The snow has arrived!

It has been heavily anticipated and like it was right on cue heaving snow started falling across Europe over the first weekend in December. This has come as fantastic news for the continent’s ski resorts, some of which have had to postpone opening up their lifts and runs.

The snow did not arrive in time in the French resort of Val d’Isere which was forced to cancel the Criterium de la Premiere Neige. The Criterium which is the most important race in the world calendar was held in Beaver Creek, USA. The cancellation was met with disappointed from all of those in Val which has held the race since 1955.

Due to lack of research on Monday 5th December the London Metro newspaper incorrectly  reported that there has been no snow in Europe despite the heavy dumpings these resorts received over the weekend. Snow began falling across France, Switzerland and Austria on Saturday, according to ski weather website Snow Reports, with some resorts receiving up to 30cm of fresh powder. With heavier snow still expected in some of the more westerly European resorts in the coming days. It is estimated that about 50cm of the white stuff could fall.

France
Tignes currently has the deepest snow in France while neighbouring resort Val d’Isere received 20cm of fresh powder over the weekend giving it a total of 45cm while Val Thorens has 50cm of snow. Many of the resorts are forecast to have more of the white stuff falling – up to 60cm – over the next couple of days.

Switzerland
The fresh bout of snow saw Wengen in Switzerland receive around 15cm, while some of Switzerland’s top resorts are still expected to have a good dumping including Verbier which is forecast another 58cm of snow. Zermatt has already been able to open an extensive amount of its terrain due to its glacial ski areas and the extra snowfall means that conditions in one of Europe’s top resorts are only set to improve.

Austria
Austria saw some of its quaint villages transformed into alpine resorts overnight as snow fell over the weekend with more fresh powder forecast for Wednesday. St Anton and Lech are both expecting up to 47cm of the white stuff to fall in the next couple of days, while Ischgl, Kaprun and Soll are also anticipating a healthy layering of snow.

So if you were starting to panic about missing out on a ski holiday this season, worry no more because the snow has arrived and just in time for the festive season with more snow still forecast!

Image: Hotel St. Cristoph, Austria.