Winter has returned to the Alps with a vengeance, with up to 70cm of fresh snow in Austria, 30cm in Switzerland and more on the way in France and Italy.

Austrian resorts are now looking good for the Easter holidays. Upper slopes in Lech (20-95cm) are ideal after 30cm of new snow, while Ischgl (0-105cm) had 20cm for fresh powder tracks. Kaprun (50-260cm) leads the field, with 40cm of new snow on Wednesday followed by 30cm on Thursday, and these excellent conditions should last given the current temperature of -12C.

French Argentière (0-120cm) has improved greatly after a 5cm dusting of new snow, as has La Plagne, where overnight temperatures have dropped. Val d'Isère (10-98cm) has been icy on upper slopes, but good spring snow is still there at the right altitude and time of day.

Swiss Engelberg (0-380cm), Les Diablerets (5-240cm) and Zermatt (0-100cm) are good on upper slopes. It was snowing yesterday in Italian Cervinia (10-160cm), with some 10-15cm of new snow forecast. Some resorts in Switzerland and Italy are expected to receive some 15cm of new snow. The southern French Alps should benefit from the best of the new French snow.

In the US, Utah is superb after new snow, with fresh falls predicted. Fresh powder in the Canadian resorts of Fernie, Kicking Horse and Revelstoke have prompted them to reopen this weekend.