More Snow in the Alps as Easter Holidays Get Underway
27th March 2023
Last modified on April 2nd, 2023
More snow has fallen in the Alps with PlanetSKI in the thick of it with some resorts looking more like January than April. Winter isn’t over, not by a long way. LIVE
Sunday 2nd April
“It’s been a way better than expected day across Les3Vallees,” says our Chief Reporter, Jane Peel.
“I woke to clear blue skies and cooler temperatures than yesterday so it looked set for a great day to blast around across the 3 Valleys.
Early start from Les Menuires with bright blue skies, 2nd April. Image © PlanetSKI
“And so it proved to be. The morning was glorious with snow conditions more like January than April and some great pockets of light powder off-piste.
Les3Vallees, France, 2nd April. Image © PlanetSKI
“Around lunchtime the weather we’d expected to wake up to arrived with overcast skies.
“With the clouds came slightly raised temperatures so the lower slopes softened up a little but nothing like you would expect this late in the season.”
Overcast skies this afternoon in Les Menuires, Les3Vallees, France. Image © PlanetSKI
Update:
We have been concentrating our snow reports on the Alps but huge amounts of snow continue to fall over in the USA.
It has been a record-breaking winter across the Pond.
Some resorts in Utah were shut on Saturday as another storm pounded the region.
Alta and Snowbird are closed today. Snowbasin is open with somewhat limited terrain. The snow stakes tell the story. pic.twitter.com/s9fQbJgZ71
— Wasatch Snow Forecast (@WasatchSnow) March 31, 2023
The Mammoth Mountain ski resort in the Eastern Sierra in California has declared its snowiest season on record after 28 inches (70 centimeters) of snow since Tuesday.
Its season snowfall has now reached 695 inches (17.6 meters) at its main lodge and 870 inches (22.1 meters) at the summit of the 11,053-foot (3,369-meter) peak.
PlanetSKI is heading to California in May to take advantage of the historic snowfalls.
We’re hoping to ski Mammoth Mountain and Palisades Tahoe, plus maybe some others.
California officially has its largest snowpack in recorded history, passing 1982-1983.
The statewide snowpack is an astonishing 236% of the peak normal and nearly 300% in the Southern Sierra. pic.twitter.com/SiGNeCJ8W1
— Colin McCarthy (@US_Stormwatch) March 30, 2023
Saturday 1st April
The snow is continuing to fall in the Alps.
PlanetSKI’s Jane Peel has just arrived for a long weekend in Les Menuires in Les3Vallees.
“There’s 10 – 15cm at the bottom in Les Menuires and there is a lot of avalanche blasting going on,” said Jane first thing of Saturday morning.
Les Menuires, France, Saturday morning. Image © PlanetSKI
Les Menuires, France, Saturday morning. Image © PlanetSKI
Les Menuires, France, Saturday morning. Image © PlanetSKI
Les Menuires, France, Saturday morning. Image © PlanetSKI
And here’s Jane’s video snow report from the slopes:
Jane says she might have underestimated the amount of snow in her report above, especially at La Masse on the aptly-named Dame Blanche run.
Oops.
Dame Blanche on the Dame Blanche black run, Les Menuires. Image © PlanetSKI
Les3Vallees, France, Saturday. Image © PlanetSKI
Heavy snowfall on high slopes in the Alps with temperatures dropping back below freezing. Up to 70cm reported at 3000m. @valdisere pictured this morning …this is a not an April Fool. pic.twitter.com/8ejYepc7Da
— Snow Forecast.com (@SnowForecast) April 1, 2023
Chains are compulsory for those driving in or out of Val d’Isere.
La route blanchit à partir de la dechetterie des Brevieres. Les chaînes sont obligatoires. L’aire de chaînage de la Raie sera activée demain matin à 7h. pic.twitter.com/2cmWxs7Qv9
— Radio Val d’Isère (@radiovaldisere) March 31, 2023
More to follow…
Friday 31st March
Looks like we’re in for another decent snowfall.
March is turning into a bit of a bumper time in places and is setting things up nicely for the end of the season at altitude in the Alps.
The latest pictures we have come from Ischgl in the Tirol in Ausriaand were sent by PlanetSKI reader, Lynsey Devon.
Ischgl, the Tirol, Austria. Image c/o Lynsey Devon
Ischgl, the Tirol, Austria. Image c/o Lynsey Devon
Ischgl, the Tirol, Austria. Image c/o Lynsey Devon
Ischgl is open until May 1st so there is plenty of skiing left.
