Snow Report 26 March 2015 - Europe & Japan

With April just around the corner the final weeks for skiing and riding in Europe and Japan are approaching.

The smaller French and Italian ski stations begin to close in early April, while the larger ones finish up towards the end of that month. In Japan, most ski areas wind up lifts on the same weekend in May.

We detail when below. So get out there over the next six weeks or so for some bargain Spring skiing in the sun!

JAPAN

Dynaland 25.03.15 [Source: Dynaland FB page]

It was a sunny weekend for most places around Japan. With the last snow around the 14/15th March, conditions had become very spring-like with the freeze-thaw.

A dusting of snow arrived from Sunday into Monday, then 5-10cms fell across Japan into Tuesday as conditions cooled and became more wintery once again.

Into Wednesday there was around 20cm more across mainland Japan and Hokkaido. A return to blue skies today, however, and its looking like staying that way into next week.

Happo One and Niseko Grand Hirafu look like they lost almost a metre in the period since my last snow report post! Other ski areas saw less change to their upper slope snowdepths.

Happo One: 260cm@1400m, 140cm@850m
Nozawa Onsen: 435cm@1650m and 150cm@650m Closing 7th May
Akakura Kanko: 460cm Closing 7th May
Gala Yuzawa: 450cm Closing 7th May
Dynaland: 230cm
Zao Onsen: 240/150cm Closing 7th May
Niseko Grand Hirafu: 440/125cm Closing 7th May

FRANCE

There was some light snow across much of the French Alps on the weekend, although Chamonix got a much bigger boost with 20cm reported. A follow-up snowfall into Wednesday was welcome. Serre Chevalier got 10cm, and Val d'Isere 5cm.

There's still plenty of snow across the French Alps for some late Spring skiing. A little more snow is forecast for the northern resorts this week, before the chance of some heavier falls late in the weekend at Chamonix/Val d'Isere/Les Arcs.

Isola 2000: 175/125cm Closing 19th April
Serre Chevalier: 140cm@2800m/15cm@1400m Closing 19th April
Les Arcs: 145cm@3200m, 70cm@1600m Closing 25th April
Val Thorens: 195cm@3200m, 110cm@2300m Closing 10th May
Val d'Isere: 160cm@2500m, 90cm@1850m Closing 3rd May
Chamonix: 170cm@3275m, 96cm@1800m Closing 21st April

Monte Rosa 25.03.15 [Source: monterosa FB page]

ITALY

Italy saw some good snowfalls, 10-20cm, in the west over the weekend bringing good snow to Cervinia/Monte Rosa.

A little more snow today across the Italian Alps, then the forecasts are a little unclear about what's in store for the weekend with a weather system pushing across the Alps from the north.

Monte Rosa (Gressoney-la-Trinite): 240/100cm Closing 3rd May
Madesimo: 480/250/200cm Closing 12th April
Madonna di Campiglio: 185cm@2250m, 60cm@1500m Closing 12th April
Val Gardena: 100cm@2500m, 10cm@1400m Closing 12th April