Londoners might not have got a white Christmas, but it looks as though 2026 could kick off with a blast of snow for parts of the UK. And that includes the capital. Snow is notoriously hard to predict, but some early forecasts for this weekend (January 3-4) are saying that temperatures in the capital city could fall below freezing, accompanied by a flurry of the white stuff. So, prepare to wrap up, slip on your wellies and (maybe) dust off that toboggan.
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort said the Aerial Tram, known as Big Red, is scheduled to begin operations on December 18 after new snowfall and a longer-duration storm pushed mountain totals high enough for upper-mountain access. Snow levels are expected to hover between 6,500 and 7,000 feet from late Thursday into Friday before dropping to the valley floor with a cold front Friday night. More than four feet of snow are projected for the current storm cycle, according to OpenSnow.
For powder seekers, few things matter more than consistency-the kind of deep winter snowpack that transforms a good ski trip into an unforgettable one. Across the Alps, snowfall varies dramatically by altitude, exposure, and local weather patterns. But year after year, a handful of resorts rise to the top with reliable, season-stretching storms. Using average annual snowfall totals collected by Hoppa, here are Europe's 10 snowiest ski resorts:
West Virginia sits within the Appalachian region in the Almanac's forecast, which includes major cities in neighboring states like Roanoke, Harrisburg, and Scranton. This area is expected to experience below-normal temperatures throughout the winter, with the coldest stretches coming in mid- and late December, early and late January, and early February. Precipitation levels should run below normal, but snowfall will vary sharply by location. Northern parts of the region-including West Virginia's higher elevations-may see lighter totals, while southern mountain areas could be in for heavier, wetter snow. The snowiest periods are projected for late December, late January, and early to late February, with a possible encore in mid-March.
After spending the last few years navigating (successfully, so far) the Govy 500, the famed bumper car course of commuters slipping and sliding en route from Portland to Mt. Hood, and awkwardly pausing mid-conversation while driving past silent rock, it is not a stretch to say that the experience of riding at Mt. Hood Meadows starts well before you even step foot onto the slopes.
Utah is home to some of the deepest ski areas in the United States, with some resorts recording hundreds of inches of snow every year. It doesn't necessarily have the oldest ski history in the United States, but it does have a few ski areas that are 80+ years old. These are the 4 oldest (and still active) ski areas in Utah. 4 Oldest Ski Areas in Utah 4. Snowbasin - Opened in 1940 13 lifts 115 trails 325 inches of snowfall on average
