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