Easter has arrived and with it fresh snow in the Alps. Snow will be falling all week in European resorts and many other mountain ranges in the Northern Hemisphere, with North American resorts also doing particularly well this week.
Resorts in the Pyrenees have had more fresh snow in the last few weeks of the season. Eastern European centers also reported some good weekend snow accumulations and Scandinavian centres, including Norway's Geilo and Hemsedal, have reported 20-30 cm more in recent days. Scotland has also had the coldest and snowiest weather for a while. Cairngorm and Glencoe have the most slopes open, with one skier saying conditions in the Main Basin were the best of the season on Tuesday.
The question now is how long that snowfall will remain untouched. At this late stage in the season, skiers should go high, or travel north, so it stays powdery the longest.
France
French ski resorts have had some fresh snow, the heaviest in the southern Alps, where Alpe d'Huez, Les 2 Alpes and Serre Chevalier dumped up to 75cm of snow in just 24 hours. The latter also recorded the world's largest jump in published upper slope base depth this week. Freeriders should take into account that the avalanche danger has increased from moderate (level 2 on the scale to 5) to high (level 4). Some ski resorts have announced that snow conditions merit longer seasons. Chamonix says higher slopes in the Brévent sector, where snow is 2.9 meters deep at the top, will remain open an extra week until April 21.
The prognosis
It remains cool for the time of year, with temperatures ranging from +10C in the valleys in the afternoon to -15C at night. More light to moderate snow showers over the Easter weekend and into April.
Discover the best ski resorts in France with our guide
Austria
It was a snowy end to March in Austria, leading to the cancellation of the final World Cup downhill ski race of the season in Saalbach on Sunday - 25cm of fresh snowfall at high altitude was to blame. The snow showers continue to come, with sunny spells in between, including Ischgl and Solden which are partially closed mid-week due to the conditions. The fresh snow has led to a significant increase in the avalanche danger in areas such as the Arlberg, around Lech and St. Anton (level 3).
The story continues
The prognosis
The snow showers will continue next week with fairly cool temperatures for this time of year, especially compared to recent weeks.
Discover the best ski areas in Austria with our guide
Italy
Fresh snow has fallen throughout Italy. The heaviest was reported in the Aosta Valley, with Pila recording an accumulation of 67cm on Thursday morning. Cervinia, which now offers year-round access to the glacier ski area it shares with Swiss neighbor Zermatt, was another big winner. Further east, most ski resorts in the Dolomites, including Alta Badia and Val Gardena, report that their slopes are 100 percent open for the Easter week.
The prognosis
A lot of precipitation is forecast in the first week of April. The altitude at which it falls as rain instead of snow will be between 1,000 and 2,000 meters.
Discover the best ski resorts in Italy with our guide
Switzerland
Swiss centers have seen some major snowfall this week, with Gstaad's Glacier 3000 closed midweek as the storm blew through and Saas-Fee placing the world's deepest snowpack at its summit, almost 5 metres, after another 45cm of accumulation. Most major areas of the country remain 75 to 95 percent open, with nice conditions at altitude thanks to fresh snowfall. Adelboden, Engelberg, Zermatt and St. Moritz have announced plans to keep the slopes open until May.
The prognosis
Mixed conditions, the freezing point fluctuates between about 1000 and 2500 m, lots of sunshine, with temperatures up to +12 degrees Celsius at an altitude of 1000 meters, but the snow showers also continue on the higher slopes.
Discover the best ski resorts in Switzerland with our guide
Canada
It was a snowy weekend across Canada, with eastern resorts like Tremblant celebrating powder conditions and also more snowfall in Alberta and British Columbia. Daylight is starting to last longer in these northern latitudes and Banff's Sunshine says lifts will now start running later, some until 5pm each day. The season there runs until May 20 this year.
The prognosis
A mainly sunny week with occasional snow/sleet/rain showers and temperatures between -10C and +10C.
Discover the best ski resorts in Canada with our guide
❄️1cm new snow
🌬️Moderate wind
🌨️Cloudy with gusts (4-8 cm)
🚜Machine maintained conditionsHave an EPIC day there! ⛷️🏔️🏂
Listen to the Snow Phone for updates on weather, parking, activities and more!https://t.co/kB1QbRPLYj
- Whistler Blackcomb (@WhistlerBlckcmb) March 27, 2024
USA
There has been heavy snowfall on both the eastern and western sides of the US through the end of March. Maine's Sunday River Ski Area, one of the largest on the East Coast, described the 3 feet of snowfall it received in 48 hours this week as a "March miracle" and the conditions as the best of the entire season. Similar falls were also reported on the West Coast, with the Palisades in California recording a height of 30 inches (79 cm) in 72 hours. It was powder from coast to coast and Deer Valley, Park City and Steamboat all extended their seasons until the end of April.
The prognosis
Another major storm is hitting the West Coast and will continue through Easter weekend with storm totals exceeding 3 feet for some. A mix of sunshine and snow/sleet/rain showers further inland next week.
Discover the best ski resorts in the US with our guide
Our NEW closing day will be Mon 22/04. Ski & ride from both base areas for an extra week! Join us for our 60th Sendoff Community Celebration on April 22 with live music, giveaways, and lifts running out of Mountain Village! Yes, 3 Kings is open! pic.twitter.com/lFYAkitizM
- Park City Berg (@PCski) March 18, 2024
When do ski areas close?
April 7
Italy: Alta Badia
Spain: Baqueira beret
April 14
Italy: Champoluc
Switzerland: Crans-Montana
April 21
France: Alpe d'Huez, Courchevel, Flaine
Switzerland: Mürren, Saas Fee and Verbier
USA: Alta and Deer Valley
April 27th
France: Les Arcs and La Plagne
April 28
Norway: Myrkdalen
Switzerland: Glacier 3000 and Grindelwald
May 1
Austria: Ischgl, Obertauern and Sölden
France: Chamonix
5th of May
France: Tignes, Val d'Isere and Val Thorens
Italy: Passo Tonale and Sella Nevea
Japan: Furano, Shiga Kogen and Zao Onsen
Slovakia: Jasna
May 19
Canada: Whistler Blackcomb
