| Snow Report - 26 Feb 2015 | | Last snowed | 24-Feb-2015 |
| Fresh snow | 24 cm |
| Lower slopes | 113 cm |
| Upper slopes | 160 cm |
| Pistes | | Piste state | Excellent |
| Runs to resort | Excellent |
| Off piste snow | Powder |
| Comments | Loads of new snow. Fantastic skiing |
| Lifts open | 52 |
| Lifts total | 53 |
Snow Overview - France (snow news updated 26-Feb-2015)
The skiing is excellent across the French Alps at present and with sunny skies firmly in place on Thursday 26th February, the overhead conditions were perfect too.
Great skiing has been reported by Ski Club Ambassadors in the Espace Killy ski region, encompassing the resorts of Val d’Isere (95/167cm) and Tignes (90/163cm). Some great powder turns were on offer off the pistes and the perfectly groomed powder on piste was providing some amazing turns on the groomers.
Conditions were also fantastic in the Portes du Soleil, with Avoriaz (180/290cm) and Morzine (70/195cm) offering great slopes and all lifts in their respective areas open.
Across in the Pyrenees the heavy snow has not stopped falling all week, with huge snowfall totals of almost two metres being reported across the mountain range. Cauterets (340/470cm) boasts a huge base depth as a result but was shut due to avalanche concerns on Thursday 26th February. Bareges/La Mongie (220/320cm) was only able to run seven lifts as the avalanche danger hit Level 5 across the mountain range. The treacherous conditions are set to remain over the weekend as mild air comes into the Pyrenees, destabilising the significant new snow drifts. Off piste skiing is not recommended and lift openings may be affected for some days.
Fortunately the snow is set to taper off in the Pyrenees but it is set to resume in the Alps this weekend. Around 40-100cm of new snow forecast between now and Tuesday next week for much of the French Alps so some good powder should be on offer next. As with the Pyrenees however pay close attention to the latest avalanche forecasts and stay safe off piste.
European Weather Outlook
Yet another period of snow is set to move into the Alps from the west during Thursday night, continuing through Friday to drop a further 20cm for many resorts. Almost anywhere can expect new snow by Saturday morning, but the heaviest falls will be in the north and the west. The sun may make a brief appearance on Saturday before another wave of snow, this time much heavier, sweeps across the Alps. On current forecasts, Sunday and Monday are set to be dominated by heavy snowfall, with the most intense precipitation falling in the north and west of the Alps. Snowfall totals are currently looking to be around 20cm in Italy and eastern Austria, but increasing steadily further north to between 40 and 80cm in France and Switzerland. Some of this may fall as sleet on the lower slopes on Monday as the freezing level nudges up just above some resort bases.
The heavy snow that has been dumping on the Pyrenees all week is set to slowly peter out during Friday, but not before a further 25cm of potential new snowfall. Saturday and Sunday are looking brighter which is great news, but following all the new snow lots of work will need to be undertaken by resort teams to open up the slopes. Bear in mind too that the freezing level is set to rise to around 2,500m this weekend which could produce some serious avalanche conditions following all the new snow. Please stay up to date with the very latest avalanche forecasts as the situation is currently very dangerous.
Thursday’s sunshine in Bulgaria is set to be replaced by thick clouds on Friday and snow is expected to fall. Some of the snowfall is expected to be very heavy, with up to 40cm forecast for the upper slopes by Sunday.
New snow is predicted this weekend across Scandinavia, with Norway expected to catch the most with around 20cm predicted on Sunday and Monday. The snow is set to be lighter in Sweden, but fewer sunny breaks are expected and a similar amount can be expected, perhaps more at Salen.
Cold weather returned to Scotland during Thursday, firming up the pistes across the country before the arrival of yet more snow in the coming days. For the best chance of brightness then aim for Saturday and Sunday, although both days could see some snow showers falling at times.