The major ski resorts of Europe are heading into Easter with hugely impressive snow depths at all elevations but with the freezing level rising surface conditions are now variable. The forecast for the Alps also predicts periods of heavy precipitation and due to the milder air that means rain, sleet and snow between resort elevation and top station. North America heads into Easter with wonderful conditions in the leading Canadian resorts and in the USA good sport is still on offer right along the Rockies. However rising spring temperatures mean in the north east of the US the snow conditions are now becoming more variable and trails will soon be closing for the season.
France
There is fresh snow cover for the French resorts this Easter but how dry or wet that snow is depends on elevation. Next week the freezing level will be as high as 3,000m at times and so skiers will be heading high to find the best sport. Snow depths are certainly not a problem right now but snow quality will become more of an issue through April. Argentiere (1,240m) still holds over 4 metres of snow on upper slopes and the week ahead forecast predicts over 50cm of fresh snow for this elevation, but at valley level here - and across the French Alps - rain showers and sunny periods can be expected through Easter.
Austria
The freezing level has risen in the Austrian Alps and milder weather next week will mean skiers heading a high as possible to find the best snow conditions. Sölden (1,380m), with skiing to an elevation of 3,060m, will be one of the best locations in Austria for Easter as upper slopes will be well above the freezing level. Today Sölden is offering 30 of 31 lifts and the snow base on upper slopes is still recorded at 350cm deep. The resort has over 60cm of snowfall predicted by the seven-day forecast so skiers here could be enjoying deep powder conditions for Easter, though do note at resort elevation rain is expected.
Switzerland
It has been snowing again in Switzerland but the freezing level has risen and will rise higher through Easter week. Snow cover on low level slopes in the leading Swiss resorts are now wet so skiers are heading high to find the best surface conditions. Verbier (1,500m) is today operating 69 of 80 lifts and beneath top station at 3,300m the snow is fresh and dry. Daytime resort temperatures through Easter will average 7ºC and rain showers can be expected, but on high slopes as much as 30cm of fresh snow will accumulate. Weather for Easter across Switzerland will be mixed with rain, snow and sunshine all possible.
Italy
The Italian Alps and the Dolomites have caught the best of the Alpine weather in recent days and skiing has been good, however temperatures have become more spring-like and lower slopes now typically hold wet snow conditions. The forecast for Easter is mixed and unsettled with periods of rain, sleet, snow and also sunshine. The freezing level will climb to almost 3,000m early next week, when mostly sunny weather will dominate, but prior to that significant precipitation is expected - falling as rain at resort level but as snow on slopes above mid station and dry powder on Italy's highest pistes.
Canada
The holiday week weather in the leading Canadian resorts of Alberta and British Columbia will be mixed with periods of sunshine and snow but the predicted temperatures look cool enough to preserve fine surface conditions at all elevations. Lake Louise (1,646m) in Alberta is today offering superb skiing on fresh and groomed dry snow and all 10 lifts are operational. Average temperatures at resort level through the next week will be -3ºC and with 20cm of fresh snow forecast, skiers can expect trails at all elevations to offer powdery snow and excellent Easter skiing conditions.
USA
The premier resorts of the USA are in good shape for Easter with the resorts of California, Colorado, Nevada and Utah typically offering groomed dry snow at all elevations. In New England conditions have become more variable with spring-like snow conditions now the norm. The stand-out US ski location for the week ahead is Jackson Hole (1,924m) in Wyoming as today they are skiing deep fresh powder snow at all elevations with all terrain and all uplift available. Below top station at 3,185m the snow base is still over 3 metres deep and the next five days promises another 50cm of powder snowfall.
Andorra
The Pyrenees rarely have such impressive snow cover at this stage of the season and this means Easter week should offer excellent skiing, when overhead conditions are favourable. The forecast though is rather mixed with periods of rain or snow, and also some sunshine, to be expected over the next seven days. Today the ski domains of the Grandvalira and Vallnord are fully open and Soldeu (1,710m) is offering all 18 lifts with all pistes open. Beneath top station at 2,560m the snow base is still over 2 metres deep and the forecast indicates at this elevation 20cm of fresh snow is likely this weekend.
Eastern Europe
The region attracted global media interest in the past week when Sahara sand and Siberian snow combined to produce to the most unusual ski headline, and surface conditions, of the winter as images of orange snow were shared. Snow conditions have subsequently normalised and so too have air temperatures as mild spring weather finally arrives across the region. In Bulgaria the resort of Borovets (1,320m) is enjoying some of the best pre-Easter skiing and snow conditions for many years and through next week the resort plans to keep running all 13 lifts for skiing on pistes at all elevations.
Scandinavia
The leading ski resorts of Finland, Norway and Sweden are in great shape with typically pisted surface conditions firm and dry at all elevations. In Norway the most impressive snow cover is at Voss (300m) where below top station at 950m the snow base is close to 270cm deep. Today in Voss 9 of 11 lifts are open and providing access to all pistes. Average resort level temperatures for the week ahead will be just above 0ºC and overhead conditions here, and across the region, will be mostly dry and bright.
Scotland
Snow is still falling in the Highlands and all five of the Scottish ski centres are in superb shape as we head into Easter. Seldom are conditions this good at this stage of the season in terms of snow cover with more or less all pistes in Scotland fully complete at all elevations. Temperatures through the weekend will remain relatively low with further significant snowfall arriving from the north-east and this will favour Cairngorm, Glenshee and the Lecht in the East Highlands over Glencoe and Nevis Range in the west, but skiers will find good sport at all centres when overhead conditions are decent.