The PlanetSKI Snow Report
7th April 2022
Last modified on April 18th, 2022
There are some decent spring conditions at altitude, but it is soft and slushy lower down with the warm weather taking its toll. The temperatures are about to drop over the next few days with some light snow around. PlanetSKI will be in the French Alps this week and inside the Arctic Circle in Norway. UPDATED
Sunday 17th April
The temperatures have dropped in the Alps after the warm weather of recent days and there may even be a few snow flurries this coming week.
Those out in the mountains have been enjoying the late season conditions.
Later this week PlanetSKI’s chief reporter, Jane Peel, is heading to Les2Alpes in the southern French Alps.
The PlanetSKI editor, James Cove, is heading north – to Narvik in northern Norway.
But, what about Easter in the mountains?
Our clients are still loving the late-season snow around the Alps! 🎿
📸: Client Photos
1. Sarah sent in this great group photo in Ortisei
2. Clive and the crew with big smiles in @Val_Tho
3. Deepa and co loving life in the @3Vallees_france pic.twitter.com/iLAd8gN25k— Ski Solutions (@skisolutions) April 15, 2022
More to follow…
Saturday 16th April
There’s still some skiing to be had in Scotland…
Thursday 14th April
As you may have seen earlier in this rolling blog PlanetSKI reporter, Justine Gosling, is in Andermatt in Switzerland.
Seems like the fabulous spring conditions are continuing on her final day on the slopes for this winter.
How is this for deserted ski slopes?
Andermatt, Switzerland. Image © PlanetSKI
Andermatt, Switzerland. Image © PlanetSKI
Andermatt, Switzerland. Image © PlanetSKI
More to follow…
Wednesday 13th April
It was more of the same for PlanetSKI’s Chief Reporter, Jane Peel, in Tignes today for her second day in the high-altitude French resort.
“It’s still pretty warm and there was more sun today than yesterday so the pistes were once again heavy going from around lunchtime,” she said.
“Frankly, I’d have skied in any conditions for the experience I was privileged to be given this morning.
“I’ve been skiing with the legend that is Guerlain Chicherit, a Tignes native and 4 x Freeride World Champion.”
Guerlain Chicherit & Jane Peel in Tignes – photo © PlanetSKI
Look out for Jane’s full report and interview with Guerlain, coming soon.
PlanetSKI reporter, Justine Gosling, is in Andermatt in Switzerland.
“It’s very warm and sunny, with barely anyone else on the slopes, though there are quite a few Brits around,” said Justine.
“The conditions are fantastic, all slopes are open. I skied until 3pm when it was starting to get a bit too soft, but you can still ski all the way back down to the village on a beautiful run.”
Andermatt, Switzerland. Image © PlanetSKI
Andermatt, Switzerland. Image © PlanetSKI
“Andermatt village has 2 ski areas – north facing Gemsstock (highest point 2961m) and south facing Gütsch (2344m).
“Today I skied Gemsstock. It’s a small area and I’d skied every run in under 3 hours.
“I’ll be skiing the south facing area later on this visit and I expect it to be slushier.”
Andermatt, Switzerland. Image © PlanetSKI
Justine Gosling. Andermatt, Switzerland. Image © PlanetSKI
The ski area closes May 1st.
More to follow…
Tuesday 12th April
PlanetSKI’s Snow report today comes from our Chief Reporter, Jane Peel, who’s in Tignes in the French Alps where it’s a mix of sunshine, high clouds and warm temperatures.
https://www.facebook.com/planetski/videos/323679306500331/
Busy in Tignes, Easter week 2022 – photo © PlanetSKI
Tignes, April 2022 – photo © PlanetSKI
Monday 11th April
At altitude in parts of the Alps there are now some excellent April conditions after the storms of this month.
The sun is back and snow conditions are magnificent at altitude today in the western and northern Alps. This is #Valdisere pic.twitter.com/ES02Peao6Q
— weathertoski (@weathertoski) April 10, 2022
It’s easy to see why #stantonamarlberg is a top vacation destination in April as much as it is in January 😍
📷 Ale Alexa #arlberg #inTirol #austria #snowconditions pic.twitter.com/KdgKNtQSIu— St. Anton am Arlberg (@StantonReview) April 11, 2022
The avalanche danger is now dropping after the recent storm.
It was at Level 4 (high) in some places in the northern French Alps and west of Switzerland.
It has now dropped to 3 in many places, meaning ‘considerable’ risk remains.
“In the west and in the north a considerable avalanche danger will be encountered over a wide area, especially at elevated altitudes,” said the Swiss Institute for Snow & Avalanche Research.
Institute for Snow & Avalanche Research.
There have been several avalanches in the Alps in recent days as we have reported:
- Two women on mountain survival course die in avalanche
- Two British brothers lucky to be alive after avalanche in La Plagne
More to follow…
Sunday 10th April
The latest April snowstorm has mostly passed and the temperatures are set to warm up this week with clear skies.
It has left some good late season conditions at altitude with April snowfalls well over the 1m mark in some places.
However, as we have been reporting over the past few days, there is a ‘high’ risk of avalanche in parts of France and Switzerland.
Two British brothers in their 20s were caught in an avalanche off piste in La Plagne in France on Saturday.
Neither had safety equipment and the danger rating was at Level 4 on a scale of 5.
For those lucky enough to be in the mountains this week there should be some good conditions at altitude.
PlanetSKI’s chief reporter, Jane Peel, is arriving in Tignes on Monday – the area has seen some of the heaviest snow.
Another PlanetSKI reporter, Justine Gosling, will be in Andermatt in Switzeland this week.
