Snow Report 22 February 2016 - Europe & Japan

Hakuba 18.02.16

A warm spell with some rain in Japan has dampened the pistes and caused much scratching of heads! Can we remember a year like this?

Not in my years of reporting on the Japanese snow season, but granted I've only been doing it for a few years.

JAPAN

It was unseasonably warm at the end of last week and some rain on Honshu didn't make the best start to the weekend.

Just when things were getting a bit more consistent in terms of snowfalls we get these follow-up warm spells. A very strange year!

Hopefully things will get nice and cold again soon.

A friend of mine has sent some pictures of conditions at Hakuba during last week ... it shows that despite this not being the best of years in terms of snowfalls in Japan, there is more than enough snow and there is heaps of great skiing to be had! Thanks Rachel!

Hakuba 18.02.16

Niseko (Grand Hirafu) - 150cm@base. Snow has fallen on and off and it was overcast and slightly mild on the weekend. Looks like consistent moderate snowfalls to come all this week!

Zao Onsen - 80cm@base (954m), 150cm up high (1387m). A mainly fine weekend.

Nozawa Onsen - 75cm@base (660m), 140cm at Yamabiko (1615m). The slopes have lost nearly half a metre of snow, compared to my previous report.

Myokokogen (Akakan) - 175cm, down 75cm on the last report! Some warm days and heavy rain after the dumps last week.

Hakuba (Happo One) - 60cm@Base, 205cm at Usagadaira. Some snow loss from the last few days but that is set to be corrected during the coming week.

Dynaland - 140cm.

Hakuba 18.02.16

The coming days: Well the good news is that this week looks excellent for some good snowfalls and cooler temperatures, especially from Tuesday night. Lots of powder to come!

FRANCE

A little snow fell to start the weekend nicely in the Northern Alps. This cleared for a mainly fine and sunny weekend.

The Southern Alps have seen fine weather during the past week.

The snow depths continue to climb!

Chamonix (Grands Montets) 200cm@1972m.

Val d'Isere 135cm@1850m, 148/154 slopes open

Les Arcs 160cm@1600m.

Val Thorens 130cm@2300m, 79/80 trails open

Serre Chevalier 143cm@2100m, 78/81 pistes

Val d'Isere 21.02.16 - Val d'Isere Facebook

Isola 2000 90cm@2000m.

The coming days: Snow for the Northern Alps from tonight, lowering from 2000m to about 1500m by Wednesday. A bit more touch and go in the Southern Alps with mild conditions to start and some light snowfalls possible on and off.

ITALY

There was some snow last week in the eastern Italian Alps, with the Dolomites doing well. This eased for a fine and sunny weekend. Conditions have improved markedly in the east with all lifts now open at Madonna di Campiglio. About time!

Monte Rosa (25/70cm).

Madonna di Campiglio (100cm@1500m).

Val Gardena 35cm@1500m

The coming days: There could be some light snow on and off this week in the Dolomites and elsewhere. Here's hoping!