80cm of fresh snow overnight : 21st January 2012

Breaks in the weather but clear skies not due until Tuesday

Up to 80cm of fresh snow arrived on Friday which left much of the higher areas closed on Saturday at the time of writing this. The lifts up to Ruinettes are open, as is the Bruson sector The Savoleyres area should be fully open and with luck by the end of Saturday and into Sunday the areas above that should be too, but Sectors such as Mont Fort and Mont Gele may remain shut for longer. At the moment the links to the 4 Vallees are closed as are all the free ride runs.

The risk of avalanche has risen to 3 out of 5 but the snow has already started to settle around lower altitudes (this is indicated by the snow falling off trees and roofs around resort but up the mountain it is still quite chilly).

The weather did clear slightly by Saturday lunchtime so the light, especially around tree covered areas, is not too flat.

That snow came from the west and, higher up, there was some strong wind so expect some slab to have formed off piste. Temperatures around the lower slopes are quite mild and it is a bit humid in resort and up to mid station.

Roads are all covered and by the end of the day it will have turned to slush so conditions will be quite slippy. If you do not have 4WD or snow tyres on your car then chains are highly advisable. The freezing level did drop down to Le Chable at times so the snow level will extend below Verbier, to the valley below.

Sadly this new snow has put the Verbier Ride freestyle event on hold as the poor visibility and fresh snow make for a poor freestyle event but for free-ride it is on again as all the old tracked faces will be fresh again.

It looks as if the weather over the rest of the weekend and into the start of next week will remain settled with some sunny spells but the real sun is not due in until Tuesday.

There are, of course, plenty of things to keep you busy in Verbier if the weather and lifts are preventing you getting up the mountain. Ice go-karting down at the sports centre is highly recommended. There is also a swimming pool, sauna and ice rink to while away the day. Later in the evening there are plenty of bars, shops and restaurants  to where you can enjoy the rest of your weekend.

• Depth of snow on upper slopes
  330cm
• Latest Conditions
  snow showers, powder, semi-visibility
• Depth of snow on lower slopes
  55cm
• Altitude of last snowfall
  +850m
• Date of last snowfall
  20.01.2012
• Depth of last snowfall
  80cm
• Total number of pistes
  37
• Highest temperature
  -1
• Altitude of lower slopes
  1550m
• Avalanche risk
  3
• Altitude of upper slopes
  3330m
• Number of pistes open
  10
• Altitude of highest temperature
  1550m