Snow Report 30 December 2016 - Europe & Japan

Happo One 29.12.16 - Happo Facebook

A return to sunny days on the pistes for the European Alps. Meanwhile, in Japan the snow has been falling very nicely indeed and just in time for the end of year holidays.

JAPAN

There have been some great falls of snow across Japan over the last few days and this snowy weather pattern is set to continue.

The season is well under way and all areas are open now.

Snow returns tonight and continues on and off into the weekend, which brings some sunny spells for a great new year's skiing and riding on the slopes.

Conditions at my featured Japanese ski resorts:

Yuzawa (Joetsu Kokusai) - 40cm at top (1,017m)

Nozawa Onsen 29.12.16 - www.nozawaski.com/

Niseko (Grand Hirafu) - 230cm at top (1,000m), 85cm at base

Nozawa Onsen - 95cm at Yamabiko (1,407m), 30cm at Nagasaka (616m)

Hakuba (Happo One) - 80cm at top (Usagidaira), 20cm at bottom

Zao Onsen - 60cm at top, 5cm at base

Myoko Kogen - 100cm (Akakan)

FRANCE

Fine and sunny weather returned to the French Alps after last week's snowfall. A burst of snow, followed by a long run of sunny, mild weather has characterised the start to winter in France. Perhaps that trend will change in the new year.

Val Thorens 28.12.16 - Val Thorens Facebook

More sun and no snow, at least for this weekend. Considerable snow is needed to get the most terrain open.

Conditions at my featured French ski stations are:

Val Thorens - 55cm@2300m, 30/30 lifts, 71/85 pistes

Val d'Isere - 30cm@1850m, 71/77 lifts, 129/167 pistes

Chamonix (Grands Montets) - 25cm@1972m

Isola 2000 - 5cm@2000m, 37 pistes

Serre Chevalier - 92cm@2100m, 51/62 lifts, 57/81 pistes

Les Arcs - 10cm@1600m, 43 lifts, 70 pistes

Val d'Allos - 30cm@1800m, 18/28 lifts, 24/63 pistes

Grand Tourmalet -  30cm@1800m, 16/30 lifts, 16/61 pistes

ITALY

Cervinia made the news last week for the wrong reasons - hundreds of skiers stuck on a cable car for hours.

Madonna di Campiglio 27.12.16 - Madonna DC Facebook

More snow is needed in Italy for the lower altitude ski resorts, while the big ski areas with snowmaking are faring well.

Conditions at my featured Italian ski stations:

Madonna di Campiglio - 40cm@2250m, 0cm@1500m, 18/19 lifts, 28 runs

Madesimo - 20cm@1550m, 50cm@3000m,11/13 lifts, 18/32 runs

Monterosa - 10/150cm, 44/45 lifts, 63/93 runs

Val Gardena - 199/207 lifts open across Dolomiti Superski

Snow Report 23 December 2016 - Europe & Japan

Snow at last for the European Alps. Just in time for Christmas skiing. In Japan, all of the big ski resorts have opened now.

Happo One 22.12.16 - happo-one.

JAPAN

Another good fall of snow for the weekend (20-50cm), before sunny skies arrived and some bluebird days.

Some warm and wet conditions descended on Honshu Tuesday, which is not really what we wanted after the promising start to the season.

Some of the weekend's snow has been lost and it has got very wet again across Honshu and Hokkaido this evening. The good news is that it should turn to snow tomorrow though and get colder once more.

Conditions at my featured Japanese ski resorts:

Akakura Kanko 22.12.16 - akr-ski.com

Yuzawa (Kagura) - Kagura is OPEN, other ski resorts in Yuzawa area are now open

Niseko (Grand Hirafu) - OPEN - 2m at top, 80cm at base

Nozawa Onsen - OPEN - 95cm top (Yamabiko), 55cm at base,

Hakuba (Happo One) - OPEN - 65cm at top (Usagidaira), 0cm at bottom

Zao Onsen - OPEN - 50cm at top, 20cm at base

Myoko Kogen - OPEN - 60cm (Akakan)

FRANCE

A cold and snowy start to the week, favouring the southernmost ski stations like Isola 2000 (30cm) and Val d'Allos (15cm) and the Massif Central with lesser amounts around Mont Blanc.

Isola 2000 20.12.16 - Isola 2000 Facebook

The weather cleared Wednesday and is set to continue mild and sunny into the weekend in the Alps.

Conditions at my featured French ski stations are:

Val Thorens - OPEN - 60cm@2300m, 30/30 lifts, 67/85 pistes

Val d'Isere - OPEN - 30cm@1850m, 70/77 lifts, 137/167 pistes

Chamonix (Grands Montets) - OPEN - 29cm@1972m

Isola 2000 - OPEN - 60cm@2000m, 30 pistes

Serre Chevalier - OPEN - 90cm@2100m, 47/62 lifts, 57/81 pistes

Les Arcs - OPEN - 10cm@1600m, 41 lifts, 70 pistes

Val d'Allos - OPEN - 30cm@1800m, 16/28 lifts, 21/63 pistes

Grand Tourmalet -  OPEN - 30cm@1800m, 16/30 lifts, 15/61 pistes

ITALY

A snowy start to the week for Italy as well, but only really favouring the western ski resorts, especially Limone Piemonte.

