How are Ski Conditions in Europe?

Fresh snow in the Alps during the last week of January has led to some of the best conditions of the season with depths on the higher altitude slopes increasing significantly. Meanwhile, avalanches are a risk with some heavy rain at lower altitudes.

 

French Alps

In the French Alps, 78 out of 82 resorts are open as reported by Ski Resort. Among the most well-known, Tignes and Val d’Isère have 96% of their slopes open while Les Deux Alpes is operating at 100%.

As of early February, Italy has 75 of 79 resorts open and Switzerland 84 of 87 with most resorts reporting 90-100% of slopes open. Austria recently had up to 50cm of snow fall with most resorts reporting substantial snow cover and most slopes open.

 

Italian Alps and Dolomites

After a dearth of snow, the Dolomites also received significant snowfall in late January. Occasional snow looks probable for both the Alps and the Dolomites through 11 February before a drier, slightly colder stretch invades by the middle of the month as high pressure to the north becomes more dominant.

However, the French and Italian Alps may fare better at times. Milder conditions should develop later in February with below-average snowfall for most areas.

 

Scandinavia and Finland

In Scandinavia and Finland, conditions are also favourable, especially at higher elevations in the north. Snow depth is near normal for the time of year in northern parts of Norway and Sweden, with Tromsø, Narvik and Kiruna having periodic snow recently. However avalanche risks due to wet snow in places, mainly at lower elevations.

Unfortunately, Southern Norwegian and Swedish resorts have not fared quite as well with temperatures occasionally above freezing. For example, Oslo, Lillehammer and Åre, are experiencing slushier conditions than preferred.

Conditions in Finland are most favourable in Lapland with resorts like Levi and Rovaniemi enjoying good powder—even at lower elevations. By contrast, fluctuating temperatures in southern Finnish resorts have resulted in some icy conditions.

The short-range weather forecast calls for additional bouts of snow before mid-February in the northern half of Norway and far northern Sweden. However a few days of milder conditions could see wetter snow and rather slushy conditions at lower elevations. High pressure will build across southern Scandinavia, so rather dry weather is going to develop, with below-average temperatures and valley fog.

These drier, colder conditions will encompass northern Scandinavia and Finland by mid-February with much less snowfall than average. Increased snowfall should return later in February before becoming milder again.

 

Conclusion

Overall, Northern Europe’s ski resorts have good ski conditions for enthusiasts with a significant number of slopes open and lifts running. It’s always advisable for visitors to check specific resort websites for weather updates and slope conditions before planning a trip.