Tignes Snow Report: 21st January 2012

Fresh snow and great conditions in Espace Killy

featured in Snow report Author Debbie Priestley, Tignes Reporter Updated 24 October 2014

So, today, the 21st January, I woke to freshly fallen snow outside the window this morning. Around 50cm fell overnight, accompanied by a lot of wind. The forecast was to clear slightly by luchtime and then get overcast again by afternoon (which it did), so I went out to make the most of what was on offer.

The Olympique Cable Car and Solaise Express chair took ages to open, with the ski patrollers controlling the pistes and avalanche blasting the area to make it safe to open, so there were large queues and everyone was hanging around waiting to enjoy the fresh snow.

We eventually got up the Solaise and the powder hounds were tracking the mountain quickly, trying to get any ‘freshies’ where they could. A lot of the upper runs remained closed throughout the day as the ski patrollers were still controlling the area.

The snow itself was really nice first thing whilst the temperatures were still cold, but around 11.30am, the temperature at the bottom of the Fornet Cable car was +7 and the fresh snow was turning choppy and heavier pretty quickly lower down.

The avalanche risk today jumped to 4/5 because of the fresh snow. It has been 1 for most of the week, but with the significant overnight snowfall and with a lot of wind, it quickly jumped to 4.

The forecast for the next few days is a little more snow overnight, clearing by midday tomorrow (Sunday) and then gradually getting better as the week progresses. Cold temperatures are due to return so this will hopefully keep the snow more as you would expect in mid winter, and not so heavy to ski.

Over Tignes way, once the links had opened, there was fresh powder on pistes all the way down to Le Lac which was fantastic, but as the day progressed, the lifts gradually closed because of high winds, and it’s worth noting the Grande Motte cable car remains closed due to storm damage earlier in the season.

The resort is pretty quiet in terms of skier numbers at this time of the season, so it’s a great time to be out there skiing and enjoying the empty pistes.

Over in Kitzbuhel, one of my favorite racers, Didier Cuche, who has just announced his retirement, won the Hannenkham downhill today. This is the 5th time he has won the most exciting race in the world. Go Didier!!

Bon ski!!!