J2Ski Snow Report - March 5th 2015
J2Ski Snow Report - March 5th 2015
Published : 05-Mar-2015 05:02
J2Ski Snow Report - March 5th 2015Re-publication :- our Snow Report Summary, being the text up to "The Alps", is free to re-publish, but must be clearly credited to www.J2ski.com with text including "J2Ski Snow Report" linked to this page - thank you.
Snow Report Summary
Well, it kept on snowing...
This Week's Headlines
- Deepest snow cover in the world passes 5m mark on March 1st - in the French Pyrenees!
- Second resort in the Swiss Alps reaches the 5m mark a few days later.
- Up to three feet (90cm) of fresh snow for a few resorts in Austria, France, Scotland, Switzerland and Colorado, USA.
A bit of a roller coaster week in the Alps with rain briefly reported as high as 2000m on Monday but also some healthy snowfall of up to three feet/90cm then falling as it has got colder, right across the region.
Elsewhere there's been much less snow in the Pyrenees than last week's huge falls, and just modest falls in Scandinavia and eastern Europe, but Scottish slopes, particularly on the West, have had more big snowfalls.
In North America there's been excitement in the Western states of Colorado, Utah and California which have been more unseasonably warm and dry the further west you go - they've had serious snowfalls of fresh powder this week. Not much has made it north of the border in to Canada, although at least temperatures have dropped there.
In The Forecast!
The last of this weeks snow will fall in some areas today and tomorrow, after which it does look as if the European mountains are set for fairer and milder weather for the next week or so. Temperatures will be around, or moderately above, seasonal averages but the now impressive snow depths in many ski areas should ensure good piste skiing for the foreseeable.
Check the J2Ski Forecasts regularly for the latest updates!
The Alps
Austria
After coming in fourth place for fresh snowfall in the Alps of the big four Alpine ski nations last week, Austria has been mixing it up this week with some of the biggest snowfalls reported in the region – this week has seen the snowiest few days in the country for the past fortnight in fact. Monday – Tuesday saw the biggest accumulations with Innsbruck's ski areas reporting up to 40cm of fresh snow, and there was 45cm of fresh cover in the Silvretta region. Slope depths remain fairly good across the country with generally at least a couple of feet of snow at resort level and 1-3m of snow lying on upper runs, but there has been a thaw at resort level at some areas that were battling with limited cover and there's now no cover remaining at Zell am Ziller and Mayrhofen whilst Bad Kleinkirchheim in the country's south west continues to face challenges with limited cover and no fresh snow for a fortnight now.
France
Rain in the French Alps at the start of the week has turned to snow and Argentiere in the Chamonix Valley is now reporting 80cm, of fresh snow in the last seven days, with Chamonix, La Plagne, Avoriaz, Val d'Isere and other famous areas reporting nearly two feet of new snow themselves – 50-60cm in fact, much of it falling in the last 72 hours. On piste conditions are good across the country with upper slope base depths typically in the 1-2m bracket. Most areas have good cover at resort level too with the thinnest reported at 20cm in Chamonix, but for most it's 30-90cm. Avoriaz has the deepest snow in the French Alps from bottom (180cm/6 feet) to top (3.1m/10.3 feet).
Italy
After a snowy week in Italy last week there's been little new snow in the country since the weekend, with only half-a-dozen of the leading resorts reporting 10-20cm of fresh cover, most in the West (alps) as they have been all of this season, although Selva in Val Gardena in the Dolomites did report 15cm/6 inches at the weekend. The biggest falls were once again reported by Cervinia, with 55cm in the past week (nearly two feet), the last of it falling on Sunday/Monday. Snow depths continue to be relatively good across most of Italy with up to 4.8m (at Madesimo) reported on upper runs (most 1-3m) and the thinnest base 20cm at a few areas in the Dolomites, but most with 60cm/2 feet plus)
Switzerland
Swiss resorts have seen the most new snow in the world this week, with ALL of the country's top 30 or so areas receiving at least 15cm/6 inches of snow, around 80% at least double that and at the top end a dozen or so report 60-90cm (2-3 feet) of fresh powder. Grindelwald reports the biggest snowfall in the world this week with 83cm whilst Andermatt, with 83cm, has reached the 5m snow depth on its upper slopes – the first resort in the Alps to do so. As with the rest of the Alps conditions are generally excellent across the country. Remarkably Europe's highest ski area at Zermatt has the thinnest base reported in the country at its base with 20cm (but nearer 3m on the year round slopes up top).
Scandinavia
Good conditions still in Scandinavia with, once again, the most snow reported in Norway, but still healthy base depths at Finnish and Swedish ski areas. Voss in Norway reports 70cm of fresh snow and a 2m base on upper slopes. Lillehammer is now only 5cm behind, but most other areas have 80-150cm bases and have had 15-30cm of fresh snow this week.
Pyrenees
After the huge snowfalls in the Pyrenees a week ago, the past seven days have been much quieter with just a few centimetres of fresh snow after the two metres in the previous seven days. Snow depths are amongst the world's deepest with 5.4m at Piau Engaly in France – the first resort to pass the 5m snow depth mark. Things are returning to normal in the region with access roads re-opened and slopes groomed but the avalanche danger remains very high off-piste.
Eastern Europe
A quiet week for snowfall in Eastern Europe too with just a few inches of fresh snow reported on the slopes of Bulgaria, Romania and Slovenia. Cover remains good at most centres however with at least a metre snow depth on the groomed piste, rising to over 2m on upper runs at Bansko and Borovets. Some quite large snowfalls – perhaps around a foot – are expected over the weekend.
Scotland
Scotland's mostly excellent 2014-15 season continues with another week of fresh snowfall and mostly good conditions, with blue skies between the snow storms and not too many wind-closure periods. The West Coast resorts of Glencoe and Nevis Range have again reported the biggest snowfalls of up to 90cm/three feet in the last seven days. Snowfalls were much smaller at the other three areas further East but cover remains good. Temperatures are expected to shoot up to double figures this weekend which could prove problematic on lower slopes.
North America
Canada
It's been another week with little fresh snowfall in Canada, but temperature in BC have at least been dipping back towards double digits below zero – closer to a normal Canadian winter. Until yesterday Revelstoke in BC had had the most snow in the country – around 15cm/6 inches, most other resorts are reporting half that at best, but then it snowed in Quebec with La Massif and Mont Ste Anne reporting 25cm/10 inches of snow in 24 hours. Snow depths are fairly samey mostly in the1m to 1.5m region, right across the country. Little change is expected in the coming week.
USA
A snowy week in Western USA with resorts in California, Colorado and Utah reporting 30-60cm (1-2 feet) of fresh snow in the past few days. Aspen, Breckenridge and Telluride in Colorado and Solitude in Utah reported the biggest accumulations, all in the 50-60cm bracket. Jackson Hole in Wyoming reported a foot of new snow and continues to report the country's deepest snow at 2.2m (over seven feet). After all the snow iof the past five weeks, it hs been quieter in New England, although most areas sill added three to six inches of fresh cover.
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