There has been significant snowfall in France. But the freezing level at times here in Méribel has reached as high as 2,600m, turning new snow to rain and making for a disappointing week.

Conditions in Austria and Switzerland are mixed, with the best skiing available only on the highest pistes. Beware of off-piste avalanche risk across the Alps.

Skiers in Flaine (25-220cm), La Plagne (65-130cm) and Châtel (40-100cm) had the best of the new French snow, with the SCGB reporting excellent skiing on and off piste.

Upper pistes in Swiss Engelberg (25-270cm) received 40cm of new snow while Crans Montana (8-165cm) and Davos (42-122cm) had 20-25cm of new snow to continue an excellent season. A storm in Saas Fee (48-194cm) closed all but three lifts yesterday.

Italian resorts escaped the thaw, with 10cm of new snow improving conditions in Cortina (20-130cm). The upper Austrian slopes remain good in the west, while eastern Austria has been milder with rain.

It will be much colder across the Alps at the weekend and into next week. This will hold the existing snow and give wider coverage to the new snow which is expected from mid-week onwards.

Vail (Colorado) expects 25cm of new snow this weekend while in the eastern US it will remain very cold until temperatures rise rapidly on Tuesday. Canadian Whistler will receive up to 60cm of new snow down to a freezing level of 1,200-1,500m.