The PlanetSKI Snow Report

14th March 2023

Last modified on March 20th, 2023

Parts of the French Alps that barely saw any snow for 2 months have been hit by a series of snowstorms with some of the best conditions of the winter. LIVE & UPDATED

Updated:

After the snow and cold temperatures of last week it is dry and quite mild with spring like conditions across the Alps.

PlanetSKI’s chief reporter, Jane Peel, was in the French Alps last week for some of the best conditions of the season.

A week in Paradiski

Jane Peel in Les Arcs. Image © PlanetSKI

She has now moved over to the Pyrenees and is in Andorra.

“There is Spring snow conditions and sunshine in the Grandvalira ski area of Andorra,” said Jane.

Soldeu, Andorra. Image © PlanetSKI

Grandvalira, Andorra. Image © PlanetSKI

Do check back later for a report on the snow conditions in Europe’s other mountain range…

Friday 17th March

“13 degrees Celsius at midday on Friday at Arc 1950. Sunshine, a few high wispy clouds & the skiing is good,” said PlanetSKI’s Jane Peel in Arcs 1950 in France.

Arc 1950, France. Image © PlanetSKI

Jane spent the day doing a grand tour of the Les Arcs ski area, from Peisey-Vallandry all the way to the other side of the piste map and Villaroger.

Here is her snow report filed later this afternoon and looking at the conditions in Paradiski and beyond in the Alps.

Thursday 16th March:

The heavy snow has fallen and now the sun has returned to many parts of the north-west Alps.

The area is home to many of the major French ski resorts.

Good conditions extend east to Switzerland and into Austria.

PlanetSKI is currently in La Plagne in France, enjoying the superb on piste conditions.

“We travelled over from our base in Peisey-Vallandry in the Les Arcs area to La Plagne first thing this morning and headed over the ridge to the Champagny-en-Vanoise slopes,” our chief reporter, Jane Peel, said.

“The conditions really could not have been better and there was hardly anyone around so we lapped a few of the lifts several times to take advantage of the fabulous, fast, empty runs.

“The temperatures have risen and with the sun so strong at this time of year, it feels very much like spring has properly arrived.

“Perfect for taking a break on the terraces with a drink and a snack to boost our energy in between runs.”

La Plagne, France. Image © PlanetSKI

Here are more images from Paradiski in France with its main resorts of Les Arcs and La Plagne.

Paradiski, France. Image c/o Martin Dennant

The avalanche risk remains high off piste as we have detailed lower down this rolling snow report.

Extreme caution is advised off piste with a high risk of avalanche in places.

There has been one recent fatality in France, and five in Switzerland.

Another fatal avalanche in Swiss Alps

PlanetSKI’s chief reporter, Jane Peel, is in Les Arcs and rates the conditions as ‘superb’ following the ‘massive’ amount of recent snow.

She filed this video report on Wednesday.

Here is the scene in St Anton in Austria:

That was the refresh we needed! 😍 After the snowfall of the past two days and with over 300 cm of total snow up on Valluga and 250 cm on Galzig we are set for a great day! Who’s currently in the ski resort? #stantonamarlberg ♥️
👉 https://t.co/4OCOVBVOSl #mountainmediacenter pic.twitter.com/36ealK6YAN
— St. Anton am Arlberg (@StantonReview) March 16, 2023

More to follow…

Wednesday 15th March

Before we look at the current snow situation we remind you of the current dangers off piste at the moment in parts of the Alps.

In the latest incident an avalanche in Les Arcs, France is reported to have buried three people on Wednesday morning.

All were rescued.

It’s believed a snowboarder riding off piste set it off and it came down onto the Edelweiss blue run.

It triggered a search by the piste patrol.

The avalanche warning in the area remains at Level 4, meaning there is a “high’ risk of avalanche.

Avalanche in Les Arcs. Image © PlanetSKI

Avalanche in Les Arcs. Image c/o Martin Dennant for PlanetSKI

The have been a number of incidents, including four fatalities in Switzerland in recent days.

