Snow Report 14 January 2016 - Europe & Japan

By mid-January generally all the lifts and pistes are open in both Japan and Europe's major resorts. Not the case this year I'm afraid. Its certainly an odd one, a slow starter more precisely. And unusual for both Japan and Europe to be hit.

JAPAN

A snowy weekend all over Japan but the snow was lighter than originally expected. Niseko, Zao Onsen and Myokokogen did best, with the other resorts lucky if they got a couple of days of light snowfalls.

Niseko (Grand Hirafu) - 140cm@base. Regular and consistent snowfall at Niseko, between 10 and 20cm each night for the past week. Great skiing to be had right now!

Happo One 13.01.16 - Happo Facebook

Zao Onsen - 40cm@base (954m), 85cm up high (1387m). Another snowy weekend at Zao Onsen ski resort with around 10cm each day and light snow continuing on and off this week. most of the resort is open now including the Omori area.

Naeba/Kagura - A little light snow on and off at Naeba with conditions best up high at linked Kagura.

Shiga Kogen - The resorts are all open but there's not a huge amount of snow at Shiga Kogen.

Nozawa Onsen - 20cm@base (660m), 100cm at Yamabiko (1615m). Nozawa Onsen has missed out on the weekend snow at some other areas racking up only 5-10cm. Hitting only the one-metre mark at Yamabiko in mid-January is unheard of!

Myokokogen (Akakan) - 120cm. Steady top-ups over the last week but nothing massive. Another 30cm to the snow depth at Akakan, compared to this time last week, is welcome.

Hakuba (Happo One) - 10cm@Base, 100cm at Usagadaira. Another poor week for Hakuba with little additional snow reported. Skiing is good up high however.

Dynaland - 60cm.

Some snow tonight all over, continuing regular falls on Hokkaido, and perhaps something big and white coming after the weekend!

Les Arcs 13.01.16 - Les Acrs Facebook

FRANCE

A wild, windy and wet weekend brought snow at high altitudes and rain at lower altitudes. The stormy weather also brought strong winds that closed lifts.

Into this week, the snow level lowered and it has been snowing on and off all week in the Northern Alps. Lets see how the snow depths have improved:

Chamonix (Grands Montets) 154cm@1972m, up a whopping 77cm on this time last week.

Val d'Isere 110cm@1850m, up 46cm on last week,

Les Arcs 108cm@1600m, up 43cm on last week, 85/109 pistes open.

Val Thorens 160cm@2300m, up 65cm from last week,

Serre Chevalier 13.01.16 - Serre Che Facebook

Serre Chevalier 120cm@2100m, up 82cm, 44/81 pistes open. Finally some joy for Serre Che.

Isola 2000 40cm@2000m, now 16 pistes open double last week.

It looks like even more snow for the Northern Alps in the next few days down to low levels. Its going to be cold! Clearing at the weekend for some fun skiing.

ITALY

Some snow but unfortunately not as much as in France. Italy has not done so well from the recent storm - its often favoured by different weather systems than those that bring snow to Switzerland and the Northern Alps.

Val Gardena 13.01.16 - Val Gardena Facebook

Monte Rosa now has 42 of 95 slopes open across its seven ski areas but the snowdepth is nothing to shout about with only about 20cm in the valley.

Madesimo 15/33 pistes open.

Madonna di Campiglio (10cm@1500m) received 45cm from the storm, mostly above 1600m. 42/57 lifts now open.

Val Gardena 20cm@1500m reported 15cm on the 11th January.

Once again, the western ski resorts like Monte Rosa and Cervinia will get snow in the coming days, but looks sunny and fine in the Dolomites.