Snow is here (more on way): Many French ski resorts set to open this week

The ski season is underway this week as a result of large amounts of snow brought by Storm Darragh in the Pyrenees and the Massif Central. 

One after the other, ski resorts in the Pyrenees announced their opening for this week. 

Val d’Azun opened today (December 10) while Saint-Lary and Luz Ardiden will open this Wednesday (December 11), followed by Cauterets on Friday (December 13) and Piau-Engaly, Gourette, La Pierre Saint-Martin and Grand Tourmalet on Saturday (December 14).

Watch over one metre of snow fall in La Pierre Saint-Martin.  

Delayed restart

These resorts were due to open earlier but were unable to because of warmer conditions and a lack of snowfall. 

Storm Darragh addressed this with up to 122cm of snowfall in different parts of the Pyrenees. Luz Ardiden received over a metre of snow on Sunday and Monday, with Cauterets receiving up to 150cm on top of pistes. 

Resorts have stated that grooming operations have begun on the slopes. 

“It is good news because we can now peacefully prepare for Christmas on the slopes, which does not happen every year,” Julien Moreau, manager of Val D’Azun told La Dépêche. 

The resorts will open gradually, with typically 80% of the total skiable domain open by the weekend. Saint-Lary has announced in a press release that ski passes will be 50% off between Friday and Wednesday. 

In the Massif Central, it was a similar story of snowfall, with roads and vegetation covered in white, needing snow ploughs to make the roads usable. 

More snow is expected for the rest of the week in both mountain ranges.