sunny Spring conditions through Monday. It will be a similar situation on Honshu with temperatures reaching 20C at village level.

News From Around the Ski World 

Parts of the Alps received up to 40cm of fresh April snow. Lech-Zurs (pictured above and in headline image) will downhill ski through to 21 April, with optimal conditions for winter hiking up to 2,300 meters and cross-country skiing. Sunshine has arrived for the weekend, followed by another fresh dump forecast next week, topped off with the Oberlech Spring Festival the following weekend. 

three look up at the eclipse wearing special glasses
Stowe eclipse viewing

There were perfect conditions Tuesday afternoon when thousands gathered at ski resorts on the East Coast of the United States and Canada to witness the awesome spectacle of a full solar eclipse.

Mike Hayes captured this wonderful footage whilst skiing the Vermont backcountry

 

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

A post shared by GoPro (@gopro)


Josh Laskin took this fantastic image of snowboarder John Hunt riding Mount Mansfield at Stowe, Vermont:

the moon covers the sun, in an eclipse shot, with a snowy mountain section illuminated with a skier just visible
The eclipse at Stowe | Josh Laskin

The celestial event was caught as a timelapse in Sugarbush, Vermont:

 

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Sugarbush, Vermont (@sugarbush_vt)

This weekend sees three major festivals in the Alps.

Mayrhofen, Austria hosts Snowbombing electronic music festival with headline acts Bicep (presenting Chroma), Fatboy Slim and Andy C.

The Electric Mountain Festival takes place in Solden, Austria with headline act KSHMR.

And last but not least, there’s a more laid back vibe in Zermatt, Switzerland for Zermatt Unplugged 2024 with five days of acoustic tunes at the singer-songwriter festival with headline acts Birdy and James Arthur.

There will also be local events at the resorts which are enjoying their final days before closing for the 2023/24 winter season.

green trees cutting up white pistes in a very spring scene at a ski hill
Bansko looking very springlike

Rising temperatures have caused unstable conditions, with an increased risk of avalanches. Three have died in an avalanche in the Ötztal Alps in western Austria. The avalanche was reported to be 180m (600ft) in length and 80m in width, not far from the Italian border in the province of Tyrol.

As spring brings ever increasing temps, the danger of new avalanches is very high, so take the necessary precautions if skiing beyond resort boundaries.

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 season. 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 Welove2ski’s Instagram to see the latest images and videos from ski resorts around the world.

Snow Stats From Ski Areas Around the World

snow coming down, photo taken through windscreen of pistenbully
Stubai’s groomers hard at it

Austria Interconnected Ski Areas

Ski Arlberg [St. Anton, ​St. Christoph, ​Stuben, ​Lech, Zurs, ​Warth, ​Schrocken] (73/85 lifts; 219/301km piste; 30-380cm base)
Silvretta Arena [Ischgl, Samnaun] (41/46 lifts; 193/239km piste; 40-150cm base)
Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis (22/38 lifts; 122/186km piste; 5-130cm base)
Zillertal Arena [Zell am Ziller/, Gerlos, Konigsleiten, ​Hochkrimml] (29/52 lifts; 82/150km piste; 10-100cm base)
Gurgl [Obergurgl, Hochgurgl] (17/25 lifts; 82/112km piste; 65-180cm base)
Ski Optimal [Kaltenbach, Hochzillertal, ​Hochfugen] (17/40 lifts; 60/86km piste; 0-65cm base)
KitzSki [Kitzbuhel, ​Kirchberg] (7/58 lifts; 15/188km piste; 0-70cm base)

Austria Ski Resorts

Axamer Lizum (5/9 lifts; 16/38km piste; 50-100cm base)
Galtur-Silvapark (9/10 lifts; 38/43km piste; 30-170cm base)
Hintertux (16/20 lifts; 56/62km piste; 10-410cm base)
Kaunertal (5/7 lifts; 51/55km piste; 400-410cm base)
Kitzsteinhorn (13/21 lifts; 41/61km piste; 0-280cm base)
Kuhtai (11/12 lifts; 37/47km piste; 75-110cm base)
Mayrhofen (43/58 lifts; 120/142km piste; 0-40cm base)
Moelltal Glacier (4/9 lifts; 6/36km piste; 0-290cm base)
Obertauern (25/26 lifts; 100/100km piste; 75-135cm base)
Nordkette – Innsbruck (5/6 lifts; 3/14km piste; 0-170cm base)
Pitztal Glacier (7/7 lifts; 35/41km piste; 20-315cm base)
Schladming (4/47 lifts; 14/123km piste; 0-120cm base)
Solden (24/31 lifts; 126/147km piste; 0-410cm base)
Stubai (16/26 lifts; 50/68km piste; 10-500cm base)

one man in deck chair, another arms open wide on an elevated mountain terrace looking over the top of a ski area
Serre Chevalier spring days

