of the European ski areas have less snow than they would like and the forecasts suggest no salvation is yet in sight, and certainly not before Christmas skiers arrive in resorts. In North America the contrast is stark with deep fresh powder snow conditions along the Rockies and north into British Columbia.
The Alps need snow and lower slopes are only offering resort access thanks to snow cannon operations. Higher pistes are open but snow depths are mostly thin. Across the Pyrenees the situation is similar, the resorts need snow but at least there is skiing offered at all elevations. Eastern Europe has almost no snow. On a more positive note Scandinavia has fresh snow forecast and temperatures are low enough to allow snow making and so leading resorts are on schedule for running most uplift through Christmas.
In the USA the premier resorts are all in fantastic shape thanks to very substantial snowfall in the past week and more is forecast. In Canada the resorts of British Columbia are where you will fine the best resort accessible snow conditions in the world right now and further powder dumps are expected through this weekend.
Sunshine and hard pack have been the main features of December skiing in the French Alps and while there has been some light snowfall this week the general situation is that all resorts now need a big weather switch to deliver substantial snowfall. Almost all leading resorts are however open but as skiers arrive for Christmas the limited number of pistes offering good skiing conditions are going to get busy and uplift bottlenecks can be expected. In the Three Valleys Courchevel holds just 25cm of snow base on lower slopes, 60cm above mid-station and today ha;f of the uplift is being used by skiers heading to the highest slopes. The weather for France for the next five days is again mostly dry so skiers will be hoping for a better forecast for Christmas.
Austria
Across the Alps snow is in short supply and this is true for all the Austrian resorts but especially those in the south and east. Extensive use of snow cannon is supporting resort openings and almost all skiing at lower elevations right across the country. High elevation resorts with glacier pistes have decent skiing on offer but as we head into Christmas week the main issue is that many skiers will be converging on a relatively small number of pistes. Lech and Zurs by St Anton in the Tyrol are open now but snow depths are modest, just 35cm of base on upper slopes, and consequently just 80 per cent of lifts are operating and skiers are mostly preferring to ski the higher pistes. In the east of the country Schladming has superb snow making capability and despite almost no major snowfall this month, the majority of the area is open and snow depths have been boosted to 70cm. Very little snowfall is expected over Austria in the next five days.
Switzerland
There has been light fresh snowfall in the past few days in the Swiss Alps but this has not changed the general situation, which is that a weather change is required. Much of December has been dry and sunny and if temperatures had not been just low enough for snow cannon to operate the situation would be much worse. As it is most of the leading resorts are open with some decent skiing on high slopes. Resort runs are open thanks to man-made snow however and off piste is extremely limited and even at the highest elevations certainly not worth considering without a local mountain guide. So the best skiing in Switzerland right now is on the snow sure slopes of the highest resorts and glacier pistes. Saas Fee has uplift rising to 3,620m and snow depths at this elevation are 120cm with skiing on firm packed snow with a fresh snow surface. The resort's five-day forecast has almost no snowfall and daytime highs at resort level just a couple of degrees above freezing.
Italy
It remains too dry across Italy and while there has been some light snowfall in the northern Alps in recent days the only precipitation seen on Italian pistes comes via snow cannon. The domain with the least natural snowfall so far this winter is the Dolomites but here they are well prepared for such seasonal disorders and the snow making systems are so good that the FIS Men's Alpine ski races go ahead in Val Gardena and Alta Badia this weekend. For holiday skiers the situation across all the Italian resorts is very similar. The snow depths are limited and mostly it is thanks to man-made snow that resorts are open. Skiing is therefore most on firm packed and groomed snow and only on piste as off piste there is usually no snow whatsoever. The five- day forecast indicates another dry week ahead with temperatures hovering close to or just above freezing at resort elevations.
Canada
Just fantastic conditions are being reported from the west of Canada where the snowfall is not stopping. All the resorts of British Columbia are experiencing wave after wave of powder dumps as cold air from the north collides with the moisture of Pacific weather fronts moving east. Whistler of course is in prime position to benefit and the past week has seen almost a metre of snowfall. The consolidated snow base at mid-mountain is now up to 170cm and skiing at all elevations is excellent with deep powder snow in the glades and up on Blackcomb glacier. Conditions for the resorts of Alberta are also good though snowfall has been more limited and temperatures are much lower, -11ºC the high this weekend. Eastern Canada lacks snow cover but the forecast indicates that may change through Christmas.
USA
Just awesome conditions are reported from the premier resorts of California, Colorado, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming and indeed right along the Rockies where powder snow has been dumping. So skiers heading to these locations for Christmas are going to be in the right place at the right time and enjoying snow that those in the Alps can only dream about. One of the best locations right now is Snowbird in Utah which holds a mid-mountain base of 110cm and in the next five days another 95cm of very dry powder are forecast. It is not all good news though, in the east of the USA it has been exceptionally dry and Killington in Vermont is only open thanks to snow cannon operations.
Andorra
The Grandvalira and Vallnord domains of Andorra continue to make the very best of the limited snowfall they have received thus far this winter. There is skiing offered at all elevations in all resorts though typically piste conditions have been hard packed with a snow depth ranging from 20 to 70cm depending on elevation. The five day forecast is far from ideal, too mild and no snow expected but it will be mostly dry. Snow making operations will be limited by average daytime highs of 8ºC for the next five days and lows just below freezing. So Christmas week will need to deliver a very significant weather change to keep skiers in the festive spirit.
Eastern Europe
There is very little snow cover in Eastern Europe and all resorts are going to struggle this Christmas unless there is a very significant switch to deep winter conditions. The five-day forecast does not see that happening just yet with dry and relatively mild conditions prevailing. Snow making operations have allowed skiing to get underway in Romania at Poiana Brasov and half of their uplift is providing access to skiing on higher pistes that have mostly man-made snow cover and a typical base depth of 20 to 30 cm. No snow is forecast for this resort and average temperature highs through the weekend will be 4ºC. Other resorts in the region are also only open due to snow making operations but the terrain on offer is limited.
Scandinavia
There has been nothing especially remarkable about the season across Scandinavia so far this winter. Finland has snow depths that are pretty much in line with recent seasons and skiing is typically on dry packed powder snow conditions. Norway and Sweden hold modest snow depths with all the leading resorts now open and most with snow fall in the forecast for Christmas week. Perhaps the best skiing in the region this weekend will be in Norway at the resort of Geilo where there is fresh dry snow at all elevations. Snow depths are good with an 80cm base on upper pistes. Average temperature highs for the next five days is at freezing and, with another 10 to 20cm of snowfall projected, the piste conditions will be excellent.
Scotland
The past week has seen some wild winter weather in both the east and west Highlands and at one point all pistes at all elevations where white at all five of the Scottish ski centres. However the airflow has since become southwesterly, very wet and very mild and consequently the snow has once again been removed from the heathery slopes to leave all the resorts looking at the long range forecast to predict a start to the season. The five day forecast offers no hope so Scottish skiers will be looking for a very significant weather change for Christmas.
For a specific resort, check our full snow reports and weather alerts.
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