First snows as resorts ready

BOTH the Alps and Pyrenees have seen their first substantial snowfall over last weekend.

Ski resort owners are relieved, having sat through autumn temperatures that were higher than average.

Several major centres in both mountain ranges are due to open on November 28, including Val d’Isère - which has snowfall predicted down to 300m altitude in the next few days.

The resort is due to open on November 28, along with Ax-Les-Thermes (Ariège - Pyrenees), Les Houches (Haute-Savoie - Alps), Le Mont-Dore (Puy de Dôme - Massif Central), and Les Angles (Pyrénées Orientales - Pyrenees).

Il neige à #valdisere : tout va pour le mieux ! https://t.co/S74MhX8jYB— Val d'Isère (@valdisere) November 21, 2015

On December 5, 10 more major resorts open including Courchevel and Meribel and by December 20 a further 42 centres will be open, however some of them may only have a limited number of pistes available depending on the levels of snow.