Across the temperatures turned colder on Friday after a warm spell this week, and snow has started to fall with some limited visibility and strong winds.
PlanetSKI’s Jane Peel has just arrive in Les Menuires in Les3Vallees, France.
“Snowing big flakes as PlanetSKI arrives in Les Menuires,” said Jane on Friday evening.
Les Menuires, France. Image © PlanetSKI.
She was due to take part in the Enduro race however that has been cancelled due to the weather, but hopefully there will be some fresh powder to be had.
Jane is staying in Les Menuires where they have already seen some snow this week.
It’s been falling in nearby Meribel.
“Meribel getting a good dump,” said PlanetSKI reader Daniel Jaffa.
Meribel, France. Image c/o Daniel Jaffa.
Some forecasts predict another 50cm over the weekend in parts of the north-west Alps.
We’ll keep you posted.
PlanetSKI will also be hearing from reader and journalist, Simon Wilson, who is in Chamonix for a few days.
More to follow…
Wednesday 29th March
It’s time for a few images of the snow out in the Alps after the heavy falls at altitude have set things up very nicely for Easter and into April.
More on PlanetSKI’s plans for April skiing later.
Here’s the glacier resort of Stubai in the Tirol in Austria:
And over in France in Les3Vallees:
It was a stunning day in #Les3Vallees yesterday, as these #PhotosdeFans prove! 📷 @GhislainG51 📷 @Snow_Retreat 📷 @Singlengine1 #Les3Vallees #InfiniteMountainExperiences pic.twitter.com/TPUwIhiXOe
— Les 3 Vallées (@3Vallees_france) March 29, 2023
New snow? At the end of March? In @Val_Tho? YES!!!#Les3Vallees #InfiniteMountainExperiences pic.twitter.com/w1LrTfAkHg
— Les 3 Vallées (@3Vallees_france) March 28, 2023
It’s going to be changeable and unsettled over the next few days with the temperatures rising.
It is though set to get colder at the weekend, and there are early indications in the forecast for the Alps that there could be heavy snow returning next week.
Lets hope so as PlanetSKI’s Jane Peel is arriving in Les3Vallees this weekend.
Next week PlanetSKI editor, James Cove, is off on a late season road trip – taking in Chamonix, La Clusaz, Les Menuires and Val Thorens in France.
Then Switzerland and Austria are on the agenda.
Driving in the Alps. Image © PlanetSKI
It may be Spring in the UK, but winter continues at altitude well into May with the last resorts closing in early May.
The heavy snow has brought some dangerous conditions off piste with the avalanche danger at Level 4 in places, meaning there is a “high” chance of avalanche.
On Tuesday the Verbier Xtreme was called off due to the danger.
Here’s the avalanche blasting taking place on the Bec des Rosses on Tuesday.
And while we are ont he subject of avalanches and huge one came close to Sundance ski area in Utah on Monday.
There were no reports of any injuries.
“Today there was a natural avalanche that started on Mount Timpanogos and carried down the mountain into an area outside our ski area boundaries,” a statement from Sundance said.
“Footage shows the dust/wind cloud reaching guests who were watching but no one was hurt as deposition area never reached our boundaries.”
ROLLING THUNDER: A massive avalanche sent a powder cloud over skiers in a resort in Utah. No injuries were reported. https://t.co/bA4iYuS9tP pic.twitter.com/gwRDHfk1Hm
— ABC News (@ABC) March 28, 2023
More to follow…
Tuesday 28th March
Snow conditions are reported to be excellent today across the northern half of the Alps, with generally clear skies after the latest snowstorm.
There’s been up to 80cm of new snow in the past three days in some spots, with 30-50cm falling elsewhere.
PlanetSKI’s gear and equipment editor, Alf Alderson, lives in Les Arcs during the winter and describes it as “the best conditions of the season in the last two days”.
There have been decent Spring snowfalls in some of the main French resorts like Val d’Isere, Tignes and Val Thorens.
“It’s a shame we had to wait until late March to get December, but we’re delighted it’s finally arrived,” said PlanetSKI reader, Simon Perry, in Tignes.
Simon Perry skiing in Tignes, France. Image c/o Anthony Swallow
There have also been falls in Verbier, Switzerland.
