The PlanetSKI Snow Report
7th January 2024
Last modified on January 13th, 2024
Saturday 13th January
PlanetSKI’s James Cove updates today’s snow report from Andorra in the Pyrenees:
Here’s the latest on conditions in the Alps from Fraser Wilkin at weathertoski.co.uk:
“On the whole, snow conditions in the Alps remain very good thanks to last weekend’s widespread snowfalls followed by a sustained cold spell.
“As has been the case for most of the season, the deepest snow is at altitude in the northern Alps where resorts as far apart as La Rosière in France and St Anton in Austria have upper bases of over 3m.
“Lower down in the northern Alps snow depths are more modest, but with recent snow falling to very low levels, the scenes are still largely very wintry-looking and conditions are still very good, on-piste at least.
“In the southern Alps, snow depths are more modest at all altitudes.
“However, on-piste snow conditions are still largely good even if off-piste opportunities are scarcer.
“The current cold but relatively calm weather in the Alps is set to continue for a few days.
“Then, over the weekend and into the first part of next week, some relatively weak weather fronts are likely to bring a bit snow to low levels across the northern and north-western Alps.”
See here for the weekly, country by country, round up from weathertoski.co.uk
Les Arcs, France. Image © PlanetSKI
More to follow…
Friday 12th January
In the Alps the weather has been relatively stable with blue skies, some cloud and low temperatures.
A change is on its way over the weekend with some unsettled weather coming in from the north that should bring some snow.
We’ll keep you posted on how things develop.
In the Pyrenees it has been a blue sky day in Andorra.
Andorra, Pyrenees. Image c/o PlanetSKI
Andorra, Pyrenees. Image c/o PlanetSKI
“In Grandvalira it has been wall-to-wall sunshine all day long and it is set to continue on Saturday,” said PlanetSKI’s, James Cove.
“On the pistes that are open there is good covering with the natural snowfall of last weekend helped on by huge amounts of snow-making over the past few days.”
“However, there are some runs that do not have enough snow and remain closed. They are mainly some reds and the handful of blacks,” added James.
Andorra, Pyrenees. Image c/o PlanetSKI
Andorra, Pyrenees. Image c/o PlanetSKI
More to follow…
Thursday 11th January
North America had a poor start to the season but now the snow has arrived with more to come.
Read our separate report on the situation in the USA and Canada.
PlanetSKI’s editor, James Cove, is in Andorra and has sent this snow report from Pas de la Casa.
Wednesday 10th January
We have heard much recently about the conditions in the Alps and the Pyrenees, but what about closer to home?
Scotland.
Our reporting team of Rod and Dianne Frazer update us.
“It’s been an odd start to the Scottish ski season,” said Rod.
“Huge amounts of snow accompanied by very high winds and fluctuating temperatures has meant that some hills are heavily loaded, whilst other parts of the same hill are scoured.
“As a result it’s been a slow start on the whole.”
See here for their full report onPlanetSKI.
All images from Glenshee.
Scotland ski conditions. Image c/o Dianne Frazer
Scotland ski conditions. Image c/o Dianne Frazer
Scotland ski conditions. Image c/o Dianne Frazer
Tuesday 9th January
We hear from PlanetSKI editor, James Cove, who is in Andorra in the Pyrenees:
In the Alps the weather has now stabilised with no significant snow expected this week.
Temperatures remain cold and the conditions are generally very good across most parts of the Alps.
Normally in this article on PlanetSKI we post factual details of the snow around the mountains.
As seen through analysis of snow charts, forecasts and reports from our reporters and readers out in the mountains.
Today, we hear from our good friend, Zac Brown from Ski France, as he walks his dog in Les3Vallees in France.
“Wow! Very happy with all the snow we received in Les3V this weekend,” said Zac.
“I’ve been out for a very nice dog walk around Lac de la Rosiere in Courchevel 1650 to celebrate.”
Lac de la Rosiere in Courchevel, 1650. Image c/o Zac Brown.
Lac de la Rosiere in Courchevel, 1650. Image c/o Zac Brown.
Lac de la Rosiere in Courchevel, 1650. Image c/o Zac Brown.
Lac de la Rosiere in Courchevel, 1650. Image c/o Zac Brown.
Lac de la Rosiere in Courchevel, 1650. Image c/o Zac Brown.
Lac de la Rosiere in Courchevel, 1650. Image c/o Zac Brown.
Woof, woof.
More to follow…
Monday 8th January
It is now looking like winter across the Alps and beyond after the recent snowfall and drop in temperatures.
There hasn’t been a huge amount of fresh snow but the key thing is the temperature with snow falling across many of the low-level resorts as the freezing level has dropped.
More from the Alps later but first the Pyrenees where PlanetSKI editor, James Cove, is.
“Like parts of the Alps there hasn’t been a huge amount of snow in the weekend’s fall, but it has made a significant difference,” said James.
“It is also cold, with temperatures at -9c in Grau Roig in Andorra this morning.
“It has finally allowed a few off piste turns and the snow guns have been blasting out more snow as the temperatures allow.”
Andorra, Pyrenees. Image c/o PlanetSKI
Andorra, Pyrenees. Image c/o PlanetSKI
In the Alps it is a mostly cloudy day.
There is no significant snow in the forecast for the Alps this week but the cold temperatures will preserve the snow nicely.
More to follow…
Sunday 7th January
It is the best start to January that many could wish for – cold temperatures and snow across the mountains.
It is turning into a winter to remember in some parts of the Alps and Scandinavia.
The Alps have seen some snow with the freezing level down to around 500m in the northern Alps, and 800m in the southern Alps.
The wind is picking up at altitude.
In the Dolomites in Italy there has been some welcome natural snow.
PlanetSKI reader, Helen Gillespie, is in Corvara.
Corvara, Dolomites, Italy. Image c/o Helen Gillespie.
Corvara, Dolomites, Italy. Image c/o Helen Gillespie.
The weather is set too cheer up in the Alps as the storm passes.
With a weekend of snowfall behind us and a forecast of sun and blue skies ahead, the coming days promise to be absolutely amazing. 🌨️☀️ https://t.co/SYkLXs9JU7#stantonamarlberg #arlberg #inTirol #snowconditions pic.twitter.com/PTQeS81lIg
— St. Anton am Arlberg (@StantonReview) January 7, 2024
PlanetSKI is in the Pyrenees for much of January.
Our editor, James Cove, posted a video snow report over the weekend from Ax-3-Domaines in the French Pyrenees where some very welcome snow has been falling.
There is snow down to the resort’s town, Ax-Les-Thermes, at 700m.
Ax-Les-Thermes, French Pyrenees.
Image © PlanetSKI
Up on the slopes there is snow and wind.
It is a similar story in Andorra and the Spanish Pyrenees and PlanetsKI will be reporting from both over the coming weeks.
Looks like we’ll be needing to put the snow chains on later:
Fort vent de secteur nord en fond de chaîne et à l’est ici en Andorra au delà des 100km/h 📷David Vila pic.twitter.com/CUGfYTQ47t
— Météo Pyrénées (@Meteo_Pyrenees) January 7, 2024
In Scandinavia there has been heavy snow and cold temperatures:
While over in North America snow has finally arrived after a dreadful start to winter:
Check out some more images from the Alps:
Klosters, Switzerland. Image c/o Heather Jefferies.
Les Carroz, France. Crédit photo : Office de Tourisme.
See here for last week’s PlanetSKI snow report as we forecast the storm:
More to follow…
