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Snow & Weather

Avalanches Warnings Across US Ski Areas

Heavy snow is falling with increased danger of avalanche.  There have been 600 recorded avalanches in Colorado alone this winter.

Snow & Arctic Cold in Scotland

The ski areas of Scotland could be set for an early Christmas present with a prolonged Arctic blast hitting the Highlands over the next few days. UPDATED

Innsbruck: A City Made for Skiing

As PlanetSKI starts its season we have moved on from the Otztal Valley in the Tirol in Austria to Innsbruck. It’s the self-proclaimed capital of the Alps and for good reason. NEW

Around 125 Ski Resorts Now Open in Europe

More resorts and ski areas open this weekend. There has been some fresh snow & cold temperatures have allowed the snow cannons to pump out artificial snow as the main season approaches. PlanetSKI was in Schlick 2000 in the Tirol as it opened. UPDATED

PlanetSKI is Back On Snow!

PlanetSKI is in the Tirol to start our season. Five resorts in a week. Or maybe more, & longer. UPDATED

Change to Avalanche Warnings in Switzerland

Starting this winter, the SLF is enhancing the precision of its reporting by subdividing the danger level in its avalanche bulletins. It will indicate whether the danger is towards the bottom end, in the middle or towards the uppermost end of the reported level.

US Ski Resorts Open + More Snow in Canada

The Thanksgiving Holiday weekend in the USA has seen a multitude of ski resorts open for the season. Some have the best early season conditions in years. UPDATED

Snow Sculptures Back in Ischgl this Winter

The slopes of Ischgl in the Austrian Tirol will see the 29th anniversary of the resort’s Shapes in White exhibition.

The Ski Season of 2022/23 Starts

Around 40 resorts in the Alps are offering some skiing, with dozens now open in North America.

More Snow is Falling in the Alps

Another storm is hitting, starting off the season nicely in many places. At last winter is here folks. UPDATED

Obergurgl Celebrates its Season-Opening

The resorts of Obergurgl and Hochgurgl in the Tirol have opened for the season. PlanetSKI was amoung the lucky ones making their first turns of the winter.

Snow Falls in the Alps as More Resorts Open

Some much needed snow is falling with more forecast. PlanetSKI is in the Austrian Alps. UPDATED

More US Ski Resorts Open Early After Fresh Snow

Heavy snow is falling in the USA with many resorts opening early to take advantage of conditions. We look at the state of play in North America as the season gets off to a great start. UPDATED

Another French Resort Delays Opening Due to Lack of Snow

Val d’Isere has followed Val Thorens in announcing a delay to the start of the season. Warm weather is to blame, but there is snow in the forecast. UPDATED

First Non-Glacier Resorts Open in the Alps

Verbier was first out of the blocks on Friday, followed by Arosa/Lenzerheide, Sulda & Kitzbuhel. UPDATED

More Ski Resorts Opening in the USA

Nine US resorts are now open with some skiing on offer in three states – Colorado, Utah and California. Two more resorts, Timberline & Brighton, are opening some slopes this Friday. UPDATED

Ski Resorts Opening in Canada

Lake Louise, Sunshine Village, Mt Norquay and Nakiska in Alberta are open. The first resort in British Columbia, Big White, opens this Thursday. UPDATED

Austria Glacier Ski Areas Enjoy Some Fresh Snow

The latest storm has given the open glacier areas some welcome fresh snow. PlanetSKI readers are out enjoying some turns. We look at current conditions & ahead to some resort openings. UPDATED

With Cop27 Underway Recent Report Paints Worrying Picture of Glacier Melt

UNESCO says some of the most well-known glaciers in the world will have melted by 2050. They include the Dolomites in Italy, Mt Kilimanjaro and those in the Yosemite & Yellowstone parks in the USA. Alpine glaciers will also be affected.

Snow Falls in The Alps

There’s been some welcome snow across the Alps but temperatures are set to rise this week. UPDATED

First Ski Resorts In Canada Open With More to Follow

Lake Louise opens today as Sunshine Village got its season underway on Thursday. Five US resorts are already open as Wolf Creek begins its season. UPDATED

Early Season Snow Falls in North America with Resorts Opening

Loveland opens on Thursday. It joins Winter Park, Keystone & Arapahoe Basin. UPDATED

Ski Resorts Around Queenstown in New Zealand Claim Bumper Winter

It has been a tale of two islands in New Zealand this winter. The South Island has claimed a record winter, but it has been somewhat different on the North Island. NEW

First Ski Resort in USA Opens

Arapahoe Basin in Colorado is out of the blocks and fired up its first lift on Sunday. Other resorts in the area may open some slopes next weekend. Winter is coming folks. UPDATED

Thinking of Skiing in Austria This Coming Winter?

