After an erratic and underwhelming start to the 2023/24 winter season in Japan, the tap has finally been turned on and the fabled Japanese powder snow JaPOW is back!

The Hokkaido resorts of Niseko and Rusutsu in particular are offering up waist deep powder and face shots all over the mountain. And there’s more on the way. Much more.

Meanwhile in the big four European countries – Austria, France, Italy, Switzerland – those who headed out for pre-Christmas turns were rewarded with a combination of fresh snow and beautiful bluebird days.

Conditions on and off-piste have been excellent and the polar opposite of last season’s disappointing start.

And for those arriving on Saturday and Christmas Eve, they’ve definitely been nice not naughty as the good times are set to continue.

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.

• Jump to the forecast for the next 3-4 days

WHAT’S OPEN NOW

ANDORRA

Arcalis (8/17 lifts; 16/30km piste; 30-50cm base), Grandvalira (49/74 lifts; 81/215km piste; 20-40cm base), and Valnord (21/32 lifts; 30/63km piste; 25-35cm base)

AUSTRIA

Silvretta Arena [Ischgl, Samnaun] (40/46 lifts; 211/239km piste; 60-130cm base)
SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser-Brixental (68/82 lifts; 200/270km piste; 40-75cm base)
Ski Alberg [St. Anton, ​St. Christoph, ​Stuben, ​Lech, Zürs, ​Warth, ​Schröcken] (81/85 lifts; 248/301km piste; 65-250cm base)
Zillertal Arena [Zell am Ziller/, Gerlos, Königsleiten, ​Hochkrimml] (39/52 lifts; 132/150km piste; 50-120cm base)
KitzSki [Kitzbühel, ​Kirchberg] (48/58 lifts; 150/188km piste; 60-75cm base)
Ski Circus [Saalbach Hinterglemm, Leogang, Fieberbrunn] (61/70 lifts; 190/270km piste; 60-100cm base)
Gurgl [Obergurgl, Hochgurgl] (22/25 lifts; 98/112km piste; 55-120cm base)
Hochkönig [Maria Alm, ​Dienten, ​Mühlbach] (29/34 lifts; 90/120km piste; 45-120cm base)
Snow Space Salzburg [Flachau, Wagrain, ​St. Johann-Alpendorf] (37/45 lifts; 98/120km piste; 50-140cm base)
Ski Juwel Alpbachtal Wildschönau (28/46 lifts; 74/97km piste; 30-85cm base)
Dachstein West [Gosau, ​Russbach, ​Annaberg] (15/22 lifts; 45/51km piste; 30-90cm base)
Ski Optimal [Kaltenbach, Hochzillertal, ​Hochfügen] (23/39 lifts; 80/86km piste; 10-80cm base)

Axamer Lizum (6/9 lifts; 23/38km piste; 80-100cm base), Bad Gastein (16/18 lifts; 72/82km piste; 50-100cm base), Damuls Mellau (20/20 lifts; 70/81km piste; 110-170cm base), Hintertux (17/21 lifts; 56/62km piste; 25-225cm base), Innsbruck Igls Patscherkofel (4/6 lifts; 8/19km piste; 40-60cm base), Katschberg (15/17 lifts; 63/80km piste; 90-140cm base), Kaunertal (6/7 lifts; 45/55km piste; 135-290cm base), Kitzsteinhorn (17/21 lifts; 50/61km piste; 40-160cm base), Kleinwalsertal (11/13 lifts; 16/28km piste; 60-100cm base), Kuhtai (11/12 lifts; 39/47km piste; 80-130cm base), Mayrhofen (42/44 lifts; 136/142km piste; 5-100cm base), Molltaler (7/9 lifts; 22/36km piste; 10-140cm base), Nassfeld (18/30 lifts; 44/110km piste; 10-70cm base), Nauders (11/11 lifts; 75/75km piste; 50-120cm base), Obertauern (25/26 lifts; 100/100km piste; 160-190cm base), Pitztal (6/7 lifts; 28/41km piste; 30-240cm base), Schladming (31/47 lifts; 74/123km piste; 50-100cm base), Serfaus Fiss Ladis (36/38 lifts; 177/214km piste; 45-140cm base), Silvretta Montafon (22/36 lifts; 100/140km piste; 50-160cm base), Solden (27/31 lifts; 140/147km piste; 30-250cm base), Stubai (15/26 lifts; 59/68km piste; 60-230cm base), Tauplitz (15/17 lifts; 41/43km piste; 50-140cm base), and Zell am See (19/28 lifts; 66/77km piste; 35-110cm base)

