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Technique / SafetyWeather

High Avalanche Danger in the Alps With Heavy Snowfall, Rain and Warmth

The Alps are currently seeing big snowfalls, which is generally good news of course both for those few people lucky enough to be able to access the mountains during the pandemic, and perhaps for base building for the more optimistic who still hope to be able to travel to the mountains this season, perhaps at Easter or later. Up to a metre (40”) of snowfall is forecast to arrive over the next 48 hours. But ski areas and snow forecasters are warning that the current avalanche danger is extremely high. Along with the heavy snowfall there is expected to be a period of rain to as high as 2,000 metres altitude during a short warm spell, and that combination means…

Snowhunter 28th January 2021 1
Weather

Snowy Start to 2021 at Ski Centres Either Side of the Pacific

Although much of the skiing world has been seeing some fairly dry, often cold weather over the past few weeks, ski areas in Japan and in Washington State, USA, on either side of the Pacific have been seeing a succession of huge storms to start 2021. In Japan storms coming in off the sea of Japan have been dumping metres of snow on Japanese ski areas, causing some logistical problems but also widely welcomed after threw poor snowfall stats last season. Summit at Snoqualmie, Washington State In Washington State Mt Baker, which holds a two-decades old record for the most ever snowfall at a ski resort in a season and is often one of the snowiest resorts on the planet,…

Snowhunter 21st January 2021
Weather

Up To 55cm Of Snowfall So Far As Big Storm Hits the Alps

Ski areas in the Swiss Bernese Oberland have reported the biggest accumulations so far, but many areas in France, Italy and Austria too have reported 30cm (a foot) or more of fresh snow in the past 24 hours, and for many it is still dumping down. Up to 55cm (22”) of snowfall has been reported falling so far in the Alps, where the first major storm of 2021 is underway. St Anton this morning. The Swiss Jungfrau region has posted 50cm (20 inches) of snowfall so far. This ski region is currently open but unfortunately the Lauberhorn races due to have taken place there this weekend have been moved to Kitzbuhel due to a COVID-19 outbreak which has infected more…

Snowhunter 13th January 2021 5
AllTechnique / SafetyWeather

Several Scottish Ski Areas To Open to Locals Only in Latest Lockdown

Most Scottish ski areas opened for the 20-21 season last weekend, but the Scottish Government announced that most of the country is going in to the ‘#highest tier’ in the Scottish system, which is more-or-less lockdown, from Boxing Day, December 26th, for at least three weeks. This places further restrictions on the already tight restrictions in place due to the pandemic, but most of the centres believe they can continue to operate under tier 4. Although only 'essential travel' is permitted under the new restrictions, "non- contact sport" is allowed so long as only people travelling from the local area participate. The biggest change therefore is that only people living local to the ski areas can ski and board the…

Snowhunter 24th December 2020
Weather

Japanese Ski Resorts Report Over 3 Metres Of Snowfall in 7 Days

Many Japanese ski areas have reported incredible snowfall totals over the past seven days. The snowfall has created lots of logistical problems in Japan and people stuck overnight in their cars has made international headlines. SnowJapan.com maintains very detailed records of snowfall at resorts across the country with daily first hand reports from many of the country’s leading resorts. Madarao Kogen It’s report for Myoko gives a total of 311cm (over 10 feet) of snowfall over the last seven days, with the reporter noting, “The snow just keeps on coming, so it's powder on the slopes, with more lifts opening as well to get you up there …it’s all good, especially after last year!” The reference to last year refers…

Snowhunter 21st December 2020
AllSki ResortsWeather

Powder Conditions in Western Canada With Up to 92cm/3 Feet of Snowfall Reported in Past Week

The ski season is continuing to get going in Canada where snow conditions are arguably the best in the world at present. Sunshine near Banff (pictured) reported 92cm (over three feet) of snowfall in the past week taking its season-to-date tally to nearly 2.5 metres (over 8 feet) already.  There’s been powder conditions here all week, and at other open areas, with daily top ups of the snow. Big name resorts Big White (117cm/117cm / 47/47”) and Sun Peaks (95/95cm / 38/38”) are among the latest to open, with Big White posting the deepest base in North America (and probably the deepest fresh snow base in the world) from opening day. Vancouver’s local ski hill at Grouse Mountain (77/77cm /…

Snowhunter 21st November 2020
AllTechnique / SafetyWeather

Leading Austrian Ski Areas Plan to Open Later than End of Lockdown 2

Austrian ski areas that had expected to open in November, before the second lockdown in the country began, may not be opening the day the lockdown is expected to end – at the end of this month. Instead ski areas are looking to open some way into December, which appears to be in line with government plan to ‘gradually come out of lockdown in December’ rather than everything immediately re-opened. Ischgl, which traditionally throws a big ‘opening’ weekend at the end of November (already cancelled for this winter) is suggesting the most dramatic change – not planning to open until December 17th, about three weeks later than usual. The resort famously spent around a million Euros one year on autumn…

Snowhunter 12th November 2020 3
AllRoundupsSki ResortsWeather

Colorado Expects Heavy Snowfall But Major Resort Delays Opening

The start of the 2020-21 ski season in Colorado is playing out, so far, like no other. That was to be expected with pandemic restrictions in place which had already led Vail resorts to say that as kits ski areas open this month only season pass holders will be able to ski at its resorts this month, and for one of the usual early-openers, Copper Mountain, to delay their opening this year, among many other restrictions. However more random factors are also at play besides the virus – a rather warm, dry autumn and some major forest fires. These are being given as the reason why several of the states high ski areas – Arapahoe Basin and Loveland – have…

Snowhunter 4th November 2020
AllRoundupsSki ResortsTechnique / SafetyTravelWeather

Southern Hemisphere’s 2020 Season Over

The southern hemisphere’s 2020 ski season has ended sooner than hoped with the last ski areas open on Mt Ruapehu in New Zealand closing earlier than expected due to warm weather. All ski areas in the southern hemisphere other than the two on Ruapehu had closed by Mid-October, but Ruaphu’s operators had hoped to keep Whakapapa open until next weekend, then re-open Turoa for the first half of November, but that plan has now been ditched. (Ruapehu is pictured above and below 10 days ago) “Unfortunately due to the warm conditions we have decided to make this the last day here at Whakapapa,” a statement from Ruapehu Lifts earlier today, continuing, “It has been a challenging season but we feel…

Snowhunter 26th October 2020
AllLifestyleSki ResortsWeather

Some Italian Ski Resorts Close Until November 24th

(Updated 17.00 26 October) Italy has closed most entertainment and leisure facilities including ski centres in a month long ‘mini-lockdown’. However it seems not all are following the 'national directive' so far, due to the country's regional structure. The new national ‘partial lockdown’ announced by Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte began on Monday 26th October and is less severe than the March lockdown, but gyms, swimming pools, wellness centres and ski resorts are listed as required to close.  Italians are also being urged not to travel between regions. However the picture has been fast-moving and confused with different Italian regions wanting to take different approaches and some reports indicating centres can open for race team training, but not recreational skiing. On…

Snowhunter 25th October 2020 1