Meribel - La Chaudanne at 1400m - http://livecam.meribel-alpina.com/
Yes it's been a warm, dry autumn in the Alps - but it's not the first time and it more than likely won't be the last. But now snow and cold, wet weather has descended across the Alps and, with maybe a brief respite here and there, it looks set to stay for a while.
Whilst the European ski industry was holding its breath and it's certainly come late this year, the late snowfall means that many resorts will be able to stick to the plan of opening this weekend 10th December.
Forecasts are also looking great - lots of snow across the whole alpine region today and tomorrow, a slight lull for the later part of the week and then a possible return after the weekend.
The reports in some of the UK press yesterday were certainly ironic - as they were spreading the gloomy message of sunshine and barren pistes, snow was dumping. Across twitter and facebook snowy photos and weather reports were being posted almost hourly. So to celebrate we've rounded up a few webcam pics from this morning that are sure to brighten up everyone's day!
Tignes - see the latest webcam at: http://www.tignes.net/en/skiing-in-tignes/webcams-290.html
Verbier http://panorama.simwatch.ch/index.php?id_webcam=3
Argentiere at 1200m - http://www.chamonix.com/webcam,12,en.html
Pic sent to us by Heather at Ice and Fire - from Plagne Village, La Plagne
As Heather from Ice and Fire told us today:
"It’s often a bit of a gamble booking early season but get it right and you will have empty pistes and freshly groomed snow that stays nice and firm.....Over the last few days we have seen heavy snow falls down to the resorts and the temperatures have been dropping steadily. Over the next few days we are expecting a huge 40-50cm of fresh snow and it is currently snowing all the way down to Bourg Saint Maurice which is at the bottom of the valley. The piste bashers are hard at work preparing the pistes and the final preparations are being made by the lift company to get ready for the opening on the 10th December."
Thanks for the great news! It's looking like it could be a very white Christmas!