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

Bjelasnica (2/7 lifts; 1/6 piste; 25-25cm base) and Jahorina (4/17 lifts; 15/52km piste; 30-35cm base)

BULGARIA

Bansko (10/14 lifts; 33/75km piste; 15-50cm base), Borovets (11/13 lifts; 56/58km piste; 110-140cm base), and Pamporovo (6/13 lifts; 11/30km piste; 65-80cm base)

CZECH REPUBLIC

Špindlerův Mlýn (6/17 lifts; 18/28km piste; 30-50cm base)

FRANCE

Les 3 Vallees [Val Thorens, Les Menuires, ​Méribel, Courchevel] (130/156 lifts; 478/600km piste; 100-160cm base)
Tignes / Val D’Isere (58/79 lifts; 230/300km piste; 75-270cm 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; 30-85cm base)
Les Portes du Soleil [Morzine, ​Avoriaz, ​Les Gets, ​Châtel, ​Morgins, ​Champéry] (50/165 lifts; 131/580km piste; 25-100cm base)
Espace San Bernardo [La Rosière, ​La Thuile] (27/38 lifts; 90/144km piste; 60-290cm base)
Espace Lumière [Pra Loup, ​Val d’Allos] (14/36 lifts; 69/180km piste; 35-35cm base)
Le Grand Massif [Flaine, ​Les Carroz, ​Morillon, ​Samoëns, ​Sixt] (16/62 lifts; 59/265km piste; 10-300cm base)
Espace Diamant [Les Saisies, ​Notre-Dame-de-Bellecombe, ​Praz sur Arly/, Flumet, ​Crest-Voland] (10/82 lifts; 36/192km piste; 65-70cm base)
Grand Tourmalet/​Pic du Midi [La Mongie, ​Barèges] (16/29 lifts; 67/100km piste; 40-40cm base)

Alpe d’Huez (52/70 lifts; 129/250km piste; 60-240cm base), Chamonix (4/7 lifts; 9/29 piste; 50-190cm base), Font Romeu (11/23 lifts; 27/58km piste; 50-50cm base), Isola 2000 (7/20 lifts; 32/120km piste; 45-55cm base), La Clusaz (17/49 lifts; 54/125km piste; 5-130cm base), La Plagne (58/74 lifts; 156/225km piste; 30-270cm base), Les 2 Alpes (28/44 lifts; 180/200km piste; 20-200cm base), Les Arcs (37/53 lifts; 136/200km piste; 45-255cm base), Les Contamines (13/24 lifts; 65/120km piste; 85-115cm base), Serre Chevalier (32/59 lifts; 150/250km piste; 25-155cm base), Valloire (5/6 lifts; 14/160km piste; 40-120cm base), Val Cenis (8/29 lifts; 41/125km piste; 30-85cm base), and Vaujany (17/17 lifts; 24/53km piste; 50-155cm base)

GEORGIA

Bakuriani (3/20 lifts; 6/29km piste; 40-60cm base) and Gudauri (7/15 lifts; 16/35km piste; 40-60cm base)

GERMANY

Garmisch-Partenkirchen-Zugspitze (16/18 lifts; 26/40km piste; 30-260cm base), Oberstdorf / Fellhorn (8/14 lifts; 5/34km piste; 40-130cm base), Spitzingsee (9/10 lifts; 11/15km piste; 45-90cm base), and Sudelfeld-Bayrischzell (9/13 lifts; 24/31km piste; 35-90cm base)

ITALY

Via Lattea [Sestriere, Sauze d’Oulx, ​San Sicario, ​Claviere, ​Montgenèvre] (23/69 lifts; 75/400km piste; 20-120cm base)
Monterosa Ski [Alagna Valsesia, Gressoney-La-Trinité, ​Champoluc, ​Frachey] (16/20 lifts; 78/132km piste; 20-60cm base)
3 Zinnen Dolomites [Helm, ​Stiergarten, ​Rotwand/​Kreuzbergpass] (19/20 lifts; 74/86km piste; 15-30cm base)
Latemar [Obereggen, ​Pampeago, ​Predazzo] (17/18 lifts; 45/49km piste; 20-45cm base)
Civetta [Alleghe, Selva di Cadore, Palafavera, ​Zoldo] (15/24 lifts; 28/72km piste; 5-20cm base)

