PlanetSKI Snow Report

17th March 2024

Last modified on March 22nd, 2024

Thursday 21st March

The weather in the Alps remains mild, with showers or longer spells of rain today in the northern Alps, with snow falling at above 2,000m or higher.

The southern Alps are drier with some sunny spells.

“After a mostly fine and, again, very mild day tomorrow, it will start to turn colder over the weekend with some snow in places,” said weathertoski.co.uk.

“Most of the snow will fall in the northern Alps, especially in Austria, but some central and eastern Italian resorts could also see a useful top-up.”

PlanetSKI is currently in the Tirol in Austria.

“It’s a mild and murky day with low cloud in the resorts around Innsbruck, said James Cove.

“However the forecast snow over the weekend and clearer weather early next week should bring a welcome change.”

PlanetSKI has been braving the conditions in the small resort of Glungezer recently, just 20 minutes or so from Innsbruck.

Glungezer, Innsbruck. Image © PlanetSKI

Glungezer, Innsbruck. Image © PlanetSKI

In coming days there should be:

•  10-20cm of snow above 1,500m in the northern French and western Swiss Alps.
•  25-50cm of snow in the central and eastern Swiss Alps and Austrian Alps.

The rain/snow limit will fall sharply, reaching about 800m in the north-western Alps late on Saturday and 500m further east.

Glungezer, Innsbruck. Image © PlanetSKI

Tuesday 19th March

The temperatures remain high in the Alps.

PlanetSKI’s James Cove, who is currently in the Tirol in Austria, went to the Stubai glacier today where the skiing goes up to 3,150m.

Stubai, The Tirol. Image © PlanetSKI

Stubai, The Tirol. Image © PlanetSKI

“Even at the very top of the resort at over 3,000 metres it was very warm today,” said James.

James Cove in Stubai, The Tirol. Image © PlanetSKI

“There was a bit of overnight snow, but it was of the heavy and sticky variety due to the temperature.

“There remains full coverage on the busy pistes and glacier area with thousands of people out enjoying the conditions.

“The slopes here are expected to remain open into May so there is still plenty of the season left.”

First thing in the morning the groomers had done their work.

Stubai, The Tirol. Image © PlanetSKI

But by late morning the snow was pretty chopped up and heavy, even on the steep black runs.

Stubai, The Tirol. Image © PlanetSKI

But it is still possible to ski down to the base of the ski area in Stubai, unlike many other ski areas in this part of Austria.

Stubai, The Tirol. Image © PlanetSKI

More to follow…

Monday 18th March

A new storm is hitting the north-west Alps, bringing rain and snow.

It is currently mild in the Alps with the freezing level up to the 2,500m mark and even higher in some places.

“The northern half of the Alps will see the most precipitation today with typically 5-15 cm of new snow above 2200m, but 30cm or more at high altitude in a few spots like the Bernese Oberland region of Switzerland and the Arlberg/Vorarlberg regions of Austria,” said weathertoski.co.uk.

“As for snow conditions, they remain generally poor at low altitudes thanks to the continually mild and sometimes quite damp weather.

“At high altitudes most resorts still have lots of snow, though the quality is variable.”

Here is the picture at 1,300m at Schlick 2000 in the Austrian Alps with soft slushy snow.

Austrian Alps. Image c/o PlanetSKI

The rain certainly arrived in La Plagne this morning with it coming down at up to 2,400m.

“On the plus side it is now forecast to clear early this afternoon and we are promised 10-15cm of fresh snow on the upper runs,” said PlanetSKI’s Simon Wilson from the resort first thing in the morning.

“It’s a morning for a long, slow breakfast – and hopefully an afternoon made for a half day ski pass.”

Belle Plagne, France. Image c/o Simon Wilson.

And here is an update from Simon in the afternoon once he ventured out:

The rain has also brought some dangerous conditions off piste with wet-snow avalanches.

More to follow…

Sunday 17th March

Our latest video report comes from PlanetSKI’s James Cove who is in Austria.

It’s looking good in the resort of Schlick 2000 near Innsbruck.

Innsbruck Ski + City, Schlick 2000. © PlanetSKI

As James mentioned over in La Plagne in France is our reporter, Simon Wilson.

“There is still plenty of snow at resort level in Belle Plagne,” said Simon.

Belle Plagne, France. Image c/o Simon Wilson.

“There is plenty of good piste skiing at 1,800m and above.

“Spring snow on north facing pistes, but it is slushy during the morning on more south facing slopes.

“The off-piste and ungroomed black pistes are challenging as snow has melted and refrozen.

“My first experience of the new Glaciers bubble from Roche de Mio up to 3,ooom which is a huge improvement over the old lift and significantly faster.

Roche de Mio lift, La Plagne. Image c/o Simon Wilson.

“Also I should add that pistes are empty, no lift queues at all,” added Simon.

“I know that was an issue in La Plagne just a week ago, but it seems like the school holiday crowds are well and truly gone with just a few Dutch student groups around.”