Most resorts in the Alps and across North America have had healthy snowfalls in the past few days. The biggest single snowfall reported was 90cm (three feet) in 24 hours at Alpine Meadows resort near Lake Tahoe in California, but most other resorts in Western North America have reported at least a foot of new snow in recent days. Beneficiaries have included Jackson Hole in Wyoming and both Squaw Valley and Mammoth mountain in California, both of which are open well in to May and possibly later.

In Canada to the north, Whistler has reported another two feet (60cm) of snow and confirmed their Olympic winter 2009–10 is so far their third snowiest on record. They’re also open late in to Spring, as are the Albertan resorts of Sunshine, Lake Louise and Marmot Basin which have had fresh snow too.

Most North American resorts close soon after Easter, but Alta in Utah and aspen in Colorado are among those announcing they’re planning to stay open several weeks longer than originally planned – through to the last weekend in April – because of the good snow.

Resorts across the Alps and Dolomites have seen several feet of fresh snow, with French and Italian resorts doing especially well. Val Gardena reported 25cm (10 inches) in one 24 hour period.

Conditions in the Pyrenees are still good and even Europe’s most southerly resort, Sierra Nevada in Spain, will be open to early May.