Alpe di Siusi (21/21 lifts; 62/63km piste; 10-30cm base), Alta Badia (43/53 lifts; 83/130km piste; 10-40cm base), Arabba/Marmolada (22/26 lifts; 50/63km piste; 10-40cm base), Bardonecchia (6/23 lifts; 30/100km piste; 30-50cm base), Bormio (11/14 lifts; 41/50km piste; 25-85cm base), Courmayeur (17/18 lifts; 31/42km piste; 70-110cm base), Cortina (18/27 lifts; 50/120km piste; 10-25cm base), Kronplatz (29/31 lifts; 114/121km piste; 20-60cm base), Livigno (31/32 lifts; 100/115km piste; 60-100cm base), Madesimo (9/10 lifts; 17/37km piste; 25-45cm base), Madonna di Campiglio (47/58 lifts; 107/155km piste; 35-60cm base), Meran 2000 (7/8 lifts; 36/40km piste; 30-60cm base), Passo Tonale (29/30 lifts; 75/100km piste; 40-250cm base), Pila (10/12 lifts; 35/50km piste; 30-50cm base), San Martino di Castrozza (15/21 lifts; 37/60km piste; 10-35cm base), Solda (8/11 lifts; 32/44km piste; 100-180cm base), and Val Gardena (74/77 lifts; 170/181km piste; 40-50cm base)

POLAND

Zakopane (3/4 lifts; 3/3km piste; 30-85cm base)

ROMANIA

Poiana Brasov (4/10 lifts; 5/14km piste; 20-30cm base)

SERBIA

Kopaonik (8/26 lifts; 8/55km piste; 50-80cm base)

SLOVAKIA

Jasna (6/19 lifts; 39/45km piste; 40-100cm base) and Tatranska Lomnica (6/9 lifts; 8/12km piste; 50-80cm base)

SLOVENIA

Kanin-Bovec (3/10 lifts; 11/30km piste; 15-100cm base), Maribor (8/14 lifts; 9/35km piste; 10-30cm base) and Vogel (4/9 lifts; 2/22km piste; 10-50cm base)

SPAIN

Baqueira Beret (31/36 lifts; 100/165km piste; 40-50cm base), Candanchu (8/24 lifts; 11/50km piste; 10-25cm base), Formigal (10/21 lifts; 16/143km piste; 20-45cm base), La Molina (13/33 lifts; 37/145km piste; 15-30cm base), and Sierra Nevada (9/24 lifts; 12/113km piste; 20-40cm base)

SWITZERLAND

4 Vallées [Verbier, ​La Tzoumaz, ​Nendaz/, Veysonnaz, ​Thyon] (63/68 lifts; 362/412km piste; 30-160cm base)
 
Aletsch Arena (31/35 lifts; 66/104km piste; 95-135cm base), Andermatt (12/13 lifts; 59/70km piste; 55-105cm base), Arolla (4/5 lifts; 15/47km piste; 70-160cm base), Arosa Lenzerheide (39/43 lifts; 168/225km piste; 60-100cm base), Champex-Lac (4/4 lifts; 15/15km piste; 80-180cm base), Crans Montana (8/19 lifts; 70/140km piste; 100-180cm base), Davos Klosters (16/18 lifts; 95/95km piste; 50-165cm base), Engelberg-Titlis (16/17 lifts; 55/80km piste; 10-135cm base), Flims Laax (21/28 lifts; 114/214km piste; 35-260cm base), Glacier 3000 (5/11 lifts; 9/31km piste; 5-260cm base), Grimentz Zinal (21/21 lifts; 90/115km piste; 40-130cm base), Grindlewald Wengen (17/23 lifts; 53/102km piste; 10-70cm base), Leukerbad (13/13 lifts; 48/48km piste; 40-185cm base), Murren (12/16 lifts; 29/54km piste; 45-155cm base), Saas Fee (16/23 lifts; 68/100km; 50-260cm base), St Moritz (15/23 lifts; 63/155km piste; 10-90cm base), Scuol (12/12 lifts; 41/70km piste; 35-95cm base), Villars (21/25 lifts; 64/84km piste; 40-85cm base), Zermatt (39/51 lifts; 221/322km piste; 10-200cm base)

TURKEY

Ejder 3200 (13/13 lifts; 35/42 piste; 10-110cm base)

