Snowfall in Europe by Kirsty McCabe
After suffering a delayed and, in some cases, virtually snow less season in 2006-07, European resorts are enjoying record November snowfalls. For once skiers heading for the slopes will find more snow in Europe than in North America.
Switzerland and Austria have had the best of the early snow, with even low-lying resorts, that had previously been drawing up plans for ‘winter hiking’ now able to use their chairlifts.
France is expecting significant snowfalls this weekend, as are parts of Germany; some Italian resorts are already open and Sweden and Norway are also hoping to join the party. Zurich has had its heaviest snow fall since 1955 and in Verbier the town is reporting 40cm (16 inches) of snow, whilst up on the slopes there are reports of 60cm (approx 24 inches).
Kitzbuhel in Austria, which has opened six weeks earlier than planned, suffered from the warmest November on record last year, and had to cancel the celebrated Hahnenkamn World Cup downhill race in January.
Meanwhile on the other side of the Atlantic, parts of Colorado are feeling the economic pinch because of relatively dry weather. Lack of snow has kept some ski resorts from opening as planned last week, whilst others have only been able to open with man-made snow.
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