October 15, 2009 – Earlier this week, more than a metre of fresh snow fell around the Alps, especially Austria. Temperatures have dropped below zero in many places around Europe and while the snow has stopped for now, more snow is expected on the weekend.

The big snowfalls came during the same week as those in 2008 when the huge dumps that set up winter 08-09 as one of the best in recent years began in the second week of October.

In Austria, seven glacier ski areas have received more snow, including Sölden which is scheduled to host the opening of the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup next weekend, while snow has also been falling on the open glacier ski areas of France, Italy and Switzerland. In Scandinavia Ruka in Finland has opened for winter 09-10 and announcing that it intends to stay open until at least June 10, 2010.

Across the Atlantic in the US Arapahoe Basin has joined its neighbour Loveland in Colorado in opening limited terrain. The first Canadian resort to open is expected to be Mount Norquay at Banff at the end of the month.

provided by skiinfo.com