Meribel Snow Report
also see Meribel Weather Forecast: Snow Forecast

A snowy end to a fabulous season : 24th April 2012

I always experience mixed emotions when I unclip my skis on my last day of the season. Sadness that five months of fun and excitement are over is always mixed with relief that I’ve survived another winter with all my knee ligaments intact.

This winter it is harder than usual to hang up my skis as the snow is so extraordinarily good. It has snowed virtually every day for the past three weeks and another 25cm of snow fell last night – a fitting end to an epic season.

Every winter season is different. I think 2012 will be remembered not only for its great snow but also some bizarre and extreme weather. The snow arrived exceptionally late – there was literally no snow on the ground at the start of December so Méribel’s lift opening date was put back a week. Once the snow started to fall, however, it was like a tap that couldn’t be turned off. It bucketed, dumped, tipped and blizzarded for weeks. In January, the snow in town was chest-high; snow clearing became a twice-daily chore; and the town snowploughs ran out of room to put the stuff.  January saw strong gales, which brought down trees and snow drifts meant the top lifts were closed for days on end while the chairlifts were dug out and avalanches were blasted. Méribel then entered a mini-ice age for two weeks. The temperature reached -27C (lower than at the North pole) and some of the lifts froze solid. Then everything changed, and the mid part of the season was so hot and sunny that we skied in the mornings and sunbathed in the afternoons. Finally, winter returned in April and we’ve been skiing powder snow on empty pistes these past weeks. What a memorable season it has been! I’m sure we will reminisce about 2012 for years to come.

If you too have skied your last for this winter, remember to give your ski equipment a little tender loving care before you put it away for the summer. A layer of wax on your ski/board will prevent the base from drying out and stop the edges from rusting. Remember also to clip up your boots to help keep their shape.

If you would like to know what developments you will find in Méribel next winter season, turn to our news page for details of the two major new lifts about to appear in the valley.

We will continue to keep this page updated on an occasional basis during the summer season, so please do check back to see what is happening on the (soon-to-be green) slopes of your favourite mountain resort. Méribel is open from 30 June to 2 September 2012. Summer is a wonderful time of year in the Alps – why not come and see what the resort has to offer?

Finally, thank you for all your lovely comments and feedback over the season – I've enjoyed reading your comments and feeling part of a world-wide community of fellow Méribel-lovers.

Caroline

• Depth of snow on lower slopes
  32cm
• Date of last snowfall
  24th April
• Depth of last snowfall
  25cm
• Total number of pistes
  85
• Highest temperature
  -8C
• Altitude of lower slopes
  2450m
• Depth of snow on upper slopes
  232cm
• Avalanche risk
  4
• Altitude of upper slopes
  2700m
• Number of pistes open
  39
• Altitude of highest temperature
  3000m

What you say - tell us what you're thinking