Historical Snow Conditions for 2014-15 season

2014-15 Winter Season Roundup: Although most of the Alps got off to a patchy start last Christmas, Zermatt benefited from their usual early season big dumps. The snowfalls then continued regularly. What was unusual is that we had a higher than average total snowfall above 2,500m altitude, with 700cm; whereas at 2,000m the snowfall totalled 411cm. Nonetheless, given the extensive snowmaking, it was not at all noticeable unless you ventured off-piste low down.  If you scroll through the blog entries below, you will see that all in all it was an excellent (if not epic) season. We did far more off-piste skiing – between 3,800m and 2,500m – than on-piste, which is probably the best measure of a season.

As usual, it snows a lot in Zermatt in April. In the last week we have had a total of 120cm of fresh powder snow. The conditions are amazing, with cold powder snow on the north facing slopes, and great spring corn conditions on the south ones.

Two young Mountain Exposure guest ready for their first powder tracks in April:

We have had several snowfalls since our last update which has given us a lot of great off-piste skiing and wonderful pistes which are still in winter condition above 2,000m. As you can see from Saturday's ski status map below, all lifts are running and all runs are open. It's the best time of year for skiing in Zermatt!

It snowed a phenomenal 70cm on the border with Italy last weekend, giving us the best powder day of the season last Sunday. We then had another good sprinkling on February 24th, which ensured spectacular conditions for the Swatch Skier Cup contest yesterday.

From Thursday onward was the big dump, bringing 30cm of fresh snow to the village and yet more up top. Conditions are a simply perfect crisp wintery powdery delight! We have posted a couple more videos for your delectation.

40 cm of fresh snow over the last 3 days are giving us excellent off-piste deep powder conditions, as you can see from the shots below and from these videos. The pistes also are uniformely glorious!

Under Stockhorn:

Skiing on Triftji toward Gant:

40cm of fresh powder on the border between Zermatt and Cervinia!

Spot the skier in this shot taken today:

Total snowfall this season to date:

Testa Grigia (3,500m): 285cm

Gornergrat (2,950m): 326cm

Hermetje/Aroleid (2,380m): 161cm

Furi/Zermatt (1,800m): 91cm

It was a glorious Sunday last Sunday – although the Gornergrat snow measuring station reported 30cm of fresh snow, we found a bottomless 45cm of new snow on Triftji, which had just opened. Conditions are excellent, with soft snow up top, although the lower runs are quite hard now due to the colder weather. On the other hand, this is keeping the snow in great shape.

The Gourmet Ski Guide and friends last Sunday near the White Hare run:

Total snowfall this season to date:

Testa Grigia (3,500m): 240cm

Gornergrat (2,950m): 271cm

Hermetje/Aroleid (2,380m): 124cm

Furi/Zermatt (1,800m): 77cm

We had a good snowfall of 20cm on Sunday January 4th, giving us 3 days of great powder skiing. This week is gloriously sunny, the slopes empty now that the crowds have gone, and the skiing is extensive, relaxed and beautiful. It's a good time to come.

A Mountain Exposure guest under Hohtalli on January 5th:

The Gornergrat train snow clearing engine on January 4th:

Fresh snowfall of 10cm on the upper slopes, and 253km of runs are open, more than anywhere else in the Alps. Cumulated snowfall so far this season is 226cm at 2,900m which is mid station in Zermatt, given that the top lift is at 3,880m. We have a lot of natural snow above 2,000m, and with extensive snowmaking further down, all resort runs will be open for the New Year week. The skiing conditions are very good.