PlanetSKI Snow Report
18th February 2022
Last modified on March 3rd, 2022
There is settled and clear weather across the Alps. PlanetSKI moved across Italy from the Aosta Valley in the west, to The Dolomites in the east at the end of last week. Now we have arrived in the Tirol in Austria for an extended stay. UPDATED
Thursday 3rd March
PlanetSKI has now moved round to St Anton as we tour some of the resorts in the Tirol.
The weather has not changed much and our editor, James Cove, ponders which is the best linked ski area in the Alps.
A full report on the day’s proceedings will follow shortly.
The most important photograph we took today was this one in Warth-Shrocken as we skied the whole of the mighty Arlberg ski area.
The Arlberg, Austria. Image © PlanetSKI
More to follow…
Tuesday 1st March
There’s more sun and some welcome cold temperatures across the Alps.
The PlanetSKI editor, James Cove, is currently in Obergurgl in the Tirol.
For some more detail then here is the latest from Weathertoski.co.uk:
Another sunny and relatively cool day is expected across the Alps, with freezing levels typically between 1000m and 2000m.
Most places will remain dry and fine over the next few days, but the odd flurry is possible here and there later in the week, especially in the southern and eastern Alps.
It will turn colder on Friday and remain quite cold throughout the weekend and into next week.
This mostly fine but quite cool weather is good news for skiers in the Alps as, although the sun is now quite strong, any thaw will only be gradual.
That said, snow cover is very thin across some of the southern Alps, notably in the southern French Alps (e.g. Auron, Risoul) and south-western Italian Alps (e.g. Sauze d’Oulx, Bardonecchia), where it looks more like mid-April than late February.
The situation is better elsewhere though, with generally near normal snow cover across the northern half of the Alps.
Obergurgl, the Tirol. Image © PlanetSKI
Obergurgl, the Tirol. Image © PlanetSKI
PlanetSKI is moving round to St Anton on Wednesday for a couple of days, so do check back to see the latest on the snow conditions in the Arlberg ski area..
Monday 28th February
As f0recast (see report from Sunday) today in the Tirol has been sunny.
A couple of clouds have been spotted.
Obergurgl, the Tirol. Image © PlanetSKI
Obergurgl, the Tirol. Image © PlanetSKI
Sunday 27th February
As you may have seen already on PlanetSKI we have arrived in the Tirol in Austria for an extended stay.
So, what’s the snow and weather like?
It looked a bit worrying as we arrived in the Otztal Valley on the way to Obergurgl.
Oetz, the Tirol. Image © PlanetSKI
But there was no cause for concern – no fresh snow in resort, but good on piste conditions and plenty of sunshine.
And check out some images from across the day.
Obergurgl, the Tirol. Image © PlanetSKI
Obergurgl, the Tirol. Image © PlanetSKI
Obergurgl, the Tirol. Image © PlanetSKI
Obergurgl, the Tirol. Image © PlanetSKI
Now you may, or may not, be wondering what that building above is.
Part of it is a lift station and the artwork on the gondolas give a clue to what the rest of the building contains.
Obergurgl, the Tirol. Image © PlanetSKI
It’s the Top of The Mountain Motorcycle Museum.
It was tragically destroyed by fire in January 2021, but has risen from the ashes and has been re-built.
James had a private tour of the museum with its owner and inspiration behind it, Attila Scheiber.
James and Attila. Obergurgl, the Tirol. Image © PlanetSKI
Top of the Mountain Motorcycle Museum. Image © PlanetSKI
James is a keen motorcyclist and spent two hours being shown round by Attila.
A full article will be coming shortly, but lets just say the virtual experience of riding on a mountain road is perhaps one of the best experiences James has in the mountains without skis on.
Top of the Mountain Motorcycle Museum. Image © PlanetSKI
Looking at the view from the top of the resort earlier in the day was pretty darn good too.
What a fabulous day back in the Tirol.
Saturday 26th February
We’re in Val Gardena in the Dolomites and the snow conditions are pretty similar to the Aosta Valley.
Some pretty good piste skiing, but no off piste to talk about.
The reason is the same: it hasn’t snowed properly since the the early part of January.
At first reading that might seem worrying, but it is not, as the marked runs are in very good condition.
Val Gardena, The Dolomites. Image © PlanetSKI
“The Dolomitisuperski area probably has the best snow making system in the world and these past weeks it has been a blessing,” said the PlanetSKI editor, James Cove.
“I have torn round the slopes of Val Gardena and am pleased to report that there is more than enough snow to enjoy.”
The Legendary 8, Val Gardena. Image © PlanetSKI
See here for his full report on his day in Val Gardena:
The Legendary 8, Val Gardena. Image © PlanetSKI
Val Gardena, The Dolomites. Image © PlanetSKI
Val Gardena, The Dolomites. Image © PlanetSKI
The forecast is for sun for the rest of the week in the Dolomites.
PlanetSKI won’t be able to enjoy it as we are heading round to the Tirol in Austria.
We’re staying in Obergurgl first and then seeing a whole host of resorts as we base ourselves in the Tirol for a while.
On the list is St Johann, the resorts of the Ski Juwel, St Anton, Khutai, Ischgl and many others including the Ski Welt.
Austria here we come…
Meanwhile back in the UK there has been some reasonable skiing and snowboarding in Scotland.
Check out this video from The Lecht posted by our good friends Diane and Rod Frazer from Where Stags Roar:
Thursday 24th February
It started out fine in many areas today but wintry weather is set to cross the Alps tonight and early tomorrow.
Temperatures will drop and there’ll be some snow in the northern Alps.
The alpine snow expert Fraser Wilkin of Weather To Ski says the heaviest snow will be in the central-northern Swiss Alps, for example Engelberg, and east into parts of Austria such as Lech and Saalbach where 10-15cm is possible by Friday lunchtime.