It too has had some fresh snowfall.
Do check back for their reports.
Meanwhile one of our regular readers, who goes by the name of Valais Dude, is in Nendaz near Verbier in Switzerland.
✅fresh snow
✅bluebird
✅empty slope
Easing into the last week of the season @NendazSuisse pic.twitter.com/HkMMU8rzYp— Valais Dude (@ValaisDude) April 10, 2022
More to follow…
Saturday 9th April
There remains a ‘high’ level of avalanche danger in parts of the French Alps and mountain areas western in Switzerland as the storm continues today.
“In the west a high avalanche danger will be encountered in some regions,” said the Swiss Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research on Saturday.
Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research
PlanetSKI readers continue to report on the wet conditions and some ferocious weather.
Friday 8th April
The avalanche danger in parts of the western Alps in France and Switzerland is now at level 4 on a scale of 5.
It means there is a “high” chance of avalanche.
“Stormy weather and new snow, in the west a high avalanche danger will prevail,” warned the Swiss Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research.
Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research
Heavy, wet snow and strong winds have combined to create a dangerous situation.
Some ski resorts are closing lifts and parts of their slopes.
Hi there. Please take care. We have had a lot of snow and it is very unstable. Some areas are closing due to avalanche risk and high winds and #ladaille #valdisere has just closed to pedestrians. #avalancherisk #avalanche #takecare #lotsofsnow pic.twitter.com/QVi22vvJlH
— Simply Val d’Isere (@simplyvaldisere) April 8, 2022
PlanetSKI reader Alison Grist is in Courchevel in the French Alps where it has been snowing heavily but the conditions on the slopes today are not so enjoyable as yesterday.
“Very wet conditions today, thick powder at the top and heavier going down,” she told us.
“Got soaked on chairlifts as the snow is wet. Heavy snow is due tonight and tomorrow!”
https://www.facebook.com/planetski/videos/1147432342765935/
Snowing hard in the western Alps this evening above about 1500m. This is La Daille in #Valdisere where storm totals could now reach 60-80cm at the top of the ski area by the end of Saturday! pic.twitter.com/0AWGyHKwhx
— weathertoski (@weathertoski) April 7, 2022
Wet and heavy conditions have been reported on the PlanetSKI Facebook page by more readers out in the mountains.
More to follow…
Thursday 7th April
Once again April is delivering the goods.
PlanetSKI still has plenty of skiing to be done and we will shortly be reporting live from France (Tignes, Les2Alps, Arc1950), Norway (Narvik) and Switzerland (Andermatt) as the season draws to a close.
More of that later, but first what is happening now.
The snow in the latest storm has already started to fall in the western Alps.
Up to 50cm is forecast over the new few days in Tignes/Val d’Isere and the resorts in Les3Vallees.
Here is the current picture in Val Thorens:
The snow and high winds have brought dangerous conditions with a ‘high’ risk of avalanches in some places.
❄️ EN DIRECT
⚠️ La neige continue de tomber sur la station depuis ce matin. Fort risque d’avalanche sur le domaine skiable Tignes-Val d’Isère (4/5)
–
🇬🇧❄️ LIVE
⚠️ High risk of avalanche on the ski area Tignes-Val d’Isère today (4/5).#valdisere #live #snowyday #powday #snowfall pic.twitter.com/jNetMCstRN— Val d’Isère (@valdisere) April 7, 2022
Snow is also forecast for resorts in western Switzerland.
The predicted weather has already led to the cancellation of some end-of-season events.
“With a large snowfall and wind speeds of up to 100km/h forecasted at Plaine Morte Glacier in the coming days, weather conditions make it impossible for the organizers to prepare the setup in time to hold the the public day scheduled for Saturday, April 9,” said the organisers of The Nines in Crans-Montana, Switzerland.
The event has already seen some record-breaking action.
Within minutes of each other the Japanese snowboarder, Reira Iwabuchi, landed the world’s first frontside triple 1260 by a woman.
It was followed shortly afterwards by the second-ever women’s cab triple 1260 from Canadian, Laurie Blouin.
“The weather will remain unsettled over the weekend, with snow descending to lower levels and becoming more prevalent across the northern Alps as a whole,” said the alpine weather expert, Fraser Wilkin, from weahtertoski.co.uk
“Other parts of Switzerland and Austria away from the south, including resorts such as Engelberg, Klosters, St Anton and Kaprun, will therefore also see significant snow on Saturday and Sunday.
“It is then set to turn drier and warmer again right across the Alps early next week.”
This is good news for those of us that like April skiing.
PlanetSKI’s chief reporter, Jane Peel is heading to Tignes in France next Monday and will be reporting back on the snow.
She is then off to Les2Alpes in the southern French Alps.
We will also be hearing from our reporters in Arc1950 in France and Andermatt in Switzerland.
This winter is far from over for PlanetSKI.
Our editor James Cove, is heading to Narvik in northern Norway after Easter – he will be skiing inside the Arctic Circle.
Narvik, Norway. Image c/o Norway – Home of Skiing.
James is then rounding off his busy season in early May as he heads to Val Thorens on May 6th for its closing weekend.
PlanetSKI started its season there in November so it seems an appropriate resort to bring the curtain down on the winter of 2021/22.
See here for our most recent snow report including details on the 50cm of snow that fell in the last April snowfall:
It all looked pretty good in Verbier.
Verbier, Switzerland. Image c/o Lynsey Devon.
Verbier, Switzerland. Image c/o Lynsey Devon.
Verbier, Switzerland. Image c/o Lynsey Devon.
Here at PlanetSKI we will be updating shortly as the current storm continues.
Do check back for the latest…
