Even the mighty Ski World Championship machine had to work around the full gamut of mountain weather this week in Val d'Isère (140-190cm): heavy new snowfalls, champagne powder on and off piste, sun, a balmy +2C to a "Siberian" -24C, whiteout, 100mph winds, piste closures and avalanche risk of 3/5.

In such difficult weather the expertise of local or SCGB guides comes to the fore, enabling skiers to enjoy untracked powder in the trees. Elsewhere in France, Chamonix (90-330cm) has 100cm more upper slope base than average but bad visibility still mars the skiing. Flaine (120-265cm) has excellent skiing on piste with powder off piste.

Isola had to close until the avalanche risk was under control. Swiss Andermatt (110-430cm) has 60cm new snow and with a crisp -14C at mid-mountain the snow should stay good through the weekend. The snow in Crans (90-220cm) has been superb, despite high winds and avalanche-related closures on Tuesday. Austrian resorts received between 20-60cm new snow and also endured poor visibility and early week wind closures despite ideal snow in Obergurgl (53-198cm) and St Anton (65-175cm).

Italian Cervinia (175-390cm) and Livigno (205-291cm) are both enjoying bumper seasons with powder on piste this week. Scottish skiers will be equally happy when lift-closing winds abate. Forecasters expect 60cm new snow in Austria, staying cold as will France, where maximum snowfall might reach 20cm.