We have asked the Austrian National Tourist Office to tells us about its attractions – new and old.

Winter is Coming With World Cup Racing Good to Go + More Resorts Opening in Europe

This weekend’s GS Races in Austria have been given the go ahead as more resorts have fired up some lifts in the Alps and Scandinavia. Snow making is also underway in the USA with A-Basin set to open this weekend. UPDATED

Two NZ Ski Resorts Placed in Voluntary Administration After Poor Winter

The Tūroa and Whakapapa ski areas are on the North Island . External experts are to be appointed to see if they can survive. Poor snow, which some say is caused by climate change, are to blame along with the impact of Covid-19 restrictions since 2020.

Satellites Could be Used to Detect and Help Predict Avalanches

Swiss scientists are undertaking research to see if satellite technology and images taken from space could predict them and offer safety advice. The results so far are encouraging.

Another Austrian Glacier Ski Area Opens + Skiing Starts in Finland

Kitzsteinhorn in SalzburgerLand opened on Friday with its Glacier Park opening on Saturday. Six glacier ski areas are now open in Austria with five others in Italy and Switzerland. Resorts in Finland have opened too with snowmaking starting in the USA. UPDATED

Full Extent of Summer Swiss Glacier Melt Revealed

Switzerland has the most glaciers of any country in Europe. This summer they lost 6% of their size. Several have virtually disappeared with the situation described as ‘disastrous’.

More Glacier Areas Open for Skiing & Snowboarding

It comes as fresh snow is continuing to fall with many resorts looking rather wintery. The autumn snow will make little difference for the ski season ahead, but has certainly helped the glacier ski areas. More open in Austria and Cervinia in Italy fires up some lifts. UPDATED

Glacier Ski Areas in Austria Are Opening

Hintertux and Soelden already have slopes open with others making final preparations after the temperatures have dropped and fresh snow has arrived. The winter of 2022/23 is around the corner with significant snow forecast for this week. UPDATED

Zermatt Re-Opens for Skiing and Snowboarding

The Swiss resort that is normally open year-round closed its  glacier ski area this summer. It was a symbol of the impact of climate change. Val Senales in Italy has also re-opened with Soelden in Austria set to fire up some lifts on its glacier at the weekend. UPDATED

More Glacier Ski Areas Open in the Alps

The first snow of autumn has fallen in the Alps and over in North America too. Plus there has been further falls down under in Australia as the ski season there draws to a close. Three glaciers resorts in the Alps have opened some slopes this week. UPDATED

Dachstein Glacier To Remain Shut This Season as Climate Change Takes its Toll

The warm summer temperatures have reduced the size of the Austrian glacier. The lifts are now unstable as the ice has melted and the permafrost has been damaged. Large crevasses have also opened up.

Climate Change Impacts Adventure Sports in the Mountains

Climate change is making adventure tourism more challenging and sometimes riskier. That’s the claim from travel industry bodies, tour operators and mountain experts.

Swiss Glaciers Have Lost Half Their Mass in Last 85 Years

Switzerland has nearly half the total number of glaciers in the Alps. The melt rate is accelerating and they may all have disappeared by the end of the 21st century according to a new report. The latest concerns centre on the impact on the water reserves of Europe with glaciers referred to as the ‘water towers of Europe’.

NZ Ski Area Closes Due to Poor Snow with 130 Staff Laid Off…… UPDATED

Mount Ruapehu, on the North Island, has laid off around a third of its workers as many slopes are bare and some areas have had to close. Ski resorts on the South Island report good snow conditions.

Some Glaciers in Himalayas Resisting Climate Change Melt

Some areas of glaciers in the Karakoram Range are defying the global trend of glaciers losing mass. The glaciers of the Himalayas are melting, but not in one area. It appears to be due to an increase in precipitation from the west. NEW

Alpine Glaciers Set for Highest Ice Loss in 60 Years

The summer heatwaves in Europe are having a significant impact with glaciers shrinking sharply. This year is when many have woken up to the fact that on current projections it is likely many glaciers will disappear in the coming decades. UPDATED

Another Glacier Resort in Europe Set to Close

The Fonna glacier resort in Norway is closing its summer season early on August 21st as conditions deteriorate.  It had been the only place where summer skiing bore some semblance to normal conditions. NEW

Melting Glaciers Reveal Human Remains

Two bodies have been found in separate sites in Switzerland as the glaciers recede under high summer temperatures.  It follows the discovery of wreckage from a plane crash in 1968.

