European ski resorts and snow sports enthusiasts are rejoicing over the abundant snow supply in the Alps, which promises a great 2024 season.
Northern Europe was immersed in a glacial cold last week, with temperatures dropping to almost -43°C in parts of Sweden.
The arctic wind headed south this week, to the delight of skiers in French Alps after a mild December.
In resorts such as Chamonix, Les Gets and Morzine, more than a meter of dust fell.
Up to 50 cm of snow also fell on the Italian slopes, and 30 cm in Austria and Switzerland, according to the meteorological report On the Snow.
This allows us to hope for a return exceptional snowfall which enabled the stations to open at the beginning of last November.
This change is consistent with predictions based on previous El Niño years where European winters tend to be mild and wet at first before becoming cooler and drier between January and March. The result could be one of the best ski seasons in recent years, with heavier and longer snowfall.
This is a welcome change for Ski station European countries that have had to deal with a lack of snow in recent years due to global warming.
Do you want to hit the slopes? Here is the snow forecast for ski destinations in Europe for January.
Will the winter be good for skiing in Austria?
At least 50 Austrian resorts are expecting snowfall this week. Snow levels are currently over 150% above normalaccording to On the Snow.
Head to Austria’s alpine resorts for the best skiing in the country. St Anton am Arlberg in the Tyrolean Alps and Stuben am Arlberg in Vorarlberg currently have over three meters of snow.
Where to ski in France in January?
Skiing in the Pyrenees bounced back this weekend after suffering through dry and mild weather in December.
In the French Alps, a meter of snow fell in some of the main centers of the region. Courchevel has received 140 cm of snow in the last 72 hours, while Val Thorens has received 117 cm.
Will the winter of 2024 be good for skiing in Italy?
A pressure trough from the North Atlantic brought Italy its first taste of “true winter” on Friday. Snow has fallen at low elevations in the Italian Alps, with falling temperatures expected to continue until January 14.
La Thuile in the Aosta Valley, Livigno in the Alps or Val Gardena in Dolomites are the preferred destinations to enjoy more than half a meter of snow above 1000 meters above sea level this week.
Above 1500 meters above sea level, according to Meteo.it, the Apennines will also get snow.
Above : “Beautiful white landscapes. After a few snowy and cloudy days, the sun has returned to reveal the extent of the recent snowfall.”
Will this month be good for skiing in Switzerland?
Switzerland’s Verbier ski resort opened three weeks ahead of schedule after the main event snowfall in November.
After this week’s rainfall some resorts have a snow depth of two meters or more, especially Davos Klosters in Graubünden, Melchsee-Frutt in the canton of Obwalden and the Engadin in St Moritz. In Saas-Fee, near the Italian border, the snow cover reaches more than three meters.