The PlanetSKI Spring Snow Report

19th April 2023

Last modified on April 28th, 2023

The superb Spring conditions continue but most resorts are now closed. UPDATED

Friday 28th April:

Our latest images of the snow come from Val d’Isere in France where one of our regular readers, Lynsey Devon, is putting in her final turns of the season.

Val d’Isere, France. Image © Lynsey Devon.

More to follow…

Thursday 27th April

It’s looking good in the resorts that are still open in the Alps.

We are still skiing in @Meribel3vallees & @Val_Tho! This is how the slopes look, ready for skiing this morning…#Les3Vallees #InfiniteMountainExperiences pic.twitter.com/SGF1cyExrN
— Les 3 Vallées (@3Vallees_france) April 27, 2023

We are currently reporting on when ski resorts are closing in the northern hemisphere.

Where is it possible to still ski?

One is set to open.

Norway’s Fonna glacier opens for summer skiing on Saturday 6^th May and there’s more snow in the forecast ahead of its opening.

Wednesday 26th April

The wintery conditions continue at altitude in the mountains with some resorts still open.

[LIVE] Yes, we are still skiing in #Les3Vallees #ValThorens @Val_Tho pic.twitter.com/90dqJKrSk2
— Les 3 Vallées (@3Vallees_france) April 26, 2023

We have just compiled a list of which resorts are still open in the Alps, Scandinavia and North America with their closing dates.

Check out that article here:

Where is it possible to still ski?

Tuesday 25th April

Snow is back in the Alps as the unsettled weather continues with the temperature dropping.

Some snow fell yesterday in the northern Alps with the freezing level around 1,500m and it is back again on Tuesday.

“After a season in the Alps that has been poor overall with below average snowfall everywhere, April has proved to be a snowy month with some excellent skiing on offer at altitude,” said Fraser Wilkin from weathertoski.co.uk

Some of the resorts that are still opening are benefiting:

Val d/Isere & Tignes, France
Val Thorens, France
Engelberg, Switzerland
Ischgl, Austria

PlanetSKI has recently been in Les3Vallees in France and Verbier in Switzerland enjoying the excellent April conditions.

Verbier ends its season on a high

Verbier, Switzerland. Image © PlanetSKI

Val Thorens, France. Image © PlanetSKI

Meribel, France. Image © PlanetSKI

Monday 24th April

Today we’re bringing you a few social media posts from some of the many resorts still open in the Alps.

The April conditions are the best in recent years with more snow falling in places.

First some glacier resorts in the Tirol in Austria:

And in France?

The snow is back in Espace Killy with Tignes and Val d’Isere still open.

Here’s a recent post from Val Thorens:

While Zermatt in Switzerland looks in superb spring condition:

Sunday 23rd April

More resorts in the Alps are closing today, including Verbier in Switzerland where PlanetSKI has been in the past few days.

We’re still touring round a few of the high-altitude ski areas enjoying the best Spring skiing in recent years.

See here for our full report from Verbier as it brings its winter season to an end:

Verbier ends its season on a high

It’s definitely spring at low altitude, but it remains winter higher up.

Verbier, Switzerland. Image © PlanetSKI

With skiing all the way down to the resort:

Verbier, Switzerland. Image © Steve Sparks

Elsewhere in Switzerland Davos and Saas-Fee close this weekend.

Other resorts closing include St Anton and Obergurgl in the Tirol in Austria:

We will shortly be bringing you are full report on which resorts remain open in the Alps and elsewhere, so do check back for that.

If you can get out then it is well worth it.

Saturday 22nd April

PlanetSKI is currently in Verbier in Switzerland for its closing weekend.

It’s has been a bit murky in the past few days, but the snow is in plentiful supply with very few people around.

Verbier, Switzerland. Image © PlanetSKI

And lets not forget that some glacier resorts in Austria are open into May.

Fresh snowfall this week at Austria’s @Kaun_Gletscher which is open another 5 weeks to late May. pic.twitter.com/of4Sjf6tU6
— Snow Forecast.com (@SnowForecast) April 22, 2023

Friday 21st April.

Thursday 20th April

Snow has returned to the Alps.

PlanetSKI editor, James Cove, has moved from Val Thorens in the 3 Vallees in France to Verbier in the 4 Vallees in Switzerland.

It was a glorious day on Wednesday as he approached Verbier, with spring conditions in the valley and snow at altitude.

Verbier, Switzerland. Image © PlanetSKI

The views on Wednesday from his hotel balcony were spectacular.

Verbier, Switzerland. Image © PlanetSKI

In the morning winter returned.

Again.

Verbier, Switzerland. Image © PlanetSKI

And heading up the lift to the slopes, the snow became thicker and thicker.

Up top the snow continued and the visibility dropped.

Another standard April day in the mountains.

Verbier closes this weekend despite all the snow.

James is canvassing views on how the season has gone this winter in the Swiss resort and will be posting a separate article shortly so look out for that.

Plus he’ll be looking ahead to some of the summer activities on offer.

Meanwhile over in Austria some resorts are also closing this weekend and hope to go out in style:

Wednesday 19th April

The superb levels of Spring snow at altitude continue.

PlanetSKI has just left Val Thorens and Les Menuires in Les3Vallees where locals say it is the best April for many years.

We can only agree.

See the full details in our earlier PlanetSKI snow report

Here is the last video report from the area, filmed on Monday afternoon in Val Thorens.

The resort closes on May 8th.

Hintertux in the Tirol has reported 1m on its upper slopes which bodes well for its summer season.

Along with Zermatt in Switzerland, it is open all year round if conditions allow.

Around 80% of ski resorts in the Alps have already closed and more are shutting this coming weekend.

Ironically many have the best ski conditions of the season as they shut their lifts.

Those resorts that continue to late April and early May are undoubtedly experiencing the best Spring skiing in recent years.

See here for our choice of resorts in France for late season skiing:

PlanetSKI’s six great resorts in France for Spring skiing

In Switzerland we recommend Zermatt, Saas-Fee, Engelberg, Andermatt and Verbier.

PlanetSKI’s editor, James Cove, is currently on his way to Verbier after the powder of Les3Vallees.

PlanetSKI in Les3Vallees. Image © PlanetSKI

In Austria plenty of resorts are open in the Tirol including Ischgl, Obergurgl and the glacier resorts of Hintertux, Soelden, Pitztal, Stubai and Kaunertal.

In Italy Cervinia, that is linked to Zermatt, is probably the best bet.