J2Ski Snow Report - March 20th 2025
J2Ski Snow Report - March 20th 2025
Published : 20-Mar-2025 08:21
Val Gardena, Italian Dolomites, in some spring sunshine...
Snow last weekend in Europe - Alps and Pyrenees, with lots of sunshine since. Lots of fresh in western North America.
The Snow Headlines - March 20th
- Up to 60cm (2 feet) of snowfall in the Alps over the weekend.
- Largest ski area in Pyrenees opens more than 200km of slopes for first time in 24/25.
- Some big-name Austrian ski areas end their 24-25 seasons at the end of next week.
- More big snowfalls in Western North America.
- Second of Scotland's 5 ski centres ends season, another looks like it won't open this season.
- One of the biggest snowfalls in the Dolomites this winter - up to 50cm - over last weekend.
Snow forecasts worldwide.
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World Overview
As we reach the start of astronomical springtime, the final week of winter brought some of the biggest snowfalls of the season to both Europe and North America. The Alps posted several feet of snowfall over last weekend, while some ski areas in California have had over five feet of snowfall over the last seven days. The snow has also kept falling in the Pyrenees, and there's been some fresh snow in Scandinavia as well.
So, there have been great powder conditions in many of the world's ski regions, although there's no escaping that springtime is starting to grip lower slopes. With afternoon highs of +15C recorded, low-lying ski areas in countries like Austria have begun closing down. The vast majority of destination resorts are aiming to stay open well into April, though, with some continuing into May and beyond.
Europe
Austria
There's a bit of an end-of-the-season vibe at some low-lying ski areas in Austria. After some snowfall last weekend (rain and sleet on lower slopes at times), it's been a mostly sunny week with some lower valleys seeing +15C in the afternoons and even +6C at 2,000m at the top of their slopes.
Next week is actually the last of the season for quite a lot of low-lying Austrian resorts including Brixen, Ellmau, Soll and Westendorf in the Skiwelt.
At higher elevations, last weekend's snow totals of up to 40cm brought powder conditions to start the week on the country's glaciers and overnight lows are still dropping below freezing down to the valley floor.
France
France has had a largely dry seven days since being the first part of the Alps to get snowfall in the middle of last week, with higher slopes ending up with 50cm+ of new snow.
That said, it did keep snowing here through the weekend, albeit lightly, giving powder snow conditions to start the week in many areas, particularly at altitude. There were some low clouds and poor visibility as the weather began to clear on Sunday before sunshine came to the fore on Monday across much of the country.
Temperatures have been climbing again in the daytime with valleys below 1000m seeing +15C in the afternoons, but it's stayed closer to freezing up at 1800m, so normal spring skiing realities of better conditions for longer up high are in play.
The giant French ski regions are fully open with most aiming to remain so for at least another month up to Easter, some (3 Valleys, Tignes/Val d'Isere, Chamonix Valley) into May.
Italy
A snowy weekend for Italy as well with several resorts including Madesimo, Madonna di Campiglio and Cervinia posting around 50cm snowfall totals.
The Dolomites, which have experienced a predominantly dry ski season so far, were particularly excited by the snowfall. Val Gardena recorded one of the largest amounts, and many resorts in the area reported base depths surpassing a metre for the first time this winter. Meanwhile, the western Alps also received substantial snow, with resorts there enjoying three days of snowfall and reporting excellent powder conditions.
Although sunny weather returned at the start of the week, more snow is now on the horizon.
Switzerland
Switzerland ended last week with heavy snowfall, with Laax topping the charts at 60cm (2 feet) - one of Europe's largest accumulations this month. High slopes across the country reported excellent powder conditions through the weekend and into the week.
Andermatt and Saas-Fee also received 40cm of fresh snow, whilst Arosa posted a healthy 25cm there.
While sunshine has returned to most areas, the Southeast, including Arosa and St Moritz, remains cloudier with light snow showers.
Temperatures have dropped slightly, with freezing levels around 1900m in the afternoons, dipping below -12°C overnight on higher slopes and staying sub-zero in valleys.
Scandinavia
After last week's snowfall, Scandinavia has continued to experience predominantly cold and sunny weather since the weekend. The main exception has been the far north, where ski areas have seen substantial snowfall.
Conditions are excellent across the region with Norway's Myrkdalen, near Voss, now boasting the area's deepest snow and first to have a base exceeding 2m this season, with deep powder reported.
In Sweden, Åre is nearly 100% open with the most extensive terrain available in Scandinavia.
The sunny spell is expected to continue in most areas over the next few days, with temperatures remaining predominantly below freezing, ensuring the snow remains in excellent condition.
Pyrenees
March has been a great month in the Pyrenees after the region saw little snowfall in the first three months of this season.
It's hardly stopped snowing this month and although falls have been lighter this week, temperatures are cooler than they were in February, the bases the deepest they've been and the region's largest resort Grandvaliara in Andorra has finally reached almost full operation with 95% of its slopes open. That means it has more than 200km of runs open for the first time this winter.
The only thing to be aware of for freeriders and off-piste skiers in that the avalanche danger is up at level 3, the highest it has been since mid-December.
Scotland
A fairly stable weather week in the Scottish Highlands with fresh snow on higher hills and mountains and overnight lows below freezing, but warm afternoons down in the glens.
The consequence of that is that Glenshee has joined The Lecht in closing and won't open again until next winter unless there's a big natural snowfall.
However Cairngorm, with access to its summit now possible again with the funicular back in operation, has re-opened access to the Ptarmigan Bowl with its natural cover.
Glencoe has a small snow play area and dry slope for beginner lessons open still. Natural snow-reliant Nevis Range is yet to open this season.
Eastern Europe
Eastern European centres didn't see the snowfall in the volumes recorded in the Alps, but they did get some light accumulations in the 5-10cm bracket in the Carpathians over the weekend, and there was a little snowfall to ski slopes in Bulgaria at the start of this week.
But really it feels springlike with many smaller, lower ski areas in the region already closed for the season and the big-name, higher resorts battling the thaw.
Major resorts like Bansko, Jasna and Spindleruv Mlyn remain with at least 75% of their slopes open, some as much as 90%.
North America
Canada
Great conditions in Western Canada with most areas reporting 2-3 feet (60-90cm) of fresh snowfall this week and temperatures remaining cold – in the -5 to -10C range keeping that powder fresh.
Base depths have now topped 4 metres in the far west of the country and Whistler Blackcomb reports its slopes 95% open – with most other ski areas in Alberta and BC also mostly open.
There's less good news on the East Coast where it continues to be milder than usual with ski areas in Quebec and Ontario seeing rain rather than snow showers unfortunately, impacting what they can open.
USA
Some spectacular snowfalls in the Western US for a second week running with ski areas in California posting over a metre (3 feet) more snowfall and even 30cm down at lake level at Tahoe.
Further north, ski areas like Mt Bachelor in Oregon were digging out after 90cm (three feet) fell in 36 hours.
So epic conditions but resorts are also warning of high avalanche and tree well danger.
It's been dumping in the Rockies again too with Jackson Hole passing 400 inches seasonal snowfall to date.
Further east there have been some very mild temperatures but most areas remain fully open and a temperature dip with snowfall is forecast ahead of the weekend.
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