Cumulative winter snow depths may not have reached the incredible heights of the 1960s, when residents of Val d'Isère would regularly enter their chalets by a special "high season" door in the first floor. But despite entering by the ground floor this has been an impressive season by any standards. The base built up well in November/December; there have been few weeks without significant snow and many weeks with incredible depths of fresh powder snow. Two weeks in April, including this week, have seen 60cm new snow on Val d'Isère's Pisaillas glacier to give 110cm-499cm and new snow to resort level. Val Thorens (110cm-150cm) also had enough new snow to keep all 28 lifts open.

In Switzerland Zermatt received a staggering 187cm fresh snow this week, its biggest snowfall of the season, enabling 24 lifts to run. South of the Matterhorn, in Italy Cervinia (70cm-360cm) had 100cm new snow and will remain open until 3 May. In Switzerland Saas Fee (38cm-499cm) also has incredible depth for the last week of the season, but caution here, as elsewhere, is required when skiing off piste; local advice should be followed.

In Austria St Anton (35cm-280cm) had 10cm new snow while Obertauern (95cm-195cm) is in good shape for its last weekend with 5cm-10cm fresh falls right down to resort level. Whether new snow falls or not, the Alpine season ends, apart from summer glacier skiing, this Sunday.