NORDIC RESORTS

Levi (20/26 lifts; 21/38.5km piste; 25-60cm base), Ruka (18/22 lifts; 15/19km piste; 30-40cm base), and Yllas (15/26 lifts; 30/53km piste; 60-60cm base) in Finland

Gaustablikk (7/14 lifts; 16/35km piste; 65-70cm base), Geilo (16/20 lifts; 19/34km piste; 35-65cm base), Hafjell (14/18 lifts; 39/50km piste; 50-60cm base), Hemsedal (15/21 lifts; 19/44km piste; 35-60cm base), Kvitfjell (9/14 lifts; 23/39km piste; 20-80cm base), Myrkdalen (6/9 lifts; 10/32km piste; 60-70cm base), Oppdal (4/16 lifts; 8/56km piste; 15-30cm base), Trysil (25/32 lifts; 63/78km piste; 35-50cm base), and Voss (6/11 lifts; 20/45km piste; 55-70cm base) in Norway

Are (10/35 lifts; 41/91km piste; 35-60cm base), Kabdalis (3/4 lifts; 6/9km piste; 60-95cm base), Salen (37/40 lifts; 26/45km piste; 60-70cm base) and Vemdalen (4/12 lifts; 5/21 piste; 40-60cm base) in Sweden

UNITED STATES

Alyeska (7/7 lifts; 11/62km piste; 85-220cm base) in Alaska

Heavenly (13/27 lifts; 10/94km piste; 5-55cm base), Mammoth (13/25 lifts; 35/90km piste; 40-55cm base), Northstar (8/19 lifts; 11/97km piste; 10-75cm base), Palisades Tahoe (8/43 lifts; 25/200km piste; 45-60cm base) and Snow Summit (5/12 lifts; 40-40cm base) in California

Arapahoe Basin (4/9 lifts; 7/105km piste; 40-60cm base), Aspen Highlands (5/5 lifts; 122/135km piste; 50-80cm base), Aspen Mountain (7/9 lifts; 68/103km piste; 20-50cm base), Beaver Creek (19/25 lifts; 38/150km piste: 40-70cm base), Breckenridge (25/35 lifts; 41/153km piste; 45-55cm base), Copper (14/24 lifts; 37/126km piste; 40-70cm base), Crested Butte (6/14 lifts; 90-90cm base), Eldora (9/12 lifts; 50-50cm base), Keystone (17/21 lifts; 24/135km piste; 25-60cm base), Loveland (6/10 lifts; 18/93km piste; 30-50cm base), Monarch (5/6 lifts; 55-55cm base), Purgatory (2/11 lifts; 40-40cm base), Snowmass (11/20 lifts; 85/237km piste; 35-80cm base), Steamboat (17/20 lifts; 101/165km piste; 40-70cm base), Telluride (8/19 lifts; 20/88km piste; 25-50cm base), Vail (23/34 lifts; 166/234km piste; 60-85cm base), Winter Park (14/25 lifts; 33/143km piste; 60-70cm base) and Wolf Creek (9/11 lifts; 100/100km piste; 60-65cm base) in Colorado

Sun Valley (10/18 lifts; 55-65cm base) in Idaho

Sugarloaf (9/14 lifts; 21/87km piste; 10-35cm base) and Sunday River (11/20 lifts; 36/85km piste; 60-70cm base) in Maine
Big Sky (17/38 lifts; 40/250km piste; 25-40cm base), Bridger Bowl (6/11 lifts; 21/71km piste; 25-35cm base), and Whitefish (9/14 lifts; 36/91km piste; 25-90cm base) in Montana

Mt Rose (6/8 lifts; 30/60km piste; 60-120cm base) in Nevada

Wildcat (3/5 lifts; 5/25km piste; 20-45cm base) in New Hampshire

Taos (7/14 lifts; 10/113km piste; 40-75cm base) in New Mexico

Mt Bachelor (9/15 lifts; 48/100km piste; 50-80cm base) and Mt Hood (5/12 lifts; 35/90km piste; 45-75cm base) in Oregon

Alta (8/8 lifts; 57/71km piste; 90-140cm base), Brian Head (4/9 lifts; 50-50cm base), Brighton (5/7 lifts; 105-110cm base), Deer Valley (17/25 lifts; 45/103km piste; 65-65cm base), Park City (28/42 lifts; 100/250km piste; 50-80cm base), Powder Mountain (5/9 lifts; 24/68km piste; 50-105cm base), Snowbasin (5/9 lifts; 115-115cm base), Snowbird (9/14 lifts; 80/103km piste; 70-110cm base), Solitude (5/9 lifts; 28/64km piste; 45-80cm base) and Sundance (8/8 lifts; 80-80cm base) in Utah