In the Swiss resort the Yeti Xtreme Verbier was cancelled on Tuesday morning due to the fresh snow making conditions unsafe.
Heavy snowfalls over the last 48 hours – including wind gusts of 135 km/h – generated “extremely hazardous conditions” on the Bec des Rosses, where the event takes place.
It made the venue unsafe for riding and left the organizers with no option other than to cancel the event.
Image c/o Freeride World Tour
There has been heavy snow further east in Austria.
Here’s the scene in St Anton on Tuesday morning as the piste bashers go out to do their work after the fresh snow.
Schneehöhe / Snow depth (total):
❄️Valluga 320cm, ❄️Galzig 210cm, ❄️St. Christoph 145cm, ❄️Gampen 95cm, ❄️Rendl 95cm
Mother Nature showed us some love with more fresh pow overnight ❄️🤩
👉 https://t.co/LDZzYGfxbL#stchristophamarlberg #stantonamarlberg
🎞️ https://t.co/UTNAJnrH5F pic.twitter.com/SIRMC0msLe— St. Anton am Arlberg (@StantonReview) March 28, 2023
On Monday high winds closed the lift system in Obergurgl in the Tirol but most were able to reopen on Tuesday.
Although there are still a few snow showers in some areas, much of the Alps is dry and sunny today after the latest snowstorm.
The rest of the week, it’s looking like a mixed bag.
“Tomorrow, a weak warm front will mean plenty of cloud and a few showers across the northern fringes of the Alps, with a rain/snow limit rising to between 1,500 metres and 2,000m,” said the alpine snow expert, Fraser Wilkin of Weather To Ski, on Tuesday morning.
“Further weather fronts will bring some rain or snow to the northern Alps on Thursday and Friday, with a fluctuating rain/snow limit, on the high side – possibly as high as 2,400m for a time on Friday.
“The weather will remain very unsettled but turn cooler again over the weekend, with the prospect of some heavy and widespread snow returning to the Alps, again heaviest in the north.”
Monday 27th March
Here was the scene in Val Thorens on Monday.
PlanetSKI will be in Les3Vallees later this week with our chief reporter, Jane Peel, taking part in the Enduro event.
Our good friends at Ski Solutions have posted a montage of some resorts in France.
On snowy days like today, a good option is to ski in the trees down to @La_Tania #freshsnow #Les3Vallees #InfiniteMountainExperiences pic.twitter.com/3aHCJTYEa6
— Les 3 Vallées (@3Vallees_france) March 27, 2023
In Switzerland PlanetSKI reader, Helen Gillespie, is currently in Zermatt.
“A well needed freshening up with around 30cms in the last 24-hours or so,” said Helen.
Zermatt, Switzerland. Image c/o Helen Gillespie.
“A full ski room middle of the day tells the story best with many lifts closed on Monday.”
Zermatt, Switzerland. Image c/o Helen Gillespie.
Zermatt, Switzerland. Image c/o Helen Gillespie.
“Conditions set to be better on Tuesday for a brief respite of “sun and fun” (ie code for — lunch in Italy).
“More snow en route — so a very good resort choice for Easter skiers.
“Spring conditions underfoot with ice and thinner coverage lower.”
Zermatt, Switzerland. Image c/o Helen Gillespie.
At the weekend the snow and limited visibility in Verbier and meant the finale of the freeride World Tour, the Verbier Extreme, had to be postponed.
Here’s why.
It is hoped the event can take place once the current storm passes and conditions are judged to be safe.
Tuesday is penciled in.
Across parts of Switzerland the Alps the authorities have issued a Level 4 alert for avalanches off piste – that means the risk is ‘high’.
“As a consequence of new snow and wind a high avalanche danger will be encountered in some regions,” said the Swiss Institute for Avalanche Research, SLF.
Image c/o SLF
And here’s the scene in St Anton, Austria.
Winter magic has returned ❄🥰 #stantonamarlberg – 27.03.2023 🤩#arlberg #inTirol #austria #alpineadventures #snowydays #winterwonderland #skiresort pic.twitter.com/XqCP3zt6HB
— St. Anton am Arlberg (@StantonReview) March 27, 2023
The fresh snow will bring some good skiing and snowboarding to the higher altitude areas in many parts of the Alps.
Caution is urged off piste due to the avalanche risk that has been aggravated by high winds.
All eyes will now be on the temperatures to see how much snow stays, and how much thaws.
More to follow….
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