Across the pond, both Australia and New Zealand have seen fresh snow over the past week giving us great conditions throughout. Once again, resorts across Europe are set to see scattered thunderstorms across the weekend and with a few resorts closed in Switzerland and Italy, summer skiing availability is decreasing. Watch out for Portillo, Chile; a large snowfall is on its way!
Hintertux (205cm) has a good snow depth as it stands and continues to offer good glaciel skiing under moatly sunny skies. However, once again, storms are set to appear moving late into the weekend due to the rising temperatures. Molltall (280cm) was perhaps the best bet for summer skiing in Austria the past week. The ski area had all 3 of its slopes open, and temperatures were sitting at around 3C on the summit. Skiing at Pitztal, Solden and Stubai Glacier is not currently available.
Clear skies provided great skiing across our three French summer ski resorts, Les Deux Alpes, Tignes and Val d’Isere, but with temperatures once again set to rise this could have an impact to the current snow conditions. The Grande Motte Glacier in Tignes (5/8 pistes open) looks well-groomed and soft with temperatures slowly rising; pretty much as you would expect for this time of year. The Tour de France continues, scheduled to be passing through Tignes next Friday (26th July), so there is real buzz throughout the mountains.
Saas Fee has finally opened for summer skiing with 20km of excellently groomed pistes now available. Anyone planning on visiting the area over the next couple of days should be aware of the thunderstorms that have been forecast for the region. Unfortunately skiing in Zermatt is temporarily closed.
Unfortunately, summer skiing in Cervinia is temporarily closed and with Val Senales still being closed this means Italy is out of action for the time being. With clustered thunderstorms forecast over the weekend, hopefully we won’t be missing out!
The summer ski season ended over Blackcomb this past weekend, leaving Timberline and Mammoth as our only featured summer resorts open. In Timberline, lifts are operating from 7am-2pm, giving us access to the Palmer Glacier. The sun is set to shine throughout the weekend, giving us typical soft spring conditions across both resorts.
Resorts throughout Australia have mostly all seen fresh snow throughout the past week giving us great conditions once again. Winds are set to pick up over the weekend but with this, more snow is set to be delivered along with another cold front set for the beginning of next week. Perisher (120cm) is arguably the pick of the resorts at present, where 46/48 lifts are operating, and with the recent 10cm of snow fall the conditions are looking fresh and well groomed.
On New Zealand’s South Island, there was some nice skiing to be found around the Queenstown area at Coronet Peak (44cm) and The Remarkables (58cm). Both resorts are running all their lifts and with the excellent work of the grooming crew conditions are looking great with packed powder being reported. Nearby at Wanaka, Treble Cone (60cm) was offering some nice skiing on the groomed trails. Fresh snow is forecast over the weekend with overcast skies; however, the sun is set to shine towards the beginning of the week with temperatures staying low.
On the North Island the weather has been windier with wet and misty conditions at Turoa (63cm) and Whakapapa (32cm). The wind speeds are set to increase in Turoa which has unfortunately results in some lift operations being closed. Much like Wanaka, the sun is set to shine again come Monday.
In Chile, Portillo (58cm) unfortunately hasn’t received any fresh snow in the last few days, with 40% of the lifts currently in operation. Conditions have stayed steady and with up to 20cm of snow set to fall throughout Sunday, there should be a great week of skiing ahead. The skies are forecast to clear by Monday, but the cold temperatures will remain so wrap up warm!