Fatal avalanches in the Alps

The authorities in the Valais canton have re-iterated their advice:

Reminder of some recommendations on ski tours as well as freeriding

Educate yourself (Mountain guide office et Swiss Mountain Training, SAC, rescue centers).

Inform yourself Consult the SLF Avalanche Bulletin and the White Risk App!

Equip yourself and know how to use your equipment (avalanche transceiver (LVS), probe, shovel, telephone). Regular practice and training in the search and new techniques for rescuing avalanche victims saves the valuable minutes that make survival possible. The first day after a heavy snowfall is particularly critical as the snow has not yet stabilized.

Never go alone and inform those around you

In case of an accident alert (144 or Echo SOS app that pinpoints your exact position for emergency responders to dispatch).

Use the secured freeride routes provided by some ski lifts and/or tourist offices

The Valais avalanche prevention group invites you to take part in its platform www.avalanche-check.ch.

Browsing through questions about avalanche danger sensitises everyone to the existing risks.

Here at PlanetSKI we will be updating on the snow conditions later across the Alps, so do check back.

Stay safe.

Avalanche danger in Les Arcs. Image © PlanetSKI

The poor visiblity has cleared this morning with blue sky overhead.

“Today is perfect, blue skies, soft snow, temperature low enough to not get slushy,” PlanetSKI reader, Jo Vizard, from Les3Vallees.

“An instructor said it’s the best snow of the season today after yesterday’s dump.

“Over to Val Thorens today where it’s looking good.”

Les3Vallees, France. Image © PlanetSKI

PlanetSKI’s chief reporter, Jane Peel, in Les Arcs, as reported above.

“It’s much colder this morning than it has been so the snow should be in great condition on piste,” said Jane as she headed out first thing.

Here’s the view from the Les Arcs side of Paradiski towards La Plagne on the other side of the valley.

Les Arcs, France. Image © PlanetSKI

And it stayed like glorious all day….

Looking down on Arc 1950, Les Arcs. Image © PlanetSKI

Les Arcs. Image © PlanetSKI

Tuesday 14th March

Further snow is falling in parts of the Alps with some very unsettled weather.

“Very, very wet snow in Meribel centre today but amazing powder higher up,” said PlanetSKI reader, Jo Vizard.

“There is limited visibility at about 50m on the top runs, but the snow being so good makes up for it,” Jo added.

PlanetSKI’s chief reporter, Jane Peel, is in nearby Les Arcs in the Paradiski area in France with snow dripping off the trees.

“The snow has returned to Peisey Vallandry at 1600m (Les Arcs ski area) Tuesday morning after rain and thunderstorms overnight,” said Jane Peel.

“Most of the highest lifts have been closed today but it’s been a generally excellent morning skiing around Peisey-Vallandry, Arc 1800 and Arc 1600,” added Jane.

“There’s been a good 20 to 30cm of fresh snow overnight and we had some fabulous turns on untouched pistes first thing.”

“The snow continued to come down throughout the morning, though it was a bit wet – the temperature at 11am at 1800m was 0 degrees Celsius.

“In the low cloud, poor visibility was an issue but there are plenty of tree runs to enjoy.

“The forecast is for sunshine and colder temperatures on Wednesday so there should be some excellent conditions.”

The fresh snow has brought considerable risk of avalanche off piste.

There have been a number of fatalities in Switzerland.

See here for further details:

Fatal avalanches in the Alps

Verbier, Switzerland.

Winter is back in Austria too:

And Italy:

More to follow…

Monday 13th March

Temperatures have warmed up in the Alps after the recent snow.

In places the freezing level has risen to 3,000m though it is set to fall again later in the week.

More snow is also in the forecast for overnight and into Tuesday in the western Alps including France, Switzerland and parts of Austria.

The freezing level should be around 1,000m.

The is a Level 3 warning across parts of the Swiss Alps with “Considerable avalanche danger over a wide area” according to the Swiss Institute for Avalanche Research.

Avalanche danger levels in Switzerland

In Verbier one of our readers, Sparky, has send this image of an avalanche near Col de Gentianes which is a good example of how unstable the snowpack is in places.

Verbier, Switzerland.

There were no reports of any injuries.