dubmuffin

I does look lovely, is that road to Val d'isere the Col de l'Iseran?

We travelled back from Val d'isere on 30th December just missing the travel chaos due to a very early transfer. It was snowing so heavily on that last evening I just had to go out for a walk (beer) despite the need for an early night! Since we returned, I have been avidly watching the reports and photos with utter amazement and awe. How incredible the weather has been there since we left. Like buses, 3 years worth of snow in one go:) Tempted as I am to go back asap to Val or Tignes, or even Italy, to make the most of it, we are trying to meet up with friends in Spain in early March so any thoughts on the likelihood of decent snow in Sierra Nevada or Andorra soon would be appreciated ? Their snow depths look paltry in comparison. I do feel for those in the Alps who have arrived but have been unable to ski, must be very frustrating ?

It's gone extra weird here in Croydon, can just about see the sky to the west from my basement window and it's dark, feels all eclipsy....

Popped in here for a moan, hope no-one minds? Depressing isn't it? Autumnal at the wrong time of year, we did light the woodburner last night, just to cheer ourselves up a bit. Probably be a scorching October.... I don't mind the rain in the form of heavy showers as long as the sun comes out and it's hot, but today's gloom is really bringing me down - I want to plan outdoor stuff and it just isn't sunny enough to inspire.

Hey, thanks for the list. Despite the fact that it is the end of the season, I am now looking forward to next winter and already doing some R&D. Having done a bit of a whirlwind tour of the big French resorts this year, I'm keen to try Austria again now that we can ski. Snow reliability is a worry at Christmas (probably my next chance to ski), but I think we could easily do a DIY trip via Innsbruck or Salzburg when the conditions look good, maybe in late Jan or early Feb, so your list is really helpful. We have been spoilt by ski in/out convenience in France with my mileage hungry brother, but maybe a slightly more relaxed couples ski break is in order, and if we have to bus it to the pistes so be it. Serfaus and Obertauren look like tempting options.

I know, so frustrating! Seeing pictures of loads of snow in Val Thorens the day after we left - but good news for the Dutch Week crowd who are all still there

I've seen some fantastic snow pics lately, Germany, Austria and eastern Europe have done well from this spell of cold weather. We are off to Val Thorens today for 5 days and the weather forecast is for sun with warmer temps than of late, which is good news for us but it doesn't look like there has been much new snow there according to Bergfex. I'll be taking tshirts this time!

Evening all, just thought I'd post a quick update. It's our last night in Courchevel 1650 and we have had an amazing week. It has felt hotter than some of my summer holidays! The skiing has been challenging at times with a lot of moguled slopes and yesterday's trip to Meribel was particularly unpleasant low down. Today I was hoping for snow, but it was more like rain until about 2000m. Lunched in the snow and skied back down again with poor visibility. We left the slopes early today, as lower down the snow got pretty slushy. I'm not sure how the snow is going to last into next week and beyond without a more positive forecast, but there is still time before Easter and our late April Val Thorens trip. Our three beginners had lessons with New Gen and excelled, it's been lovely to see their progress and enjoyment, with one of them beating me down confidently on reds by the end of the week! I put that down to the 25 year age advantage!

Those pics from Val Cenis are fantastic , love the snowmen but not keen on the coach story, I was a bit concerned about arriving at Chambéry on Sunday to a snowstorm, and a tricky transfer, but in the latest forecasts, it seems to have disappeared. The current snow is great for all the resorts and will hopefully last until Easter and beyond

That's a perfect pre ski holiday weather forecast! Sad news about more avalanche deaths, I've not really ventured off piste yet, but it seems you don't have to go far to be at risk, the Tignes avalanche was just behind the hotel we stayed in at Christmas not actally far from the pistes

Evening all, I've been watching the posts with interest but haven't had the chance to reply. I felt sure that we'd all get some more snow in March for our various holidays and it has finally come! We booked a week in Courchevel back in early Feb, so as you can imagine, I've had my fingers crossed for a while. We arrive on 12th, so it looks like there will be fresh snow, and maybe high temps to start with, and a chance of more snow in the week (using my amateur weather knowledge). So its t shirts and thermals weather, and don't forget to waterproof the jacket. Can't wait, got a complete beginner with us, I hope she falls in love with skiing just as I did!

There is a considerable roar outside the office now, is this the windiest it has been all day in Croydon?

Good to see some daytime snow from my work window - very pretty and quite distracting - shame it is the last hurrah of the cold snap and not the beginning...

I gave up on it after reports on this thread - and the lamppost doesn't lie

It's like I have been holding my breath all day waiting for this moment - snow in Croydon at last, just in time for the rush hour and an exhilarating cycle ride home:) How happy am I?

Did some one mention a mild sector?

Happy New Year all, feels colder today in South London than it did all week in sunny Tignes! We had a great Christmas week on the slopes, beautiful weather and the snow seemed pretty good considering it had been hanging around for a month, but by the end of the week, we had worn it out a bit for the New Year skiers. Now home and looking forward to our next trip in March - where shall we go I wonder? I'm sure it will snow somewhere in Europe before then! In the meantime I'll be enjoying the snow reports vicariously:)

They all look so enticing, make me want to book a flight out right now, but will probably have to make do with a trip to Hemel for my pre Xmas snow fix

Nice to see the snow thread back! We've booked Tignes for Christmas this year hoping to guarantee some snow. I've had my eye on the webcams there and good to wake up today and see the landscape has turned white! Early days but a promising start, almost as exciting as waking up to a covering here in South London:)

Phew! Thought we'd lost it then, I finally see some sun out of my office window

Where did Summer go? 22c cloudy, ridiculously strong wind, and not a particularly warm one

Finally, lightning, a massive thunder crack and rain. We have lift off. Feels amazing out there:)

I can confirm that it has gone very dark here in Croydon with constant rumbling, but no rain yet. Certainly feels on the verge of something big, or will it be like the build up to a sneeze that never quite delivers?

Hi all, We had a particularly successful visit to La Rosiere in mid March with cold sunny days to start with, one day of snow, wind and virtually no visibility, when I did my first long icy red, some of it flat on my back, a short black, and traversed a narrow pass feeling like an arctic explorer, not bad for someone practically in tears on a green the next day! We went over to Italy where conditions were perfect, and at the end of the week, when it warmed up, there was more forgiving spring snow than those icy boulders that greeted us earlier in the week. What a fantastic week it was. It was so inspiring that I decided to buy ski boots, and on the way to Snow and Rock Chertsey today we took a wrong turn and serendipitously found ourselves outside Europa Ski Lodge in Surbiton. Like an oasis in the desert, the words Ski Sale appeared in front of me. It's an independent shop of the sort I didn't know existed around here, and the owners were very helpful, and it'll be my go to ski shop from now on. Kind of weird finding yourself in suburbia, in the Spring sunshine, in a T shirt, with ski boots in your hand. A few of the customers were about to go on their end of season holiday and one guy said Zell am See was 21c today and had lost a lot of snow. Amazing how things turn round weatherwise in such a short time. So despite my fantasy of a last minute break to try out my boots, might have to book a visit to a snodome instead, but I'll be back here looking for tips for next year - well, Christmas perhaps:) Thanks for all the updates and pictures Claire

Off to La Rosiere on 13th, and hoping for our first proper snowy ski holiday. If today's webcams are anything to go by we should be in luck! Can you ever have too much snow?