Snow Report 3 February 2015 - Europe & Japan

January has gone already; can you believe how time flies? While January typically means good snow and quiet slopes, February brings school holidays in Europe and a public holiday in Japan.

Serre Chevalier 01.02.14 [Source: Serre Chevalier FB page]

In France, school holidays run from the 9th February through to the end of the month, with the Parisians on vacation for two weeks from the 16th February. Expect the popular big resorts to be busy.

Some Italian regions are on holiday for a week from 16th February, including the mountain areas in the west (Aosta, home to Cervinia and Monterosa) and east (Trentino). But the slopes will be busy in the east anyway as neigbouring countries, especially Germany, are on holidays and the Dolomites are a popular destination.

The Japanese kids don't get their break until March, but school parties are often up at the ski areas during term time. They're fairly easy to spot with their numbered bibs, all bunched together falling over. February 11th is a national holiday in Japan.

JAPAN

Nozawa Onsen 29.01.14 [Source: Nozawa Onsen FB page]

There were good snowfalls in Japan (Nozawa Onsen and Myoko Kogen 40cm; Gala Yuzawa and Shiga Kogen 20cm; Zao Onsen and Niseko 15cm) for the first day of the new month, and it has been pretty snowy in February since with some daily top-ups. Only Happo and Dynaland managed to miss out on the dumps.

Not a lot of snow is in the forecasts for the rest of the week, but perhaps some arriving on the weekend.

Look at these incredible snow depths!

Happo One: 320cm@1400m, 180cm@850m
Nozawa Onsen: 445cm@1650m and 235cm@650m.
Akakura Kanko: 380cm
Gala Yuzawa: 440cm
Dynaland: 230cm
Zao Onsen: 220/140cm
Niseko Grand Hirafu: 370/125cm

FRANCE

There has been lots and lots of snow in the French Alps over the last week. This has been the best storm this winter for sure. The northern French Alps did the best, but the southern resorts still scored almost half a metre. The weather cleared on the weekend for some awesome skiing.

Val Thorens 02.02.14 [Source: Val Thorens FB page]

There should be more snow for the French Alps this week, heavy in places, before a clearing weekend with blue skies.

Isola 2000: 140/100cm
Serre Chevalier: 150cm@2800m/40cm@1400m
Les Arcs: 160cm@3200m, 110cm@1600m
Val Thorens: 190cm@3200m, 135cm@2300m
Val d'Isere: 170cm@2500m, 95cm@1850m
Chamonix: 210cm@3275m, 95cm@1800m

ITALY

Snow fell in the west first and spread across to the east of the Italian Alps. It was hit-and-miss, however, and didn't really boost the snow depths like in France.

Madonna seemed to miss out completely, while Val Gardena got 20cm on the 30th January. The weather cleared for beautiful, sunny days on Saturday.

Monte Rosa (Gressoney-la-Trinite): 190/50cm
Madesimo: 430/230/170cm
Madonna di Campiglio: 165cm@2250m, 65cm@1500m
Val Gardena: 100cm@2500m, 20cm@1400m