For the Smart Money Cookie

Weve had nearly 2 metres snowfall during the last 7 days. The snowfall has been so prolonged that chairlifts were stopped, the train has been stopping at Chamonix train station and not heading onwards to Les Grands Montets. Roads were shut past our chalet holiday accommodation and weather warnings issued.

Compare this to a few winter seasons past, when we experienced the unusually hot Feb weather, mud showing on the pistes, and admonitions that climate change could mean the finish of the ski industry in the European Alps. The OECDs study from winter 2006 predicted that climate change could make ski holidays far too dear for the majority of holiday makers, with one-third of skiing resorts becoming insolvent with the thawing of glaciers. Scientists say that it is virtually impossible to attribute these seasonal deviations in the snow conditions to the outcomes of climate change.

We may have the deepest downturn in 30 years, and the pound has headed to new levels compared to the euro, but the conditions are superb, and the recent bookings show that people are enthusiastic to revel in the great snow conditions. It is certainly the greatest in eight winter seasons, and many skiers are announcing that it’s the nicest skiing conditions in 10 seasons.

Nonetheless think that big dumps like these mean large risks of avalanche.