Snow Report 1 February 2016 - Europe & Japan

Can you believe its already February? We are right slap bang in the middle of the ski season now and after the (hopefully) quiet slopes of January, there are some busy periods coming up in Europe.

Happo One 31.01.16 - Happo Facebook

School holidays in France begin on the 6th February 2016 and last until 6th March 2016. This long period is because the two-week-long winter holidays are split into three zones so they spread out to a month over all.

This coming week now is also winter holidays for Germany, so expect lots of busy slopes in the French and Italian ski areas easily accessible by autoroute from the north (around the Dolomites, for example). Other nations like the Netherlands and the UK also have holidays in February.

JAPAN

Good snowfalls across Japan on Friday evening/Saturday morning made for great conditions on the weekend. Some light snow, cloud and the sun peaking through occasionally made for a mixed bag after the snowfall.

Nozawa Onsen 31.01.16 - Nozawa Onsen Facebook

Niseko (Grand Hirafu) - 140cm@base.

Zao Onsen - 110cm@base (954m), 160cm up high (1387m).

Nozawa Onsen - 75cm@base (660m), 155cm at Yamabiko (1615m).

Myokokogen (Akakan) - 195cm.

Hakuba (Happo One) - 80cm@Base, 185cm at Usagadaira.

Dynaland - 155cm.

The coming days: Looks like some snow on and off this week to keep the slopes fresh.

FRANCE

Les Arcs 01.12.16 - Les Arcs Facebook

There hasn't been much snow to speak of in the last ten days ... until yesterday!

The fine and sunny days came to an end for the Northern French Alps on Sunday. Instead there was some needed fresh snow to play in!

However the rain on the lower slopes and warm temperatures have limited the snow to the higher altitudes and made any off-piste skiing dangerous.

Ski stations in the northern French Alps were reporting 30-40cm above 2000m, and rain below. So, snow depths at the village levels have remained pretty much the same over the last few weeks.

Chamonix (Grands Montets) 150cm@1972m.

Val d'Isere 118cm@1850m,

Monterosa 01.02.16 - www.monterosa-ski.com

Les Arcs 110cm@1600m.

Val Thorens 110cm@2300m.

Serre Chevalier 99cm@2100m.

Isola 2000 45cm@2000m.

The coming days: Snowfalls on Wednesday are in the forecast, and this time the snow should fall to much lower altitudes.

ITALY

A little snow in the north and west early in the weekend, buts lots of wind and balmy spring temperatures have again played havoc in the Italian Alps. Its not shaping up to be a great season unless something changes soon.

Madonna di Campiglio 01.02.16

Monte Rosa (40/70cm).

Madonna di Campiglio (10cm@1500m).

Val Gardena 20cm@1500m and the last snowfall was 11th January.

The coming days: Looks like snow midweek, heavier in the west but also falling in the east through the Dolomites.

Heavier falls are needed though to improve the season now, but also to build and maintain snow through March.