The French resorts in the north-western Alps should get a dusting – 5 to 10cm in Avoriaz and Flaine but only 1 to 3cm in Val d’Isère and Les Arcs.
And it’s good to see that winter has well and truly arrived in Scotland.
Mark Beard sent us this photo from Glenshee this afternoon.
Glenshee, Scotland – photo © Mark Beard
“Spectacular conditions in Scotland as snow finally covers the Cairngorms,” Mark says.
“Glenshee is in full swing.”
Wednesday 23rd February
Aosta, It’s a Wrap!
Our 6-week stay in this part of Italy has come to an end.
We have been reporting on the snow conditions across our visit.
Basically it’s been sunshine, with no snow and the odd windy day here and there.
That’s about it really, and not much to add.
So, on PlanetSKI’s final day lets take a look at the view instead of a video snow report.
And look at the great piste conditions considering there’s been no snow worth talking about since early January.
Pila, Aosta Valley. Image © PlanetSKI
Pila, Aosta Valley. Image © PlanetSKI
Pila, Aosta Valley. Image © PlanetSKI
Pila, Aosta Valley. Image © PlanetSKI
PlanetSKI is now heading east across the Alps for an extended stay in the Tirol in Austria next week.
Do we need to change our bobble hat?
Pila, Aosta Valley. Image © PlanetSKI
No.
We are popping into Val Gardena in the Dolomites for a few days on our way east across the Alps.
Well, it would be rude not to.
More to follow…
Tuesday 22nd February
Well, that was a pretty good day to visit Verbier – a powder day!
Verbier, Switzerland. Image © PlanetSKI
Verbier, Switzerland. Image © PlanetSKI
Verbier, Switzerland. Image © PlanetSKI
Verbier, Switzerland. Image © PlanetSKI
More to follow…
Heavenly 🤍 #stantonamarlberg https://t.co/4OCOVBVOSl#winterlove #arlberg #snowfall #snow #austria #inTirol pic.twitter.com/z68OlJOVQl
— St. Anton am Arlberg (@StantonReview) February 22, 2022
Monday 21st February
The latest weather report comes from Fraser Wilkin at Weathertoski.co.uk
“An active cold front is crossing the Alps today bringing significant snow to north-western regions but rather less the further south and east you are.
“Snowfall in the southern and eastern Alps will be patchier, with some parts of the far south-western Alps (e.g. Isola 2000) staying completely dry.
“Today the rain/snow limit will generally start around 1000m but will lower to 500-800m later, with the following snowfall totals forecast above 1500m by tomorrow morning:
- 40cm: Engelberg, Mürren, Lech
- 30-35cm: Alpe d’Huez, Les Arcs, Flaine, Avoriaz, Verbier
- 25-30cm: Courmayeur, Zermatt, Laax, Klosters, Ischgl
- 15-20cm: Saalbach, Kitzbühel, Kaprun, Obertauern, Cervinia
- 7-12cm: Serre Chevalier, Monte Rosa, Milky Way, Livigno, Obergurgl
- 1-5cm: Dolomites
“This new snow will obviously improve conditions across many parts of the Alps (which had been very mixed in recent days), especially in the north-west which will see the lion’s share of the snow.
“There will be a lot of wind again though which will only add to the rising avalanche risk.
“Snow depths in the southern Alps remain very modest, however, with no significant snow in the forecast any time soon.”
See here for the full details as Fraser updates on a regular basis: weathertoski.co.uk
PlanetSKI is currently in the Aosta Valley where we have had the wind that Fraser mentioned, but sadly no snowfall worth talking about.
Over the weekend we were in the tiny resort of Cogne.
Cogne, Aosta Valley. Image © PlanetSKI
It is known for cross-country skiing, but also has 9 km of downhill runs: 2 blues, 5 reds and 1 black.
There’s just 1 gondola lift and 2 chairlifts.
Cogne, Aosta Valley. Image © PlanetSKI
The snow was skiable, and it is always good to go to these tucked away small resorts and wander round an ancient alpine village.
Cogne, Aosta Valley. Image © PlanetSKI
Cogne, Aosta Valley. Image © PlanetSKI
But more snow is most definitely needed for the cross-country skiers.
Cogne, Aosta Valley. Image © PlanetSKI
Tomorrow, Tuesday, it’s the other end of the spectrum.
We’re heading to Verbier in Switzerland where there should be some fresh powder snow if Fraser is right.
He normally is.
Do check back….
Friday 18th February
Regular readers will know that PlanetSKI is currently based in Aosta in Italy.
This was the scene as dawn broke today in Aosta.
Aosta, Italy. Image © PlanetSKI
Our plan was to head to La Thuile in Italy and then over to La Rosiere in France.
The scenes overhead were spectacular.
So, we decided to photograph them across the day.
Sometimes it pays to look up.
La Thuile to La Rosiere. Image © PlanetSKI
La Thuile to La Rosiere. Image © PlanetSKI
La Thuile to La Rosiere. Image © PlanetSKI
La Thuile to La Rosiere. Image © PlanetSKI
La Thuile to La Rosiere. Image © PlanetSKI
La Thuile to La Rosiere. Image © PlanetSKI
La Thuile to La Rosiere. Image © PlanetSKI
La Thuile to La Rosiere. Image © PlanetSKI
Now don’t worry, PlanetSKI is not turning into PlanetCLOUD – we just thought we share these images of the weather in the Alps.
Normal service will be resumed shortly with a full snow report and the all-important forecast for the coming week.
Do check out our earlier report from across the past week or so…
Oh, and here’s another photo of the clouds today:
La Rosiere sky – photo © PlanetSKI
PlanetSKI Snow Report © PlanetSKI
