Snowbird at 7°C, corn snow rules spring touring and laps

Snowbird stood out today, reaching 7°C while the whole mountain settled into corn snow. That warmth makes it the standout among seven qualifying resorts, yet the surface remains consolidated and skiable. The resort is a clear example of spring transforming high-altitude terrain into long, soft turns rather than powder laps.

Across the Alps conditions were textbook spring. Sölden stayed coolest at 0°C and kept a firmer early layer, while Lech/Zürs and Livigno both hit 3°C and produced mellow, turnable corn by midday. In Switzerland Laax and Arosa Lenzerheide sat at 1°C and 2°C respectively, with groomers and sunlit slopes harvesting the softening surface. Farther afield Hakuba Valley in Nagano warmed to 4°C, giving similar corn snow on its lower and mid elevations. Overall the seven resorts reported corn snow rather than crust or slush, so spring skiing is the theme from the Rockies to the Alps and into Japan.

These temperatures and the uniform corn surface point to a predictable diurnal cycle for the next day or two. Expect firmer conditions at first light, with best turns developing from late morning into mid-afternoon on sun-exposed aspects. Plan morning laps on shaded, north-facing runs if you want cleaner edges; aim for south-facing tracks when the sun has softened the snow. No fresh precipitation is included in today’s data, so current conditions suggest a continuation of classic spring freeze and thaw rather than a reset from new snow.