Another week passes so quickly but it brings us tantalisingly closer to the start of the northern ski season, and some more ski area openings. The latest opening dates are listed within each country section below.
There has been some skiing in the Alps this week, including at Monte Rosa and Madonna di Campiglio in Italy, and at Val Thorens in France. We are still waiting in Japan, however.
JAPAN
On November 22nd, a powerful earthquake (magnitude 6.2) hit the northern part of Nagano Prefecture, right in the heart of the Japanese Alps. Fortunately there were no lost lives, although 17 people were injured, and almost 200 houses collapsed or partially collapsed. The major ski operations in Nagano reported no damage.
It has been warm and wet across central Japan (Honshu) this week. This inclement weather has delayed ski area openings - Nozawa Onsen's opening has now been put back to 6th December.
Similar conditions were prevalent in the north, with no lifted skiing available in cooler Yamagata or Hokkaido yet either. If you take a look at the webcams there's no snow cover even at the top lifts across lots of Japan.
There has been some skiing in the Alps this week, including at Monte Rosa and Madonna di Campiglio in Italy, and at Val Thorens in France. We are still waiting in Japan, however.
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| Nozawa Onsen 28.11.14 [Source: Nozawa Onsen FB page] |
On November 22nd, a powerful earthquake (magnitude 6.2) hit the northern part of Nagano Prefecture, right in the heart of the Japanese Alps. Fortunately there were no lost lives, although 17 people were injured, and almost 200 houses collapsed or partially collapsed. The major ski operations in Nagano reported no damage.
It has been warm and wet across central Japan (Honshu) this week. This inclement weather has delayed ski area openings - Nozawa Onsen's opening has now been put back to 6th December.
Similar conditions were prevalent in the north, with no lifted skiing available in cooler Yamagata or Hokkaido yet either. If you take a look at the webcams there's no snow cover even at the top lifts across lots of Japan.
The rain is set to continue through the weekend, but next week is looking very good with snow falling down to low levels from Tuesday. This will pretty much guarantee some good snow settling down to the lower lifts across the resorts.
For an idea of conditions in Japan at this time in 2012, see my posts during December 2012: Snow Report 2 December 2012 - France and Japan; and Snow Report 10 December 2012 - Japan.
Here are all the latest opening dates in selected Japanese ski areas:
Hakuba Happo - As soon as there is some snow.
Dynaland - 6 Dec.
Myokokogen - 20 Dec. (Akakura Onsen)/20 Dec. (Suginohara)
Nozawa Onsen - 6 Dec.
Shiga Kogen - approx 6 Dec.
Gala Yuzawa - 20 Dec.
Zao Onsen - 6 Dec.
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| Dynaland 28.11.14 [Source: Dynaland FB page] |
Here are all the latest opening dates in selected Japanese ski areas:
Hakuba Happo - As soon as there is some snow.
Dynaland - 6 Dec.
Myokokogen - 20 Dec. (Akakura Onsen)/20 Dec. (Suginohara)
Nozawa Onsen - 6 Dec.
Shiga Kogen - approx 6 Dec.
Gala Yuzawa - 20 Dec.
Zao Onsen - 6 Dec.
FRANCE
A bit of rain and only a dusting of snow up high this week, however conditions are great above 2,000m. Serre Chevalier was reporting 100cm at 2,100m and 145cm à 2800m.
Some light snow is forecast until Tuesday, but again only on the peaks over 2,000-2,200m, with rain to fall lower down on the slopes and in the villages.
For an idea of conditions in the French Alps last year, see my posts around the same time: Snow Report 24 November 2013 - Europe; and Snow Report 1 December 2013 - Europe.
Here are all the latest opening dates in selected French ski areas:
Val Thorens - OPEN (22 Nov.)
Val d'Isere - 29 Nov. (limited opening on the glacier de Pissaillas)
Isola 2000 - 6 Dec.
Chamonix - Grands Montets et les Houches 6 Dec., Brévent, Flégère, and Balme-Vallorcine 13 Dec.
Les Arcs - 13 Dec.
Serre Chevalier - 13 Dec. (the high part of Monetier-les-Bains is opening on the weekends 29 Nov and 6 Dec.)
Some light snow is forecast until Tuesday, but again only on the peaks over 2,000-2,200m, with rain to fall lower down on the slopes and in the villages.
For an idea of conditions in the French Alps last year, see my posts around the same time: Snow Report 24 November 2013 - Europe; and Snow Report 1 December 2013 - Europe.
Here are all the latest opening dates in selected French ski areas:
Val Thorens - OPEN (22 Nov.)
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| Serre Chevalier (Monetier) |
Isola 2000 - 6 Dec.
Chamonix - Grands Montets et les Houches 6 Dec., Brévent, Flégère, and Balme-Vallorcine 13 Dec.
Les Arcs - 13 Dec.
Serre Chevalier - 13 Dec. (the high part of Monetier-les-Bains is opening on the weekends 29 Nov and 6 Dec.)
ITALY
For most of the Italian Alps, its been about 11 days since the last snowfall.
Like in France, there is quite a lot of snow up high, particularly in the west at Monte Rosa. Madonna di Campiglio is reporting 87/10cms (2,250/1,500m). But there's not much snow at Val Gardena yet.
For an idea of conditions in Italy last year, see my posts from around the same time: Snow Report 24 November 2013 - Europe; and Snow Report 1 December 2013 - Europe.
Here are all the latest opening dates in selected Italian ski areas:
Madesimo - 29 Nov.
Madonna di Campiglio - OPEN 29 Nov. (limited opening 22 Nov. Groste)
Monte Rosa - OPEN 29 Nov. (limited opening 22 Nov. Salati)
Val Gardena - 5 Dec.
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