Morzine Snow Report: 18th February 2013

Over the last week we’ve had everything from dense fog and snow, to blue bird skies and bright sunshine. Thursday and Friday last week were foggy to say the least. After almost losing my snowboarding companions on Thursday as we dropped into the clouds on the Swiss side of the hills, I decided to play it safe on Friday and ride with them in their local ski area of Morgins. A friend ventured further afield and found better conditions on the French side of the mountains, and it seemed like we missed the sunshine However we did have better snow conditions as the poor visibility seemed to thin out the skiing population and make for quieter pistes. In the more central area of the Portes du Soleil, Friday was a better day weather wise but the pistes were beyond crowded. Looking down into the Lindarets bowl, you could almost imagine you were looking down on an anthill. The area was teeming with skiers and snowboarders waiting to board lifts or find a table in a restaurant. It was not a place for quiet skiing.

Saturday saw the return of some sorely missed sunshine. The temperature was also on the rise and local instructors were finally starting to loose the thermal layers for work in the morning. There was a little fresh snow on Friday night, so if you knew where to go, Saturday was a fantastic day to be on the hillside. Even between the pistes you were able to find fresh tracks early in the morning. It was the end of a busy holiday week and the seasonaires were out making the most of their brief moment of relative peace before the next set of holidaymakers arrive. If you are able to use it, Saturday is usually a quieter day to ski, even in busy periods.

Today saw the warmer weather continuing, even more sunshine, and cloudless skies. Turning up the heat has meant for some harder icier conditions towards the end of the day though, as many will have found out yesterday. Once the piste-bashed corduroy has been scraped off the slopes, the melt freeze conditions of the last few days had made for some very solid snow underneath. To make the most of the current conditions and beautiful weather, you need to get out on the slopes early, and enjoy them at their best, ideally have a long morning ski and a late lunch, and ideally avoid the icy conditions that appear towards the end of the day. It’s going to be beautiful, but icy in the afternoons, for the next couple of days I’m afraid.

The forecast is looking great as far as sunshine and warmer temperatures are concerned. We’re due sun, no cloud, and light wind right the way through to Thursday afternoon. The coldest temperatures are set to be -14 with wind chill, but this is at the very top, so it is much milder than last week.

Sun cream is going to be essential until the end of Thursday afternoon where the wind should pick up slightly and bring with it a little cloud and some light snow overnight. This will continue throughout the day on Friday with higher winds expected in the morning. The skies should clear overnight, and Saturday morning at least should be sunny. Tuesday should be the mildest day this week, but still remember to bring warm clothes, as the weather can change in a second here: even when the sun drops behind the hills there is a massive difference in temperatures.

Sun cream really is going to be important though, being Scottish and pale has already meant that I’ve caught the sun, take heed and don’t go home looking like a red and white Panda.

Keep your fingers crossed for some snow on Friday, and I’ll see you on the sun drenched slopes of Les Portes du Soleil this week.

Bon ski!