Morzine Snow Report: 2nd February 2015

The consistent snowfall over the past 5 days has brought a complete turn around in weather conditions than what we were experiencing at the start of the season. Our worries are no longer revolving around the lack of snow, but are now focused on the danger posed by this huge dump of snow that has created treacherous conditions on the roads and up in the mountains.

Many skiers and snowboarders arriving in resorts yesterday would have experienced the delays caused by Geneva Airport closing for short periods in the morning, and the road conditions have been particularly difficult, mostly because the snow has been falling too fast to keep the roads clear!

The rate the snow has been falling has made maintaining the slopes particularly difficult too, and in order to keep skiers and snowboarders safe last week, dangerous pistes were closed off and severe weather warnings were issued to ensure visitors and locals were well informed of the risk involved.

High avalanche risk meant the best place to enjoy the fresh powder snow was lower down in the trees in Les Lindarets, and Morzine and Les Gets ski areas where there was plenty for everyone to find some early morning fresh powder treelines. Avoriaz Snowzone closed most of the features in the Chapelle and Arare snowparks, due to poor visibility and heavy snowfall, but and for any park riding the Burton Stash Park was the ideal playground.

Conditions this week are forecast to be manageable across the Portes Du Soleil ski resorts, with a couple of centimetres falling each day and the end of the week seeing the sun peek through the clouds, the slopes will be in good nick! It is likely the avalanche risk will remain high, especially with temperatures climbing at the end of the week, so don’t go off piste unless you are equipped with necessary gear and an experienced guide – it is simply not a danger to be dismissed. On a lighter note, make sure you’ve got you camera out and about this week if your on holiday, because with this much snow piled up on houses and trees the Portes Du Soleil has never looked so white and picturesque!

We hope the great piles snow that have arrived will tempt you into spending many hours out on the slopes this, and what better way to wind down than to grab a drink and listen to some the great live music? Make sure you check out our events calendar for the inside scoop on what’s going on in resort. Happy skiing!

- Ed: News is coming in of an avalanche in Chatel on Saturday in an off piste area. Thankfully the two people concerned had transceivers (avalanche beepers) and were able to free themselves from the slide.