PlanetSKI Snow Report
20th March 2023
Last modified on March 23rd, 2023
Mild conditions predominate in the Alps & the Pyrenees, but there’s snow in the forecast. LIVE & UPDATED
Thursday 23rd March
It has been warm across the Alps and the Pyrenees this week but there are signs that this may be about change with some snow forecast.
PlanetSKI’s Jane Peel is currently in Andorra and she says people are keeping their fingers crossed for some much-needed snow, see her reports from Andorra over the last few days lower down this rolling snow report.
Soldeu, Andorra from the gondola. Image © PlanetSKI
In the Alps things could fare better with some snow likely in the north-west Alps in France and Switzerland towards the end of the week.
It could then spread further east into Austria at the beginning of next week.
It would bode well for the end of the season.
The ski season still has a long way to go with the high-altitude alpine resorts offering skiing across April.
French resorts such as Tignes, Val Thorens and Chamonix go into May.
Val Thorens in May. Image © PlanetSKI
The glaciers resorts in Austria, including Hintertux, Pitztal and Kaunertal usually offer skiing into May as well.
As does the non-glacier resort of Ischgl.
Stubai, near Innsbruck, is set to close on May 21st 2023 and we have skied in the resort well into May.
Stubai in May Image © PlanetSKI
If you want to ski over the next 6-weeks or so there is plenty on offer and April can produce some of the best conditions of the season.
So, what is the detail of the forecast?
Once again, we turn to Fraser Wilkin from weathertoski.co.uk for the latest:
“The weather will change on Friday as Atlantic weather fronts sweep in from the west, with some rain or snow expected in the western Alps later in the day.
“The rain/snow will move further east overnight but will always be heaviest in the north-west.
“The rain/snow limit will start above 2000m but drop to around 1500m on Friday night.
“The weather will remain unsettled over the weekend with some more widespread snow to lower levels later on Sunday, again heaviest in the north-west (e.g. Val d’Isère, Chamonix, Avoriaz, Verbier, Mürren).
“Early next week, the heaviest snow is likely to transfer to the north-eastern Alps (i.e. Austria) where it will fall to low levels.”
Here at PlanetSKI we are watching things closely and may be heading into Austria next week to make a few turns if the forecast remains the same.
We are planning on hitting Val Thorens and Les Menuires in Les3Vallees, France too.
Watch this space…
Val Thorens in May. Image © PlanetSKI
More to follow…
Wednesday 22nd March
“This morning it seemed a little colder first thing that it has been in the past few days,” said PlanetSKI’s Jane Peel who is in Grandvalira in Andorra.
“There was some real teeth-chattering hard-pack at 9.30am but most of the runs soon softened up as the sun shone and temperatures climbed.
Hard-packed snow in Andorra. Image © PlanetSKI
“We did a lot of travelling around the ski area today and the deterioration of many of the runs over the past 24 hours was noticeable.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised if more slopes have to be closed in the next few days, though the good news is that temperatures are due to fall at the weekend and the forecast is for some light snow on Sunday and Monday.
“It is very much needed.”
Grandvalira, Andorra. Image © PlanetSKI
Tuesday 21st March:
“High cloud and some hazy sunshine in Pas de la Casa, Andorra today,” said PlanetSKI’s Jane Peel who is in the Pyrenees.
“Still very mild with spring conditions on the slopes.”
Pas de la Casa, Andorra. Image © PlanetSKI
Monday 20th March
After the snow and cold temperatures of last week it is dry and quite mild with spring like conditions across the Alps.
There is talk of some snow towards the end of the week, but it is too early to make any firm predictions.
The warm temperatures have hit the snow at low altitude, though resorts with skiing above 2,000m remain in pretty good shape for the second half of March.
If you are looking for a late-season ski break then our advice is to head high.
PlanetSKI’s chief reporter, Jane Peel, is currently in Andorra in the Pyrenees.
“There are Spring snow conditions and sunshine in the Grandvalira ski area of Andorra,” said Jane on Monday.
Soldeu, Andorra. Image © PlanetSKI
Grandvalira, Andorra. Image © PlanetSKI
And here is her video snow report:
Jane was in the French Alps last week for some of the best conditions of the season.
Jane Peel in Les Arcs. Image © PlanetSKI
See below for last week’s PlanetSKI rolling report on the snowfall in the Alps.
Parts of the French Alps that barely saw any snow for 2 months were hit by a series of snowstorms with some of the best conditions of the winter:
If you are heading out to North America for some late-season skiing then conditions remain good in many places after a bumper winter for snow:
Park City, Utah. Image © Rob McAteer
Park City, Utah. Image © Rob McAteer
More to follow…
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