Receding Glacier Reveals Wreckage from 1968 Swiss Plane Crash

A mountain guide has found wreckage of a plane that crashed in 1968 on the Aletsch glacier in Switzerland. As the glaciers melt across the mountains more of their secrets are being given up.

French Mayor Says Climbers Should Pay  €15,000 Deposit to Ascend Mont Blanc

The Major of Saint-Gervais, Jean-Marc Peillex, says it is needed to cover possible rescue and funeral expenses. Saint-Gervais sits at the base Western Europe’s highest mountain. UPDATED

Heavy Snow & Rain in Australian Ski Resorts

20cm has fallen in some resorts with resorts in New South Wales seeing the best of it. However the latest storm is expected to bring heavy rain and some resorts have closed their lifts. UPDATED

Zermatt Suspends Summer Skiing as Glacier Melts

It is the latest resort to call off summer skiing as the warm summer temperatures take their toll.  Hintertux in Austria is now the only on summer ski resort in the Alps open to the general public.

Great Salt Lake in Utah at Lowest Level Ever Recorded

The largest salt water lake in the Western Hemisphere has reached its lowest level since records began. The lake is claimed to have a significant impact on the quality of winter snow in Utah.

Further Snow Falls Down Under

The ski seasons in Australia and New Zealand are well underway with a great start to winter and more snow is now falling. UPDATED

Skiing & Snowboarding Underway in South America

The main ski areas in Argentina and Chile are now open for their 2022 season. There have been some decent conditions so far and for some it’s the first time they have been open since 2019 as Covid-19 spread.

Les2Alpes Ends Summer Glacier Skiing as Temperatures Soar

It is the latest resort to end its summer skiing operations.  There are continued high temperatures and a lack of fresh snow after a modest winter for snowfall. It raises questions about how long summer glacier skiing can carry on in alpine resorts. UPDATED

Italy Declares State of Emergency Over Drought

It is the worst drought in 70 years and follows poor levels of winter snow and precious little rain since. The alpine areas are badly affected and it will impact on summer glacier skiing. UPDATED

Final Death Toll in Italian Glacier Collapse Reaches 11

It was feared a 12th person could have been killed, but rescuers now say there is no reason to believe the toll will be higher. A day of mourning has been held. Rising temperatures have been widely blamed for the tragedy. UPDATED

Warnings of Further Glacier Collapses as Climate Change Makes Mountains Unstable

In Switzerland scientists are monitoring the mountain above Kandersteg which is moving several meters a year. A new crack has been spotted on the Marmolada glacier in Italy that partially collapsed killing 11 people earlier this month. UPDATED

Six People Die After Collapse of Italian Glacier

The accident happened in the Dolomites in northern Italy.  The collapse triggered an avalanche of rocks, snow and ice that hit a number of hikers. Eight other people were injured, two are reported to be in a serious condition. It’s feared the death toll could rise as the search operation resumes. UPDATED

Fresh Warning on Alpine Snow Levels

A new study claims the number of snow days where snow lies on the ground in the Alps will halve by 2100 if greenhouse emissions remain high. Mountain seasonal snow cover is undergoing major changes due to global climate change, but action can be taken. NEW

Skiing & Snowboarding Re-Start in Sunshine Village for Canada Day

Some slopes are now open and they will hopefully stay open to Sunday July 3rd. Friday July 1st is Canada Day. The resort hasn’t opened at this time of year for over three decades. UPDATED

State of Emergency Set to be Declared in Italian Alps as Drought Worsens

There has been no rain for almost 4-months in places. It follows a winter that saw snowfall levels down 70%, so there has also been precious little meltwater filling the rivers and reservoirs.

Everest Base Camp Set to Move Due to Climate Change

The camp is on the Khumbu glacier that is melting rapidly. A new site needs to be found at a lower altitude where there is no year-round ice. Rising temperatures are hitting the glaciers in the Himalayas hard. NEW

Low Levels of Winter Snow in Italy Lead to Worst Drought in 70 years & Water Rationing

Some people in the ski regions of Piedmont and Lombardy have been asked to ration water in the sharpest drought in the area for 70-years. It follows one of the worst winters for snow in recent years. UPDATED

Summer Skiing Opens on Whistler/Blackcomb Glacier

It’s the first time the glacier has opened in the Canadian resort since 2019. There were fears that skiing and snowboarding in the summer might be over forever.  However there are restrictions and worries for the future of glacier riding.

Snow report

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