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Snow Forecast Summary - 22nd December 2011

Snow Forecast Summary - 22nd December 2011

Published : 22-Dec-2011 11:33

This past week, Europe again stole the (snow) show and last weekend's forecast storms delivered huge quantities of snow across much of the Western and Northern parts of The Alps. Many French and Swiss resorts have reported fresh snow totalling more than two metres in the last seven days, and some areas in the North have now had more snow than in the whole of last season!

As always, however, that meant mixed news at times - with roads blocked and mountains closed at times due to avalanche risk. The rewards were nothing less than epic, with powder skiing being reported throughout The Alps and the vast majority of Alpine ski resorts now open.

Snow also arrived in the Pyrenees, with 50 to 60cm of snow allowing the majority of resorts at least a partial opening.

Resorts in North America saw little new snow and some ski areas are relying on snow making into the holiday season.

European Weather and Snow This Coming Week

The major snow storms are just about done with The Alps for the moment, although light scattered snowfalls are expected to the East over the next 24 hours.

A period of more settled weather looks likely to control conditions over the next week. Temperatures will be up and down (cool and clear on Christmas Day in many parts) before becoming relatively mild for a few days next week. This will have the effect of consolidating last weeks new snow. Christmas skiers can look forward to fast piste skiing on a good base, with a good chance of clear skies much of the time.

Further out, the forecast models are indicating reducing temperatures and a fair chance of new snow in the first week of January - perhaps before.

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