France Interconnected Ski Areas

Three Valleys [Val Thorens, Les Menuires, ​Méribel, Courchevel] (153/156 lifts; 582/600km piste; 170-240cm base)
Tignes / Val D’Isere (71/79 lifts; 276/300km piste; 90-410cm base)
Portes du Soleil [Morzine, ​Avoriaz, ​Les Gets, ​Chatel, ​Morgins, ​Champery] (46/165 lifts; 120/580km piste; 0-160cm base)
Espace Diamant [Les Saisies, ​Notre-Dame-de-Bellecombe, ​Praz sur Arly, Flumet, ​Crest-Voland] (29/82 lifts; 120/192km piste; 15-115cm base)
Espace San Bernardo [La Rosiere, ​La Thuile] (35/38 lifts; 115/144km piste; 110-375cm base)
Le Grand Massif [Flaine, ​Les Carroz, ​Morillon, ​Samoens, ​Sixt] (22/62 lifts; 110/265km piste; 0-445cm base)
Les Sybelles [Le Corbier, ​La Toussuire, Les Bottiere, ​St Colomban des Villards, ​St Sorlin, ​St Jean d’Arves](31/68 lifts; 76/310km piste; 0-200cm base)
Le Grand Domaine [Valmorel, ​Doucy, ​Celliers, ​St Francois Longchamp] (20/47 lifts; 69/165km piste; 20-170cm base)

France Ski Resorts

Alpe d’Huez (68/69 lifts; 160/250km piste; 65-450cm base)
Cauterets (8/11 lifts; 25/36km piste; 10-70cm base)
Chamonix (29/77 lifts; 46/121 piste; 10-400cm base)
Isola 2000 (9/20 lifts; 70/120km piste; 195-270cm base)
La Clusaz (6/49 lifts; 12/125km piste; 0-235cm base)
La Plagne (66/74 lifts; 163/225km piste; 15-360cm base)
Les 2 Alpes (40/44 lifts; 180/200km piste; 10-420cm base)
Les Arcs (47/53 lifts; 165/200km piste; 40-455cm base)
Les Contamines (12/24 lifts; 60/120km piste; 0-185cm base)
Serre Chevalier (15/59 lifts; 190/250km piste; 5-260cm base)
Val Cenis (18/29 lifts; 71/125km piste; 50-195cm base)

Italy Interconnected Ski Areas

Milky Way / Via Lattea [Sestriere, Sauze d’Oulx, ​San Sicario, ​Claviere, ​Montgenevre] (16/70 lifts; 42/400km piste; 40-320cm base)
Monterosa Ski [Alagna Valsesia, Gressoney-La-Trinite, ​Champoluc, ​Frachey] (11/20 lifts; 60/132km piste; 20-90cm base)

Italy Ski Resorts

Arabba/Marmolada (5/26 lifts; 31/63km piste; 80-170cm base)
Bormio (12/14 lifts; 49/50km piste; 25-210cm base)
Cortina (6/27 lifts; 38/120km piste; 35-150cm base)
Kronplatz (19/31 lifts; 90/121km piste; 20-110cm base)
Livigno (32/32 lifts; 115/115km piste; 65-190cm base)
Madonna di Campiglio (7/58 lifts; 26/155km piste; 105-230cm base)
Passo Tonale (20/30 lifts; 55/100km piste; 100-400cm base)
Solda (10/11 lifts; 40/44km piste; 170-280cm base)

skier in orange on featureless, wind affected face, skiing fast and well by the look of it
Engelberg off-piste

Switzerland Interconnected Ski Areas

4 Vallees [Verbier, ​La Tzoumaz, ​Nendaz, Veysonnaz, ​Thyon] (55/68 lifts; 352/412km piste; 10-275cm base)
Matterhorn [Zermatt, ​Breuil-Cervinia, Valtournenche] (44/51 lifts; 271/322km piste; 0-200cm base)

