Global Weekly Snow Roundup #334

* Third Alpine glacier opens for 26-27 season with more set to follow this weekend.

* September snowfall reported on mountains in northern and eastern Europe.

* More snowfall in Western US and Canadian resorts showing white mountain tops.

* Season set to start at Levi and Ruka in Finland this weekend.

It’s October, and the next few weeks will see the end of the 2026 season for southern hemisphere ski areas that haven't already closed.

North of the equator, however, excitement is building as there are more signs of the upcoming ski season appearing with temperatures dropping in most areas (if not so much in the high Alps as yet, alas), more high-altitude snowfall reported and the first snowmaking system switch-on imminent. Finland’s season starts this weekend, with two centres set to open thanks to snow farming.

In the southern hemisphere, snow continues to fall across New Zealand’s ski fields, delivering fresh accumulations to start the week and even producing a powder day (pictured above) for Treble Cone as it wrapped up its 2026 season on Monday. It’s the first of the country’s major resorts to close, with others set to finish over the next three or four weekends. The new snowfall was followed by several clear days, giving most areas a chance to enjoy the conditions, although spring warmth has brought some thawing.

In the Andes, Argentina’s Las Leñas has now closed despite recent snowfall, joining most of the country’s areas that have already ended their seasons. The largest area, Catedral and most southerly Cerro Castor remain open, with temperatures fluctuating between overnight freezes and mild spring days. In Chile, snowfall has continued even as spring advances, with Portillo passing the 10‑metre seasonal mark. Several areas have already closed or will finish this weekend, while others, including Valle Nevado and Corralco, plan to run into mid‑month.

Up in the northern hemisphere, in Europe, Austria’s Pitztal Glacier opened last weekend, joining Italy’s Passo Stelvio (and Val Senales, pictured above this week), though terrain remains thin and largely focused on race training. Up to four more glaciers may open this weekend, including Saas‑Fee in Switzerland, Hintertux, Kaunertal and Zermatt, depending on conditions. Freezing levels remain high at 3,500–4,000m, but pockets of fresh snow have reached Kitzsteinhorn and down to 2,000m in the Carpathians.

In Scandinavia, Finland’s Levi and Ruka are set to launch their long seasons using stored snow, offering around 2km of early runs. Norway’s Galdhopiggen has reopened for race teams only.

Across North America, early October snowfall has whitened high terrain in Alberta, BC and Oregon, with Loveland in Colorado preparing to start snowmaking. The past few days snowfall has been reported as far south as Mammoth in California and the Snowbowl in Arizona (below on Tuesday), both expected to do well from the building 'Super' El Nino. Big Snow in New Jersey remains the continent’s only lift‑served skiing.