Snow-melting south winds and rain below 2,400m have marred much of the fantastic early-season base and created off-piste avalanche risk. But new snow has fallen over much of the Alps and it is getting cooler. The eastern US is looking good after -13C and some 60cm new snow, with fresh falls also in Colorado and California. Scotland continues to offer great early-season conditions.

French Meribel (35-55cm) has deteriorated after heavy rain and needs a big chill and new snow to recover. Higher up, Courchevel (25-45cm) and Val Thorens (70-140cm) have more lifts running. At least the Three Valleys links and runs to resorts are open. Val d'Isère, Tignes (18-50cm) and Chamonix (15-159cm) are enjoying 10cm fresh snow.

Swiss Engelberg (30-160cm) and Verbier (40-80cm) are much improved after 15-20cm snow yesterday. Italy offers some excellent skiing with 50cm snow this week in Pila (60-130cm) and 15cm in Cervinia (50-225cm) while chilly Cortina (35-140cm) and Sauze D'Oulx (80-140cm) are holding the snow well. Many resorts in snowy Austria have excellent skiing such as Mayrhofen (5-120cm), Ellmau (31-51) and Solden (10-164cm).

Colder weather and fresh snow is forecast over most of the Alps, with up to 50cm expected in Austria. France will be mostly sunny with little new snow, while Italy and Switzerland will have to wait until Friday for fresh falls. Cool, perhaps bitter, temperatures will maintain existing snow cover as the week progresses.