Skip to main content
SeeValdIsere

Val d'Isere Snow Report: 24th December 2011

Christmas Eve in Espace Killy. Christmas tomorrow!

featured in Snow report Author Debbie Priestley, Val d'Isere Reporter Updated

The forecast was for a little snow today, but snow definitely didn't dominate the weather conditions today. All of the top lifts were closed due to high winds, in excess of sixty kilometers per hour, and going up to a hundred kilometers per hour right at the top of the mountain. There was the odd patch of blue sky and, when the sun made it through, it did look beautiful. It wasn’t half cold though, I now have some impressive wind burn lines.

As I’ve mentioned, the higher lifts were closed and this included most of Le Fornet in Val d’Isere, the links between Val and Tignes, and the top of the Grande Motte. The wind scoured a lot of snow off the slopes, and towards the end of the day, made them very hard and icy, it’s also scoured a lot of the off-piste sections, so if you are off-piste look out for wind slabs. There isn’t much more I can say about today, it wasn’t exactly pleasant to ski in the wind, and I’m not convinced we actually got any snow (it all blew down to Bourg I think), but the sun did come out and low down there was still some nice skiing.

The forecast is still predicting tomorrow to be sunny, with light winds, and a slight rise in temperature to around minus five. Things are looking up for Christmas day then. This will hopefully mean that there are some fantastic on-piste skiing conditions, and that the off-piste isn’t too shabby either. It should be nicer than today, skiing in the sun, without wind, is usually pretty good.

The slopes will probably be pretty busy though, so you either want to be waiting on first lifts in the main areas, or waiting till after half nine when the queues should have dispersed slightly. Other options include staying away from the main lifts, for example in Val d’Isere, Le Fornet or La Daille are usually quieter. In Tignes it’s a little harder as all the lifts are easily accessible and surrounded by apartment blocks, so first lifts, or leave it for half an hour or so, so that you don’t spend forever in a queue.

If you’re in Tignes next week and interested in off-piste skiing, there is a Henry’s Avalanche Talk (Avalanche safety and awareness) in Tignes Les Brevieres at ten o’clock at night in the Underground Bar on Thursday the 29th. The bar is putting on the talk, but would appreciate any contributions towards the cost. This is a really informative evening to attend, and the bar's a great place to spend an evening. In Val d’Isere the next talk is the on Tuesday before, the 28th. This talk is aimed more at seasonaires but anyone can attend, pay at the door, it starts at seven and costs seven euros fifty cents. Henry’s Avalanche Talk’s website is a really useful tool too for anyone skiing off piste as it includes links to the avalanche bulletin for the area among other things.

It’s Christmas tomorrow, so wherever you are reading this from, have an amazing Christmas!

Enjoy the snow!!!

Stats

Avalanche Risk
  • Level 3

Snow Report
  • Total Pistes: 156

  • Alt. Resort: 1850

  • Alt. Summit: 3000

  • Alt. Last Snow: 1850

  • High Temp.: -4

  • Latest Conditions: High Winds