Alpine ski resorts opening early after massive snowfall

Stubai Glacier

Dig out your woolly jumpers and dust off your equipment… ski season is here! In an early-season gift from Mother Nature, several ski areas across the Alps have received up to a metre of new snow in the last 48 hours. From France to Switzerland, Austria to Italy, lucky villages have been blanketed in white for a great start to the week. Thanks to the abundance of fresh powder, a few ski areas are even announcing early start dates for the ski season. Take a look below to find out which ski resorts are up and running, and to keep up to date on the current skiing conditions in the Alps.

Ski season comes early

Thanks to the impressive snowfall, a handful of ski areas have decided to start the season earlier or open even more slopes than planned this weekend. Stubaital and Pitztal Glacier were so inundated with snow that they had to remain temporarily closed on Monday!

Video: Reporter Oska Beumers in Sölden

Sölden expands operations at Giggijoch

Sölden-Hochsölden-Vent was one of the first ski resorts to announce its expanded lift operations this week after the massive snowfall. The Giggijoch ski area opens on Friday, November 10. The Giggijoch cable car as well as five lifts and four slopes will be open, as will the Giggijoch restaurant and the Rotkogelhütte. In addition, all the slopes on the Rettenbach and Tiefenbach glaciers in Sölden are open.

Ski areas across Austia inundated with snow

Early this week, Bilden at Gurgl was smothered in 65cm of new snow. Obergurgl-Hochgurgl is scheduled to open next week on Thursday, November 16. Ischgl received 35cm of new snow and is scheduled to open on November 23.

No shortage of snowfall in Switzerland

Verbier, part of Les 4 Vallées, received about 40cm of fresh snow. The largest ski resort in Switzerland plans to start operations earlier than planned, on Friday, November 10. Thanks to low temperatures over the last few days the snow cannons have also been busy producing extra snow, making it possible to open the slopes at Lac des Vaux.

Several French ski areas opening soon

Over in France, the glacier at Tignes is open for skiing already and its sister resort, Val d'Isère, will be opening on November 25. Courchevel is a winter wonderland after having received 15cm of fresh snow in the village yesterday. Along with the rest of the Les Trois Vallées ski area, Courchevel has a projected opening date of December 9.

Glaciers to open more pistes soon

We can also expect glaciers such as Stubai, Pitztal, Kaunertal and Kitzsteinhorn to open more pistes for the weekend after having received about a metre of fresh snow over the last few days.

More snow expected later this week in the Alps

Weather continues to be variable this week in the Alps. In many places we expect a mix of sun and clouds, with temperatures around the freezing point and some snowfall. From Friday, temperatures will rise in the mountains. This may bring sunshine above the cloud line and make for sunny skies on Saturday in the higher-altitude ski areas. Starting Sunday, more snow will come from the north.

Stubai Glacier

Dig out your woolly jumpers and dust off your equipment… ski season is here! In an early-season gift from Mother Nature, several ski areas across the Alps have received up to a metre of new snow in the last 48 hours. From France to Switzerland, Austria to Italy, lucky villages have been blanketed in white for a great start to the week. Thanks to the abundance of fresh powder, a few ski areas are even announcing early start dates for the ski season. Take a look below to find out which ski resorts are up and running, and to keep up to date on the current skiing conditions in the Alps.

Ski season comes early

Thanks to the impressive snowfall, a handful of ski areas have decided to start the season earlier or open even more slopes than planned this weekend. Stubaital and Pitztal Glacier were so inundated with snow that they had to remain temporarily closed on Monday!

Video: Reporter Oska Beumers in Sölden

Sölden expands operations at Giggijoch

Sölden-Hochsölden-Vent was one of the first ski resorts to announce its expanded lift operations this week after the massive snowfall. The Giggijoch ski area opens on Friday, November 10. The Giggijoch cable car as well as five lifts and four slopes will be open, as will the Giggijoch restaurant and the Rotkogelhütte. In addition, all the slopes on the Rettenbach and Tiefenbach glaciers in Sölden are open.

Ski areas across Austia inundated with snow

Early this week, Bilden at Gurgl was smothered in 65cm of new snow. Obergurgl-Hochgurgl is scheduled to open next week on Thursday, November 16. Ischgl received 35cm of new snow and is scheduled to open on November 23.

No shortage of snowfall in Switzerland

Verbier, part of Les 4 Vallées, received about 40cm of fresh snow. The largest ski resort in Switzerland plans to start operations earlier than planned, on Friday, November 10. Thanks to low temperatures over the last few days the snow cannons have also been busy producing extra snow, making it possible to open the slopes at Lac des Vaux.

Several French ski areas opening soon

Over in France, the glacier at Tignes is open for skiing already and its sister resort, Val d'Isère, will be opening on November 25. Courchevel is a winter wonderland after having received 15cm of fresh snow in the village yesterday. Along with the rest of the Les Trois Vallées ski area, Courchevel has a projected opening date of December 9.

Glaciers to open more pistes soon

We can also expect glaciers such as Stubai, Pitztal, Kaunertal and Kitzsteinhorn to open more pistes for the weekend after having received about a metre of fresh snow over the last few days.

More snow expected later this week in the Alps

Weather continues to be variable this week in the Alps. In many places we expect a mix of sun and clouds, with temperatures around the freezing point and some snowfall. From Friday, temperatures will rise in the mountains. This may bring sunshine above the cloud line and make for sunny skies on Saturday in the higher-altitude ski areas. Starting Sunday, more snow will come from the north.