Winter returns to European ski resorts

27 February 2007 15:52 GMT / By Chris Hall

After a variable start to the winter season ski resorts across Europe have been blanketed with snow and more is predicted to fall this week.

Snow started falling at the beginning of last weekend and large amounts of snow have fallen across European resorts. Chamonix has reported nearly a metre of new snow since the start of the weekend and many other French and Swiss resorts including La Plagne, Val d’Isère, Courchevel, Verbier and Wengen have reported similar levels. Austrian and Italian resorts haven’t missed out either with fresh snow in most areas.

More snow is forecast this week with Val Thorens expecting up to 44cm, Les Arcs 42cm, Alpe d’Huez 52cm and Chamonix 50cm. Verbier in Switzerland has 48cm predicted and Davos 43cm. In Austria Obergurgl has 32cm predicted and 27cm is predicted in the Italian resort of Cervinia.

The Ski Club rep in Argentière described the current snow conditions: “There is so much new snow in Argentière; we are skiing thigh-deep powder in places with some fantastic tree skiing. This much snow should ensure a good base for the rest of the season”.

Bringing snow reporting right up to date, a Snow Podcast is now available on the Ski Club of Great Britain’s internet TV channel www.skiTV.co.uk offering a round up of latest snow conditions. The Snow Podcast is also available to download from www.skiclub.co.uk and iTunes.

The Ski Club of Great Britain’s website www.skiclub.co.uk also has daily snow reports and weather forecasts covering 250 resorts, detailed reports from reps in 42 major resorts worldwide and twice-weekly snow overviews updated every Monday and Thursday. The reports provide the most up to date and accurate snow information on the Internet.

The Ski Club also offers a text message service where snow reports are sent directly to a mobile phone as an SMS. The reports are also available on a phone line.

In resorts where a large amount of snow has fallen there will be an increased avalanche risk. The Ski Club’s advice when skiing off-piste to always take a shovel, transceiver and probe and always ski with a partner, take heed of local advice and do not venture off the piste without appraising the avalanche hazard sensibly. For more information on avalanche safety visit the website, links below.