There is little change in the unseasonably balmy Alps. Spring-like conditions are widespread with concerns about south-facing and lower slopes. The Ski Club of Great Britain reports the best skiing is on higher north-facing slopes, particularly on Austrian glaciers and in Italy where snow depths are still reasonable. French skiing is surviving with heavy reliance on grooming.

Swiss lower slope conditions are desperate. Only the highest resorts have good skiing. The US and Canada, in contrast, have outstanding snow depths and are enjoying one of the best seasons for years.

Italy has good snow down to the village in Livigno (69-178cm) and in high Val Senales (20-210cm). Swiss Flims-Laax (20-200cm) still has some powder on upper slopes with artificial snow lower down. Pistes in Klosters (30-116cm) are icy. Despite no new snow for a month St Moritz (50-70cm) still has reasonable cover.

French Val d'Isère (49-118cm, powder at Le Fornet) and Argentiere (5-170cm) are offering good snow. Skiing is equally good in Austria's Ischgl (20-110cm) and Obergurgl (40-150cm).

With half-term looming a forecast of 30cm of new snow would be like manna from heaven. Austria expects snow at the weekend, and the rest of the Alps may have snow by next Thursday. There may be some new snow in Scotland. In Canadian Whistler 191cm of fresh snow is forecast with temperatures dropping to -20C. The eastern US will receive light snowfalls.