Welcome to another review of snow conditions from around the World, together with prospects for the week ahead from www.snow-forecast.com.
Since tumbling stock markets are making headlines worldwide, I'll kick off this week with a financial diversion that has could benefit snow lovers. For skiers from America, Europe and Japan, pleasant side effects of turmoil in the markets are substantially weakened Australian and Kiwi dollars. They have fallen by about 10-15% against your currencies so if you don't want to wait another 4 or 5 months before the northern season is underway, consider an Antipodean trip to take advantage of more affordable prices and excellent snow conditions! For a long trip, begin at the resorts that tend to close soonest - usually those in Australia or the Southern Lakes of New Zealand, then head north through New Zealand as the season advances, taking in the unique atmosphere of the Club Fields (purchase an excellent value Chill pass and explore many different resorts). Hopefully you can end with superb uncrowded skiing on Mt. Ruapehu in late October and November, fully 3 months away.
Conditions in New Zealand are on the up: About a week ago, a warm NW gale briefly did serious damage to the snow cover of many South Island resorts. First, the 120kph wind blew exposed slopes bare and then it rained heavily to about 1700m, soaking the remaining base with water. The rain turned to wet snow that froze solid below mid stations and got loaded with avalanche-prone unbonded new snow high up. New snow varied from about 30cm at most ski fields to 3m of fresh snow at the Main Divide - Treble Cone had over 50cm and off-piste there was a high risk of avalanches. On Monday, much colder air brought slow moving snow showers across much of the Southern Alps and even to inland parts of the Canterbury Plains. Monday's snow was drier and powdery but very variable in distribution with the heaviest falls at Broken River and Craigieburn (15 cm) but relatively little for nearby Porters. Excellent conditions followed the snow at the club fields, but with a high risk of avalanches.
The same snow showers moved away to the north and delivered dry snow to Mt Lyford and Rainbow - both enjoying the best conditions of the season so far. On Thursday night another low moved in off the Tasman and brought about 10cm of fresh snow to many resorts but it mostly missed the Southern Lakes. The great news is that Mt Olympus will be opening on Saturday but the not so good news is that Temple Basin may not open this season at all - a great shame. The week ahead looks like it will be dominated by a cool SW airstream around a Tasman high, with periods of snow showers, more especially between now and Wednesday. There will be good snow-making conditions throughout.
Australia
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Last week for Australia saw light snowfalls at most ski resorts. Mount Baw Baw fared better than most with 16cm of snow falling over the last week. In general, the theme was for cold nights providing good snow-making conditions and hard pistes first thing that soon softened during the morning. The week ended on a more showery note and on Thursday night, Thredbo saw 5cm of fresh snow with a perfect sunny day to follow. As the thundery trough clears into the Tasman, expect a couple of days of low temperatures and snow showers, with the snow level lowering to about 1300m before the showers die away on Sunday afternoon. Pressure will then slowly build across the Alpine region with a settled week in prospect.
South America
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The biggest snow event of last week was a deep depression that hit the Andes much as predicted. As expected, it turned especially cold and snowy across the southern Andes. Snow coated the fields of Chile's normally temperate central valley wine and farm region for the first time in half a century on Wednesday, causing officials to declare an emergency to avoid traffic accidents. There were even reports of 4 hours of snow falling in Santiago City which is fairly unusual because of the low altitude; about 500m. Even so, it was nothing like as bad as the snowstorm of 1970 that collapsed roofs across the city. Nearby Chilean resorts, already enjoying an exceptional ski season saw further heavy snow and La Parva is currently reporting an accumulation of well over 4m. Chile is enduring its coldest winter in 30 years.
Over the border in Argentina, Cerro Catedral received the most snow with over 50cm falling on Monday and Tuesday, while 30cm of new snow enhanced the cover at Chapelco. Not for the first time this season, Las Lenas missed out altogether. Right now the Andes are enjoying the tail end of a settled spell but the week ahead promises to be an unsettled one - once again with heavy snow. Initially, strong, gusty and reasonably mild NW winds will develop ahead of an approaching Pacific depression. A series of fronts in a disturbed westerly air flow will cross the region between Monday and Wednesday, each one introducing colder weather as the wind turns more SW. A bitterly cold and potentially very snowy southerly blast should arrive late in the week, hopefully clearing away by next weekend to provide perfect skiing conditions once again.
European Alps
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As forecast, last week tended warm and wet with rain closing many glaciers across Europe. The week ahead will be very different. High pressure developing off SW Ireland will direct a northerly airflow over the Alps so much lower temperatures are expected. By mid-week the freezing level over the Austrian Alps will fall well below 3000m. The further away you get from the centre of the anticyclone, the more chance you have of seeing snow showers but even the glacier at Tignes in the French Alps should at least see a dusting of new snow. Eventually the high pressure should topple onto the continent making for a fine and settled end to the week with some great high altitude skiing to be found for those who are lucky enough to be there.
Have a good week,
Rob - www.snow-forecast.com
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