Limone Piemonte 21.12.16 - Limone Piemonte Facebook

Snow is fairly patchy below 2000m across Italy, so head to the higher ski areas.

Conditions at my featured Italian ski stations:

Madonna di Campiglio - OPEN - 40cm@2250m, 0cm@1500m, 15/19 lifts, 25 runs

Madesimo - OPEN - 20cm@1550m, 50cm@3000m, 8/13 lifts, 14/36 runs

Monterosa - OPEN - 10/150cm, 22/45 lifts, 37/93 runs

Val Gardena - OPEN - 183/207 lifts open across Dolomiti Superski

Snow Report 16 December 2016 - Europe & Japan

More warm and sunny weather in the Alps, while a nice dump gets things moving in Japan. Are you spending Christmas on the slopes?

JAPAN

Snow arrived at the end of last week, continuing through the weekend for a nice big dump Japow style. In the storm, 20-50cm fell according to where you were.

Nozawa Onsen 12.12.16 - Nozawa Onsen Facebook

The weather cleared for a bit early in the week, before some rain arrived at lower altitudes. Then the snow began falling again.

Nozawa Onsen opened on the weekend and has begun opening more runs and lifts through the week. Its still a little thin at the bottom, as it is at Hakuba as well.

More snow is set to fall into the weekend, clearing for some awesome skiing on Sunday.

Opening dates at my featured Japanese ski resorts:

Yuzawa (Kagura) - Kagura is OPEN, other ski resorts in the Yuzawa area are open or opening this weekend.

Niseko (Grand Hirafu) - OPEN - 100cm at base

Nozawa Onsen - OPEN - 55cm at base, 120cm top (Yamabiko)

Hakuba (Happo One) - OPEN - 75cm at top (Usagidaira), 0cm at bottom

Zao Onsen - OPEN

Myoko Kogen - OPEN - 70cm (Akakan)

Les Arcs 13.12.16 - Les Arcs Facebook

FRANCE

It was a warm and sunny weekend in the French Alps. The whole week saw the sun stick around, but temperatures have cooled off somewhat today.

Looks like a sunny weekend again, and a chance of some snow next week.

Conditions at my featured French ski stations are:

Val Thorens - OPEN - 60cm@2300m, 29/30 lifts, 69/85 pistes

Val d'Isere - OPEN - 30cm@1850m, 58/77 lifts, 125/167 pistes

Chamonix (Grands Montets) - OPEN - 25cm@1972m, other Chamonix ski areas partially open this weekend

Serre Chevalier 13.12.16 - Serre Chevalier Facebook

Isola 2000 - OPEN - 26cm@2000m, 31 pistes

Serre Chevalier - OPEN - 90cm@2100m, 34/62 lifts, 48/81 pistes

Les Arcs - OPEN

Val d'Allos - OPEN - 10cm@1800m

Grand Tourmalet -  OPEN - 10cm@1800m, 8/30 lifts, 7/61 pistes

Super Besse - when there's enough snow

ITALY

Similar conditions in Northern Italy, staying sunny and clear with light winds. Nice for being out there on the slopes, but with not all lifts running yet it would be better to get a top-up before Christmas.

Speaking of Christmas, its a beautiful time of year to be in the ski villages with all the Christmas lights, markets and festivities.

Conditions at my featured Italian ski stations:

Madonna di Campiglio - OPEN - 35cm@2250m, 0cm@1500m, 16/19 lifts, 22 runs

Madesimo - OPEN - 20cm@1550m, 50cm@3000m, 6/13 lifts, 13/36 runs

Monterosa - OPEN - 20/200cm, 22/45 lifts, 35/93 runs

Val Gardena - OPEN - 166/207 lifts open across Dolomiti Superski

Snow Report 9 December 2016 - Europe & Japan

Warm and sunny on the pistes in Europe, while first snows blanket parts of Japan. The season is just getting started. Whether you are heading to Europe or Japan this northern winter, read on for the lowdown on conditions.

JAPAN

A fine and sunny weekend at the Japanese resorts. Some snow arrived Monday night, falling quite heavily in Niseko and a sprinkling on the higher areas of the Japanese Alps.

Niseko 03.12.16 - Niseko United Facebook

Snow continued on Tuesday and Wednesday for a nice fall overall so far: 20-30cm Hokkaido and 10-30cm Honshu. Myoko Kogen scored the most in the Alps, while the other resorts got a smaller fall.

The snow is set to continue falling into and through the weekend at all resorts.

Happo One had some lifts running today after the new snow. Zao Onsen got some lifts running as well.