Killington (9/22 lifts; 38/121km piste; 5-35cm base), Mount Snow (6/26 lifts; 30-30cm base), Okemo (10/20 lifts; 18/70km piste; 25-40cm base), Smuggler’s Notch (3/8 lifts; 9/78km piste; 20-60cm base); Stowe (8/12 lifts; 15/70km piste; 45-60cm base),  Stratton (7/14 lifts; 30-30cm base), and Sugarbush (5/18 lifts; 30-90cm base) in Vermont

Crystal Mountain (7/11 lifts; 19/50km piste; 30-45cm base) and Mt Baker (7/10 lifts; 60/100km piste; 95-120cm base) in Washington

Snowshoe (8/12 lifts; 12/31km piste; 45-105cm base) in West Virginia

Grand Targhee (6/6 lifts; 33/35km piste; 80-135cm base) and Jackson Hole (11/13 lifts; 46/116km piste; 15-95cm base) in Wyoming

CANADA

Castle Mountain (5/6 lifts; 36/94km piste; 20-40cm base), Marmot Basin (5/7 lifts; 21/91km piste; 30-40cm base), Mt Norquay (6/6 lifts; 5/16km piste; 70-145cm base), Lake Louise (11/11 lifts; 90/139km piste; 45-95cm base) and Sunshine (11/12 lifts; 64/109km piste; 45-80cm base) in Alberta

Big White (10/12 lifts; 25/105km piste; 30-85cm base), Fernie (8/10 lifts; 83/142km piste; 50-110cm base), Kicking Horse (4/5 lifts; 76/100km piste; 40-90cm base), Kimberley (3/5 lifts; 42/80km piste; 0-50cm base), Panorama (10/10 lifts; 98/100km piste; 45-70cm base), Revelstoke (4/7 lifts; 29/55km piste; 65-105cm base), Silver Star (7/10 lifts; 43/115km piste; 45-75cm base), Sun Peaks (10/12 lifts; 44/135km piste; 20-60cm base) and Whistler Blackcomb (18/27 lifts; 90/200km piste; 10-75cm base) in BC

Mont Saint Anne (3/9 lifts; 9/73 piste; 35-50cm base), Sommet-Saint-Sauveur (5/8 lift; 13/38km piste; 30-50cm base) and Tremblant (9/14 lifts; 34/82km piste; 10-180cm base) in Quebec

JAPAN

Happo One (5/22 lifts; 5/52km piste; 10-65cm base),  Nozawa Onsen (2/17 lifts; 2/44km piste; 10-35cm base), ShigaKogen (8/48 lifts; 7/83km piste; 0-30cm base), and Zao (7/35 lifts; 5/50km piste; 10-40cm base) on Honshu

Furano (4/9 lifts; 11/32km piste; 70-120cm base), Kamui (5/6 lifts; 14/24km piste; 60-100cm base), Niseko United (18/32 lifts; 26/51km piste; 75-175cm base), Rusutsu (10/18 lifts; 23/42km piste; 60-90cm base), and Tomamu (5/6 lifts; 11/22km piste; 45-105cm base) on Hokkaido

FORECAST FOR THE NEXT 3-4 DAYS

The Alps will see significant snowfall through to Saturday with a mix of sunshine and snow showers to Christmas Day.

It’s a similar pattern further east, but there will be a spike in temperatures Sunday through to Monday.

However Gudauri, Georgia and Ejder 3200, Turkey will remain well below freezing so it will be a powder filled Christmas Day.

The Pyrenees and Andorra will see a mix of rain and snow Thursday into Friday followed by clear skies, sunshine and above freezing temperatures through to Christmas Day.

The Nordic countries will see continued snowfall over the coming days with temperatures well below freezing maintaining the excellent conditions.

The East coast of the US and Canada will see freeze thaw conditions and sunny skies.

The Mountain states and provinces will see a storm roll through on Saturday bringing 10-30cm and below freezing temperatures.

The Western states and provinces will see a mix of rain down low and heavy snow up high through to Monday.

Normal service has resumed on both Honshu and Hokkaido in Japan with 50-150cm of snow forecast over the next 4 days.