Switzerland Ski Resorts

Arolla (3/5 lifts; 25/47km piste; 25-230cm base)
Arosa Lenzerheide (20/43 lifts; 78/225km piste; 60-90cm base)
Corvatsch St Moritz (8/14 lifts; 73/120km piste; 40-235cm base)
Crans Montana (10/19 lifts; 45/140km piste; 100-120cm base)
Davos Klosters (10/18 lifts; 28/95km piste; 0-235cm base)
Engelberg-Titlis (8/17 lifts; 28/70km piste; 0-305cm base)
Flims Laax (16/28 lifts; 78/214km piste; 495-500cm base)
Gemsstock Andermatt (3/4 lifts; 20/31km piste; 10-240cm base)
Grimentz Zinal (20/21 lifts; 85/115km piste; 40-135cm base)
Grindlewald Wengen (8/23 lifts; 22/102km piste; 0-100cm base)
Murren (10/16 lifts; 35/54km piste; 15-340cm base)
Saas Fee (14/23 lifts; 78/100km; 55-510cm base)

Andorra

Arcalis (10/15 lifts; 26/30km piste; 140-180cm base)

Spain

La Molina (2/33 lifts; 4/145km piste; 20-40cm base)
Sierra Nevada (10/23 lifts; 78/112km piste; 40-175cm base)

Nordic Resorts

Finland

Levi (25/26 lifts; 38/38km piste; 75-75cm base)
Pyha (6/9 lifts; 11/13km piste; 40-50cm base)
Ruka (19/22 lifts; 18/19km piste; 40-60cm base)
Yllas (25/26 lifts; 53/53km piste; 110-110cm base)

Norway

Gaustablikk (6/14 lifts; 10/35km piste; 60-110cm base)
Geilo (11/20 lifts; 19/34km piste; 80-150cm base)
Hafjell (15/18 lifts; 43/50km piste; 50-105cm base)
Hemsedal (18/21 lifts; 42/44km piste; 45-140cm base)
Kvitfjell (11/14 lifts; 34/39km piste; 20-80cm base)
Myrkdalen (7/9 lifts; 30/32km piste; 100-220cm base)
Narvik (4/6 lifts; 8/10km piste; 30-65cm base)
Oppdal (8/16 lifts; 21/56km piste; 30-40cm base)
Strandafjellet (5/6 lifts; 25/25km piste; 145-145cm base)
Trysil (29/31 lifts; 72/78km piste; 105-165cm base)
Voss (9/11 lifts; 44/45km piste; 180-190cm base)

Sweden

Are (35/35 lifts; 91/91km piste; 60-95cm base)
Idre Fjall (2/24 lifts; 2/41km piste; 30-60cm base)
Salen (40/40 lifts; 45/45km piste; 45-100cm base)
Vemdalen (16/16 lifts; 19/19km piste; 45-110cm base)

Bulgaria

Bansko (10/14 lifts; 33/75km piste; 0-100cm base)

Germany

Nebelhorn-Oberstdorf (5/6 lifts; 7/12km piste; 0-210cm base)
Zugspitze (10/10 lifts; 16/20km piste; 125-280cm base)

Slovakia

Jasna (4/19 lifts; 17/51km piste; 20-45cm base)
Štrbské Pleso (2/8 lifts; 6/8km piste; 30-45cm base)
Tatranska Lomnica (4/9 lifts; 1/11km piste; 30-60cm base)

Slovenia

Kanin-Bovec (3/10 lifts; 8/30km piste; 10-300cm base)
Vogel (3/9 lifts; 1/22km piste; 0-65cm base)

United Kingdom

Cairngorm Mountain (4/11 lifts; 4/32km piste; 5-10cm base)

Georgia

Gudauri (17/17 lifts; 34/34km piste; 45-110cm base)
Tetnuldi (5/5 lifts; 13/13km piste; 45-110cm base)

USA

Alaska
Alyeska (7/7 lifts; 59/62km piste; 110-380cm base)

California
Heavenly (16/27 lifts; 83/94km piste; 80-215cm base)
Kirkwood (12/13 lifts; 62/65km piste; 95-290cm base)
Mammoth (20/25 lifts; 86/89km piste; 310-445cm base)
Northstar (13/19 lifts; 96/97km piste; 50-280cm base)
Palisades Tahoe (23/43 lifts; 163/200km piste; 90-410cm base)

