Ski areas have been opening across Eastern Europe this weekend after low temperatures and heavy snowfalls provided a big boost for the start of the season.

Although there had been heavy snow in October, most of Eastern Europe had been unseasonably warm for much of November and early December. That has all changed over the past 72 hours however with heavy snow and decreasing temperatures, reaching double digits below freezing this weekend.

In Bulgaria the leading resorts of Borovets and Pamporovo have both opened with fresh snow this weekend, joining Bansko which opened a week ago and now has a 70cm (2.3 foot) based on upper slopes.

It’s snowing across Romania now too and Poiana Brasov has partially-opened this weekend, with its Bradul slope now open, although snow cover is thin still – typically 10–30cm (4–12 inches).

Slovakia, new in British tour operator brochures this winter, also saw its main resorts opening this weekend. Jasna reports double-digit below zero temperatures and between 20 and 80cm (8 inches and 2.7 feet) of snow on its slopes.

It’s a similar picture again in Slovenia, Vogel reported temperatures of -17C on Sunday, but great conditions with 45cm (18 inches) of snow lying.

http://www.pamporovo.net/

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Tags: Bulgaria, Fresh snow, Romania, Slovakia