10th November 2023
Verbier is open with Val Thorens the latest to announce an early start to skiing. UPDATED
Snow is now falling in the Alps with cold temperatures and it is set to continue to Sunday in places.
The heaviest snow is in the north-west Alps.
“Over the next few days, there will be a lot more snow in the higher resorts of the western Alps, especially in the French Tarentaise, Val Thorens & Tignes, where another 50-70cm is possible above 2,000m by Sunday night,” said the alpine weather expert, Fraser Wilkin, from weathertoski.co.uk.
“Most of the rest of the Alps will also see some new snow over the next 2-3 days, but with a general rule that the further south-east you are, the less there will be,” added Fraser.
Do check out Weathertoski.co.uk for the very latest.
There was a lull in the weather on Friday in parts of France.
“New snow in Sainte Foy, with a break in the weather today with some sunshine. More snow forecast tomorrow,” said a statement from Premiere-Neige that is based in the resort.
The stormy weather has led to the cancellation of the men’s downhill rave from Zermatt in Switzerland to Cervinia in Italy.
⚠️ Due to the heavy snowfall from last night ❄️ and together with the wind, today’s Men Downhill race in Zermatt-Cervinia is cancelled for safety reasons.
Fingers crossed for tomorrow’s race! 🤞🏻#fisalpine pic.twitter.com/fozWEt2fCx
— FIS Alpine (@fisalpine) November 11, 2023
Next week the temperature is expected to shoot up with the freezing level reaching 2,500 – 2,800m in the western Alps on Monday.
Sadly much of the low-level snow will therefore melt.
Verbier opened the Lac des Vaux area on Friday with skiing down to Les Ruinettes.
This is what it looked like:
C’est ce qu’on appelle se gaver dès le premier jour… ❄️🤤___That feeling of being back on snow… Spoiled from day one! ❄️🤤..#verbier #valdebagnes #valais #switzerland #ski #snow pic.twitter.com/l7IFGNouNf
— Verbier (@VerbierResorts) November 10, 2023
It was a bit of a murky day as the latest storm hit, but most were simply delighted to be back on snow at the start of winter.
Verbier will be open each weekend in November and then the main ski area plans to be open on December 2nd.
On a vraiment été gâtés ces derniers jours ! 🥰❄️ L’hiver arrive en force à #Verbier. 🤘https://t.co/SGzn54dNyh——We’ve been truly spoiled the past few days in #Verbier! 🥰❄️ Winter is coming strong.🤘https://t.co/SGzn54dNyh..@valaiswallis @MySwitzerland_f pic.twitter.com/rUO97U5DmN
— Verbier (@VerbierResorts) November 7, 2023
We have a reporter in Verbier and we’ll be hearing more from him later about how the opening went and what conditions are like.
PlanetSKI editor James Cove was in Verbier in early October looking ahead to next winter:
Tignes has already announced it is opening early – November 18th.
Bumper snowfall in Tignes! ❄️
The ski season is kicking off a week early in the resort of Tignes due to heavy snowfall over several days ⛷️🏂
With over a metre of fresh snow, it’s a fantastic start to the 2023/24 ski season 👏https://t.co/JhuEmMqHvL
📸 @tignesofficiel pic.twitter.com/7pUvRiVdU9
— VIP SKI (@VIP_SKI) November 10, 2023
Now Val Thorens in Les3Vallees has followed suit.
“Due to negative temperatures and significant early snowfall, Val Thorens will be open a week early with some select slopes skiable from November 18, 2023,” said a statement from the resort.
The slopes include the Funitel Péclet, the Cascade chairlift and all the magic carpets in the centre of the resort which will be available from 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
For this pre-opening week only – up to Saturday November 25, 2023 – skiers and snowboarders will be able to hit the slopes at a discounted rate of just €20 per day.
BREAKING NEWS ! 🚨
Une partie du domaine skiable de Val Thorens et sera accessible dès le 18 novembre prochain !Toutes les infos ici : https://t.co/sQbD82dHbo#ValThorens @Val_Tho pic.twitter.com/BzATRZKr5p
— Les 3 Vallées (@3Vallees_france) November 10, 2023
PlanetSKI reporter Simon Wilson will be in the resort the following weekend for its official opening, La Grande Premiere.
Other resorts opening early include Kitzbuhel in the Tirol in Austria that fires up a few lifts on Saturday November 11th.
Several glacier areas in Austria have been open from some weeks and PlanetSKI editor James Cove will making his first turn of the season in Kaunertal and Pitztal in 10-days or so.
More terrain in opening in the resorts.
Cervinia in Italy is planning to open more slopes next week.
From Tuesday November 14, the following plants will be opened on the Italian side:
Plan Maison chairFornet wheelchairBontadini chairBaby La Vieille sillyTapis Plan Maison
The track number 5 will also be open from Saturday 18th November, with the return to the village in️ Sar.
In Italy Madonna di Campiglio opens on November 18th.
We have a full round up of which resorts are open in Europe at the end of this article.
It all comes as more snow is now falling in the Alps as the latest storm hits.
It is forecast to continue across the weekend in places.
The north west Alps will see the most with another 50-80cm of new snow possible above 2,000m by Sunday in the northern French Alps:
Tignes,Val ThorensAvoriaz
And the western Swiss Alps:
It is one of the best starts to the winter in recent years and at altitude it will make a difference for the approaching ski season with a firm base laid down in places at 2,000m and above.
Elsewhere the snow will melt or be affected by rain.
We have been following the autumn snowfall closely on PlanetSKI over the past few weeks:
“Storms have been piling into the Alps for the last two weeks, with snow accumulations of more than 100cm quite widespread now on the upper slopes,” said the Managing Director of Ski Solutions, Ian McIlrath.
“This will ensure a solid base for the winter ahead, and with a lot more snow in the forecast, it’s shaping up to be one of the best starts to the winter ski season that I can remember.
“As news of this exceptional early snowfall gets out, demand to book holidays has exploded.
“Bookings since the beginning of November are up 20% on prior year as clients snap up bargains for December trips.
“The pre-Christmas weeks are the real bargain, with savings of up to £700pp available, though these won’t last long as word of this snowfall spreads”.
See here plenty of offers in the PlanetSKI Deals & Discounts page.
Here are the resorts in Europe offering skiing at the moment, weather permitting:
Austria:
Kaunertal, Soelden, Hintertux, Pitztal, Stubai, Moltaller & Kitzsteinhorn.
Finland:
Levi & Ruka.
Italy:
Passo Stelvio, Solda & Cervinia.
Norway:
Norefjell.
Sweden:
Idre Fjall
Switzerland:
Saas-Fee, Diavloezza, Engadine & Zermatt.
There is currently no skiing on offer in France.
As we have reported Val Thorens and Tignes are opening some slopes on November 18th.
Les2Alpes is scheduled to open on Saturday 2nd December.
Do check back for the latest as the next storm hits an other resorts announce opening dates…