ski resorts

The Kolben ski area in Germany is ending snowmaking on its toboggan run, citing it as too expensive. The decision has drawn attention as ski regions across the Alps face rising energy and operating costs, raising questions about the future affordability of smaller winter sports facilities and the services they can keep running.

A storm expected over Halloween weekend could bring early snow to Utah's mountains, potentially jump-starting the 2026-27 ski season. Forecasters note that beyond this system, the longer-range outlook is more uncertain, with conditions less clear for the rest of the season. Skiers and resorts in the state are watching the storm closely.

The World Winter Sports Expo 2026 has opened in Beijing, showcasing snowmaking equipment, smart ski-resort technology, winter tourism destinations and consumer sports products. The event highlights the expanding scope of China's ice and snow economy, a sector the country has been actively promoting since hosting the 2022 Winter Olympics as it develops domestic ski tourism and related industries.

Winter weather advisories are in effect in the Pacific Northwest, with forecasters warning of up to a foot of snow in the Cascade mountains. Meanwhile, Utah's high country has seen its first snowfall of the season, with a light powder dusting mountain peaks and ski resorts. The early-season snow signals the start of winter conditions across the western United States.

Forecasts are pointing to a strange winter ahead across North America. NOAA's U.S. Winter Outlook warns El Niño will loom large over the coming season, while British Columbia's outlook calls for a weirdly warm winter. Forecasters and lifestyle outlets alike are weighing how the pattern could shift weather worldwide, with some US ski resorts even expected to benefit from El Niño conditions this season.

A cloud-seeding startup plans to run drone-based weather modification operations in the Wasatch Back region of Utah this winter. The plans were reported by Park City news outlet TownLift. Cloud seeding aims to boost snowfall, a topic of interest in a ski-dependent region facing water supply and snowpack concerns. Reactions and further details about the company and its permits are not yet known.

Park City, Utah is bracing for its first significant snowstorm of the season, expected to arrive Sunday. Local news reports forecast up to two feet of snow, promising an early boost for the ski resort town ahead of the winter season.

Ski patrols in western ski resorts regularly detonate controlled blasts on cornices to reduce avalanche danger, and one such blast sent a large avalanche down a ridge. The footage highlights both the constant threat avalanches pose to skiers and the dangerous mitigation work patrols carry out to keep the public safe.

The first snow of the season has arrived at Piancavallo, the mountain resort in the province of Pordenone, northeastern Italy. Local outlets report streets and houses covered in white, with photos and videos of the early flakes circulating widely. The early snowfall is drawing attention as the winter season approaches in the Friulian Alps.

A writer who has spent six seasons living in the Alps has published a ranking of European ski resorts, separating those genuinely worth travelling for from ones to skip despite heavy marketing. The piece, published by Outside, is drawing attention among ski and travel enthusiasts for its insider take on which resorts live up to the hype.