Colorado
Arapahoe Basin (9/9 lifts; 104/105km piste; 80-160cm base)
Aspen Mountain (6/9 lifts; 103/103km piste; 45-135cm base)
Beaver Creek (13/25 lifts; 60/150km piste: 50-170cm base)
Breckenridge (33/35 lifts; 153/153km piste; 50-165cm base)
Copper (22/24 lifts; 123/126km piste; 60-155cm base)
Loveland (7/10 lifts; 87/93km piste; 75-160cm base)
Snowmass (17/20 lifts; 209/237km piste; 80-215cm base)
Steamboat (15/20 lifts; 165/165km piste; 60-175cm base)
Vail (34/34 lifts; 232/234km piste; 50-175cm base)
Winter Park (18/25 lifts; 123/143km piste; 185-200cm base)

Maine
Sugarloaf (9/15 lifts; 87/87km piste; 35-70cm base)
Sunday River (5/20 lifts; 78/84km piste; 70-80cm base)

Montana
Big Sky (25/38 lifts; 170/250km piste; 95-140cm base)
Bridger Bowl (7/11 lifts; 55/71km piste; 40-120cm base)

Nevada
Mt Rose (8/8 lifts; 58/60km piste; 200-250cm base)

Oregon
Mt Bachelor (11/15 lifts; 100/100km piste; 80-255cm base)
Mt Hood (8/12 lifts; 76/90km piste; 155-290cm base)
Timberline (7/7 lifts; 31/31km piste; 285-425cm base)

Utah
Alta (4/8 lifts; 37/71km piste; 125-445cm base)
Deer Valley (20/25 lifts; 103/103km piste; 75-240cm base)
Park City (23/42 lifts; 203/250km piste; 90-290cm base)
Snowbird (12/14 lifts; 90/103km piste; 115-385cm base)
Solitude (7/9 lifts; 52/64km piste; 70-290cm base)

Vermont
Killington (8/22 lifts; 88/118km piste; 20-45cm base)
Okemo (3/20 lifts; 41/70km piste; 40-60cm base)
Smuggler’s Notch (1/8 lifts; 27/78km piste; 35-100cm base)
Stowe (5/12 lifts; 55/70km piste; 65-90cm base)

Washington
Crystal Mountain (8/11 lifts; 37/50km piste; 65-140cm base)

Wyoming
Grand Targhee (6/6 lifts; 34/35km piste; 130-300cm base)
Jackson Hole (13/13 lifts; 115/116km piste; 60-270cm base)

Canada

Alberta
Lake Louise (11/11 lifts; 115/139km piste; 125-165cm base)
Marmot Basin (7/7 lifts; 91/91km piste; 105-105cm base)
Mt Norquay (4/5 lifts; 28/16km piste; 115-125cm base)
Sunshine (12/12 lifts; 104/109km piste; 40-155cm base)

British Columbia
Big White (12/12 lifts; 102/105km piste; 70-195cm base)
Fernie (9/10 lifts; 134/142km piste; 80-240cm base)
Kicking Horse (4/5 lifts; 73/100km piste; 70-165cm base)
Panorama (10/10 lifts; 94/112km piste; 20-125cm base)
Revelstoke (6/7 lifts; 55/55km piste; 85-180cm base)
Whistler Blackcomb (24/27 lifts; 180/200km piste; 0-230cm base)

Quebec
Le Massif (6/9 lifts; 36/39km piste; 70-105cm base)
Mont Saint Anne (4/9 lifts; 39/73 piste; 70-95cm base)
Sommet-Saint-Sauveur (4/8 lift; 18/38km piste; 55-95cm base)
Tremblant (7/14 lifts; 38/82km piste; 0-110cm base)

Japan

Hokkaido
Furano (2/9 lifts; 7/32km piste; 45-120cm base)
Kiroro (5/10 lifts; 10/24 piste; 140-270cm base)
Niseko United (6/32 lifts; 19/51km piste; 30-270cm base)

Honshu
Happo One Hakuba (7/22 lifts; 12/52km piste; 0-240cm base)
Nozawa Onsen (3/17 lifts; 5/44km piste; 0-180cm base)
Shigakogen (15/48 lifts; 31/83km piste; 50-200cm base)
Zao Onsen (7/35 lifts; 9/50km piste; 0-110cm base)

About the author

Mike Richards

Welsh valleys boy born & bred, Mike now lives between Cardiff and Niseko in Hokkaido, Japan where he's a pro ski instructor. Mike came to skiing later in life at 27, with his first ski season spent as a Chalet Host in Ellmau, Austria in 1993. He's skied every year since, notching up 100+ ski areas across 21 countries and five continents, including his home hill in Brecon Beacons National Park. His personal motto - "If it's snowing, I'm going..."

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