Ski resorts around the world are celebrating a strong start to the season as the first winter holidaymakers prepare to spend the festive period in the mountains.
In sharp contrast to December 2022, when experts were alarmed by the lack of snow on the slopes in the Alps, snow depths in the Chamonix Valley have already reached over 3 meters and look equally promising in Europe’s major ski areas.
A year ago, resorts across the Atlantic were struggling to open as they were repeatedly buried by a succession of massive snowstorms. Warm weather this year means resorts in California are struggling to open. In contrast, conditions in the Rocky Mountains are starting to improve after several feet of snowfall this month.
It’s a mixed bag for other ski areas in Europe. Scandinavia experienced very cold temperatures due to rapidly decreasing daylight hours. The Pyrenees are struggling with record high temperatures in December, but Spain’s Baqueira Beret has managed to open 60km of pistes and Andorra’s Pas de la Casa has more than 40km in operation. In Eastern Europe, more than half of Slovakia’s Jasna circuit is open and Bulgaria’s season starts this weekend at Bansko and Borovets. The situation also looks promising in Scotland, where there are centers aiming to open during Christmas week.
Looking east, Japan is off to a similar start as North America; It could also potentially fall victim to El Niño weather. Niseko has snow several meters deep on top, and about a quarter of its land is open so far.
Use our tool below to find the latest conditions at your favorite vacation spot and read the full forecast below.
France
“It’s like the good old days,” enthuses Nick Morgan, who has run tour operator Le Ski in the French Alps for more than 40 years. He talks about the fact that the snow above 1,800 meters in many of France’s leading resorts is already over 2 meters deep; statistics are rare until at least mid-winter. Snowfall continued to the valley floors. Many French centers started their seasons early, such as Avoriaz, La Plagne, Tignes and Val Thorens. This week has seen warmer temperatures and heavy rain causing avalanche risk to increase in places, but snowfall returned on Wednesday.
Guess
Temperatures continue to drop over the weekend and sunny weather is expected. The weather will be warmer, but stay dry to start the new week before temperatures drop again and snowfall returns.
Discover France’s best ski resorts with our guide
Austria
It’s been a dream start to the season in Austria, with consistently low temperatures and regular snowfall at lower altitudes. The European country has been a global leader in opening ski areas in early autumn, and in terms of the amount of terrain currently open, it has the most anywhere. It is the only major ski country where, on average, more than half of each region’s slopes are open. Ischgl, with its cross-border area connected to the Swiss Samnaun, became the region with the most land this month, with 200 km of skiable area. The larger Arlberg region, home to Lech and St Anton, is planned to soon overtake this region.
Guess
It will be cold but sunny throughout the weekend, then turn springy but remain dry for early next week, then temperatures will cool and snowfall will begin to return midweek.
Discover Austria’s best ski resorts with our guide
Italy
Italy shared the snow bounty at the beginning of the season with Livigno and Madonna di Campiglio, which opened at the beginning of last month. The huge Dolomiti Superski area opened a week ago, with 800km of its 1,200km of pistes open from day one. While bottom depths are not as spectacular on the east side of the country as in the west, they are good enough.
Guess
The weather will be sunny and dry throughout the weekend and into next week. Double-digit temperatures are likely to be reached below 1,500 m altitude in the afternoon.
Discover Italy’s best ski resorts with our guide
Switzerland
As the season begins in Swiss ski resorts, heavy snowfalls are observed, especially in the west of the country. Gstaad’s Glacier 3000 currently has a base depth of 2.2 metres. Crans-Montana recorded an increase of 1 meter in the resort last weekend, double that figure; However, snow depths at the resort have seen the largest decline since then; This reflects the recent hot and rainy weather. Now temperatures have dropped and snowfall has returned.
Guess
Snowfall gives way to a sunny week. Temperatures are likely to be quite warm at the beginning of next week, but cool down as the week progresses.
Discover Switzerland’s best ski resorts with our guide
Canada
Canada’s ski season started in Banff more than a month ago and has been slowly building ever since. Powder was brought to the Rockies last week, allowing waist-deep freeriding in Lake Louise, Fernie and others. About 20 percent of Whistler Blackcomb is open and more snow is needed. Tremblant has the deepest secrecy in the East, but it also needs a lot more.
Guess
The forecast is for cloudy skies and frigid temperatures on Canada’s ski slopes, which will rarely rise above freezing. Limited snow is expected until the end of the week.
Discover the best ski resorts in Canada with our guide
United States of America
The Rockies currently have the best snowfall in the United States. Aspen, Steamboat, Vail and Winter Park have reported several feet of snow so far this month. Jackson Hole has already surpassed its seasonal snowfall limit by 100 inches (2.5 meters). Things are also looking up on the East Coast with snowfall in Maine and Vermont, but unfortunately California and the West continue to struggle. Less than 10 percent of Heavenly’s slopes are open.
Guess
It’s going to be a sunny weekend in many U.S. ski areas, and not much snow is expected in the West next week. Snowfall will return in the East at the beginning of the week, but warmer weather may also bring rain.
Discover the best ski resorts in the USA with our guide