Access Road to Ski Portillo in Chile Now Closed For 4 Weeks Straight
Access to the iconic ski resort of Portillo in Chile by road has now been closed for what’s thought to be and unprecedented four straight weeks.
Patrick Thorne
Global Weekly Snow Roundup #326
Weekly Snow News for the Global snow scene, updated 7 August 2026: South American slopes open after huge snowfalls, New Zealand posts best conditions of season so far, Australian areas open most terrain of 2026, northern hemisphere down to two outdoor areas still open.
Northern Hemisphere Weekly Snow Roundup #326
Weekly Snow News for the Northern Hemisphere, updated 7 July 2026: Two European glacier ski areas remain open despite freezing levels above 4,000m (13,100ft), while the only lift-served snow slope in North America currently open is indoors.
Southern Hemisphere Weekly Snow Roundup #326
Weekly Snow News for Southern Hemisphere, updated 7 August 2026: South American slopes reopen after huge snowfalls, while New Zealand ski areas report best conditions of season so far and larger Australian ski centres report most terrain open of season so far.
This Winter’s El Niño, The Facts & The Fiction
With a so-called “Super El Niño” forecast to have a significant effect on the regions around the Pacific this winter, the question skiers are asking is simple: book now or wait, and where are the best odds?
Portillo Re-Opens To Guests Arriving By Helicopter
Chile’s famous Portillo ski resort is reported to have re-opened to guests arriving by helicopter after being cut off by road for more than two weeks by over 6m/20 feet of snowfall.
Zermatt Temporarily Suspends Summer Skiing
Zermatt, home to the highest lift-served ski slopes in Europe and the only ski area still left aiming to operate skiing 365 days a year, has announced the temporary closure of summer skiing for visitors on the Theodul Glacier.
Portillo Storm Snowfall Total Passes 5m / 17 Feet
A snow storm that has now continued for nine days has taken Chilean ski resort Portillo to a snowfall total of 5.2 metres (17 feet) so far, with more snow forecast.
Then There Was One …Year-Round Outdoor Ski Centre Left
The closure of Austria’s Hintertux glacier for a 6-10 week summer break earlier this week means that the world now only has one year-round outdoor ski area left - The Matterhorn Glacier Paradise above Zermatt.
America’s Next Indoor Snow Centre Takes Shape
Construction of a new indoor snow centre for skiers, boarders and tubers appears to be making good progress at Heritage Farm in Wayne County, West Virginia.
Over 2.7m (9 Feet) Of Snowfall in 48 Hours as Super Storm Hits Andes
A powerful winter storm which could be the biggest in several years has begun hammering the central Andes, delivering extraordinary snowfall and forcing authorities to shut down key mountain roads before conditions deteriorate further.
Colorado Resort Adding 7 New Trails in Expert Terrain
Colorado's Purgatory Resort is moving ahead with one of its most ambitious terrain expansions in years as construction accelerates on Colorado Couloir, a new triple chairlift rising from the Gelande parking area to reach expert terrain in the upper mountain and accessing 7 new trails.