Industry News
There have been a few dustings here and there across the Alps, but no significant snowfalls, so the top 7 remains fairly unchanged from last week as snow has only seen compression from week 7. We have the same players but some reshuffling of positions.
However, if you are planning to ski, fret not, several storm fronts are forecast to hit the Alps and Pyrenees from this coming weekend into next week, bringing between half a meter to a meter of snow to resorts. As temperatures are still fairly warm, the snowline is expected to be above 1,800 meters initially, dropping to 1,500 meters next week. Resorts at higher elevations in Switzerland as well as western Austria are expected to see the most snow.
Which resorts have the most snow right now? Here is the top 7 for the European Alps:
*Please note, snow depths are self-reported by resorts and not verified by a third party.
Equal #6 Grande Motte Glacier/Tignes-Val d’Isère, L’Espace Killy, France
The Grande Motte Glacier at Tignes is situated at 3,032 meters (9,948 feet) and is recording 380 cm (149 inches) of snow, unchanged from last week and the week before, so take this with a grain of salt. Together with Val d’Isère, the resort is known as Espace Killy, after French ski racer Jean-Claude Killy, and boasts 160 runs stretching across 300km.
- Snowdepth at peak: 380 cm (149 inches)
- Runs open: 155/160
- Lifts operating: 70/72
Equal #6 Kaunertal Glacier, Austria
Kaunertal Glacier is the only resort in our top 7 this week that has seen an increase from last week, gaining 5 centimeters (2 inches) of snow. The ski area offers 61km (38 miles) of groomed runs and features a glacier area that boasts three runs of more than 3,000 feet of vertical. The Kaunertal Glacier is home to the Black Ibex run, Austria’s steepest black slope with 41.3° or 87.85% gradient.
- Snowdepth at peak: 380 cm (149 inches)
- Runs open: 27/31
- Lifts operating: 12/14
#5 Avoriaz/Portes du Soleil, France
Unchanged from last week in fifth place is Avoriaz in France which has lost only 2 centimeters (1 inch) of snow from last week, down to 3.88 meters (153 inches). The resort of Avoriaz gives access to the Portes du Soleil ski area which covers 600 km (375 miles) of slopes to across France and Switzerland. Avoriaz itself has 51 slopes services by 35 ski lifts.
- Snowdepth at peak: 388 cm (153 inches)
- Runs open: 42/51
- Lifts operating: 33/35
#4 Les Arcs Aiguille Rouge/Paradiski, France
Les Arcs’s snowdepth has been compressed down to 3.9 meters, down 25 centimeters (10 inches) from last week. The French resort is connected with La Plagne and Peisy Vallandry and together forms the Paradiski ski area, the second largest interconnected ski area in the world with 265 miles (425km) of groomed runs serviced by 53 lifts and cable cars, including a two-level cable car that fits 200 people. The highest snowdepth can be found at Aiguille Rouge.
- Snowdepth at peak: 390 cm (154 inches)
- Runs open: 88/121
- Lifts operating: 48/53
Equal #2 Chamonix Mont-Blanc, France
Chamonix Mont-Blanc still has 4 meters of snowdepth at peak, down 10 centimeters (4 inches) from last week. France has been unseasonably warm temperatures, so runs at lower altitudes are overdue for a top up, but the snow cover at peak has maintained well.
- Snowdepth at peak: 400 cm (157 inches)
- Runs open: 93/120
- Lifts operating: 71/81
Equal #2 Flaine/Le Grand Massif, France
Le Grand Massif in France is located in the Haute-Savoie region and is one of France’s largest interconnected ski areas. The resort faces the famous Mont Blanc and boasts 152 ski runs for beginners and experts alike, serviced by 64 modern ski lifts.
- Snowdepth at peak: 400 cm (157 inches)
- Runs open: 84/152
- Lifts operating: 48/64
#1 Alpe d’Huez, France
Alpe d’Huez once again takes the crown with 4.3 meters, down from 4.5 meters last week. The highest peak in the Alpe d’Huez ski area in France is the Pic Blanc, reaching an altitude of 3,330 meters (10,925 feet). The ski run from Pic Blanc is the longest black run in Europe, called Sarenne, which is 16 kilometers (10 miles) long.
- Snowdepth at peak: 430 cm (169 inches)
- Runs open: 40/159
- Lifts operating: 25/91