Opening dates at my featured Japanese ski resorts:

Yuzawa (Kagura) - Kagura is OPEN

Niseko (Grand Hirafu) - OPEN - 45cm at base

Nozawa Onsen - part opening (Yamabiko) ASAP

Hakuba (Happo One) - 17th December (partially OPEN at the top)

Zao Onsen - partially OPEN (Chuo lift)

Myoko Kogen - mid-December

FRANCE

Clear and sunny days on the slopes over the last week in France. This often happens at this time of year as the early snowfalls give way to a run of mild, clear weather again.

Isola 2000 03.12.16 - Isola 2000 Facebook

Its even got warmer as the week has progressed and there's not much snow on the horizon right now.

Lets see whats open. Isola 2000 in the Southern Alps opened last weekend. Serre Chevalier opened yesterday. Grand Tourmalet in the Pyrenees suffered a further setback due to the fine weather and put the opening back another week. Les Arcs and Val'd'Allos open this weekend.

Opening dates at my featured French ski stations are:

Val Thorens - OPEN - 60cm@2300m, 26/30 lifts, 61/85 pistes

Val d'Isere - OPEN - 5cm@1850m, 64/77 lifts, 100/167 pistes

Serre Chevalier 01.12.16 - Serre Che Facebook

Chamonix (Grands Montets) - partially OPEN - 30cm@1972m (full opening from 17th December, with the other Chamonix ski areas due to partially open this weekend)

Isola 2000 - OPEN - 30cm@2000m, 22 pistes

Serre Chevalier - OPEN - 145cm@2100m, 7/62 lifts, 9/81 pistes

Les Arcs - 10th December

Val d'Allos - 10th December

Grand Tourmalet -  17th December

Super Besse - when there's enough snow

ITALY

Monterosa 05.12.16 - Monterosa Facebook

A similar story in the Italian Alps.

My featured ski resorts are now all open, at least partially. Monterosa in the Alps and Val Gardena in the Dolomites opened on the weekend.

Opening dates at my featured Italian ski stations:

Madonna di Campiglio - OPEN - 13 lifts, 17 runs

Madesimo - OPEN - 5/13 lifts, 10/36 runs

Monterosa - OPEN - 33/45 lifts, 48/93 runs

Val Gardena - OPEN - 169/207 lifts open across Dolomiti Superski

Snow Report 2 December 2016 - Europe & Japan

A few of the big ski stations in France and Italy opened last weekend, and more are scheduled to start lifts spinning this weekend. In Japan, its still early days but there is some limited skiing available.

Niseko 02.12.16 - www.grand-hirafu.jp

JAPAN

Rain on the weekend hasn't helped get things ready, but for most of Japan its still early days. Hokkaido, however, has earlier starts and Niseko has got some lifts running and the season under way.

Elsewhere its still pretty grassy even on the peaks. Its snowing in Hokkaido today and, after the weekend, it looks like more on the way up there and maybe snow down in Niigata and Nagano as well.

Opening dates at my featured Japanese ski resorts:

Yuzawa (Kagura) - limited skiing at the top of Kagura
Niseko (Grand Hirafu) - OPEN - 45cm at base
Nozawa Onsen - part opening (Yamabiko) ASAP
Hakuba (Happo One) - 17th December (part opening ASAP)
Zao Onsen - early December
Myoko Kogen - mid-December

Val d'Isere 28.11.16 - Val d'Isere Facebook

FRANCE

Its only the first week of December and there is already a lot of skiing available at the higher stations in France. This despite not much snow falling in the last week.

Val Thorens has almost double the lifts and runs compared to last week and Val d'Isere has extensive terrain for skiing and riding. Isola 2000 and Serre Chevalier have lifts spinning for the first time this weekend.

However, there's not so much snow below 2000m, so Grand Tourmalet, for one, has put back its opening another week.

Opening dates at my featured French ski stations are:

Val Thorens - OPEN - 85cm@2300m, 25/30 lifts, 48/85 pistes
Val d'Isere - OPEN - 5cm@1850m, 44/77 lifts, 75/167 pistes
Chamonix (Grands Montets) - OPEN on the weekend - 30cm@1972m
Isola 2000 - 3rd December partial opening
Serre Chevalier - 7th December (with a pre-opening on 3rd December)
Grand Tourmalet -  10th December
Les Arcs - 10th December
Val d'Allos - 10th December
Super Besse - 10th December

Madonna di Campiglio 30.11.16 - Madonna di Campiglio Facebook

ITALY

Some of the larger northern Italian ski resorts are already open for limited skiing.

In the Dolomites, Val Gardena and other Sella Ronda ski areas open this weekend.

Opening dates at my featured Italian ski stations:

Madonna di Campiglio - OPEN - 11 lifts, 10 runs
Madesimo - OPEN - 4 lifts, 7 runs
Monterosa - 3rd December
Val Gardena - 3rd December