Europe Weekly Snow Roundup #338

• Adelboden opens for the 26-27 season with slope created by snow farming.
• Dry, sunny weather dominates in the Alps.
• Colder, darker with fresh snow on Scandinavian slopes.
• More snowfall reported in the Pyrenees, Carpathians and Dolomites.

Austria Report

Austria currently leads the world for areas open even in October, with six glacier centres to choose from and a seventh, Molltal, expected to open imminently. Sölden (0/55cm / 0/22") expanded its open terrain to 30km (19 miles), the most in the world now that areas posting more in the Andes closed at the weekend as it posted the 26-27 World Cup tour opening races on its Rettenbach glacier at the weekend. The country has seen snowfall down to about 1500m this week, with up to 25cm (10") reported on high terrain, but bases remain thin even on glaciers and what's open at most is just a few kilometres so far. After Sölden, the Hintertux glacier (0/25c,m / 0/10”) has the next most, with 22km (14 miles) of runs skiable. The Kitzsteinhorn (0/70cm / 0/28”) above Kaprun has the deepest reported snowpack in the country.

Austria Forecast

Austria’s ski areas look set for a largely dry, settled and sunny week ahead, with high pressure dominating across the Alps. After the snowfall that freshened higher slopes last weekend, little significant new precipitation is expected, allowing pistes and glacier terrain to remain in generally good condition. Daytime temperatures will be mild for late October, particularly on south-facing slopes, while overnight cooling should help preserve snow on higher runs. The freezing level is expected to fluctuate between around 2,000m and 3,000m, occasionally dipping a little lower overnight.

France Report

Ski areas across the French Alps have been reporting promising snowfalls, mostly on high terrain, but ski areas above 1600m have seen top-to-bottom snowfalls at times. France will be the last major ski nation where resorts will begin opening/ Tignes and Val Thorens are set to kick the season off there in three weeks, on 21^st November. It's possible they or others will open sooner, though if there's a big pre-season snowfall to justify it.

France Forecast

The French Alps are set for a largely dry and sunny week, with high pressure keeping conditions settled across the region. Recent snowfall at higher elevations has refreshed glacier areas and upper slopes, with the best snow cover remaining above 2,000m. Mild daytime temperatures are expected under abundant sunshine, while cooler nights should help preserve snow on higher terrain and support snowmaking where temperatures allow. Freezing levels are forecast to fluctuate between around 2,000m and 3,000m through the week. In the French Pyrenees, similarly settled conditions are expected, with plenty of sunshine and little prospect of significant fresh snowfall.

Italy Report

Hot on the heels of Zermatt re-opening, the Italian ski area that shares access to its slopes, as well as its own, Cervinia (0/100cm / 0/40”) has reopened as scheduled for its 26-27 season. It joins already-open Passo Stelvio (0/40cm / 0/16”) and Val Senales (0/50cm / 0/20") to give three Italian options currently available. As with other parts of the Alps, these areas have all seen fresh snowfalls on their glaciers this week, and there's been snow reported in the northeast of the country on the Dolomites too.  Sulden is set to be the fourth area to open, next weekend, if all goes to plan.

Italy Forecast

Italian ski areas are set for a largely dry and settled week, with sunshine dominating across much of the Alps from the Aosta Valley and Piedmont to Trentino and the Dolomites. Recent snowfall has left higher slopes and glacier sectors looking increasingly wintry, but little significant fresh snow is currently expected. Daytime temperatures will remain relatively mild under clear skies, particularly on south-facing slopes, while colder nights should help maintain snow cover at altitude and support snowmaking operations where temperatures allow. The freezing level is forecast to fluctuate between around 2,000m and 3,000m, occasionally dropping lower overnight on clear, calm nights.

Switzerland Report

The number of Swiss resorts opening continues to grow, with Adelboden (0/30cm / 0/12”) opening a kilometre of slopes thanks to snow farming at TschentenAlp. However, there have been some ups and downs in the weather during the past week, with some centres including Saas Fee (0/50cm / 0/20") temporarily closing at times due to low visibility and related issues. Zermatt (0/100cm / 0/40”) opened its Furggsattel slopes at the weekend with three more runs (72 – Furggsattel, 73 – Gandegg and 80 – Testa Grigia) opening for the season. Switzerland may draw equal with Austria for open areas this weekend, with Mürren's Schilthorn expected to open a run to join its Panda snowpark thanks to snowfarming and possibly Engelberg, which has repeatedly delayed opening its Titlis glacier slopes, expected to do likewise.

Switzerland Forecast

Swiss ski areas are set for a predominantly dry and sunny week, with high pressure bringing settled conditions across much of the country. Recent snowfalls have improved cover on glaciers and higher-altitude slopes. Little significant fresh snowfall is expected in the coming days, but clear skies and cool nights should help preserve existing snow cover and support snowmaking operations where temperatures permit. Daytime temperatures will remain relatively mild, especially on sunny slopes, while the freezing level is forecast to fluctuate between around 2,000m and 3,000m, occasionally dropping lower overnight under clear conditions.

Scandinavia Report

We remain on four Scandinavian areas open, where it has been a cold and wintry week with fast-diminishing daylight in the north where most of the open areas are located. Three are open thanks to snowfarming with 1- 2 km (a mile or so) of slopes each, although temperatures have been low enough at times for fresh snowmaking on top and there have also been reports of natural snowfall on higher terrain. They are Idre Fjäll (0/40cm / 0/16”) in Sweden and Levi  (0/40cm / 0/16”) and Ruka  (0/40cm / 0/16”) in Finland. Norway’s Galdhøpiggen Glacier summer ski area (0/60cm / 0/24"), which had been open only to race teams training, is now open to all and reports an "empty" slope. It says its season will run to 22^nd November.

Scandinavia Forecast

Scandinavia's ski areas are set for a cold and increasingly wintry week, with the best conditions expected in Norway, Sweden and Finland's northern regions. Temperatures should remain below freezing for extended periods, particularly overnight and at higher elevations, allowing snowmaking systems to operate efficiently. Occasional light snow showers are possible, especially across northern Norway and Swedish Lapland, although no major snowstorms are currently indicated. Daytime temperatures will generally range from a few degrees below freezing to around 5C, coolest in the far north. Freezing levels are expected to remain low, typically between valley level and 1,000m, supporting continued early-season slope preparation.