Finding the perfect snowy conditions for your winter getaway’s not always easy.
If you’re heading on a ski trip, for instance, and find watery slopes instead of a blanket of white, your trip could be ruined from the get-go.
Every ski season, typically from December to April, online searches for ‘powder snow’ spike, accodring to Inghams Ski.
And that’s becoming more and more popular, with searches up 46 per cent year on year.
Now experts have revealed where to find the world’s softest snow this winter.
Jim N R Dale, ex-Royal Navy meteorologist and founder of British Weather Services, has worked with the ski company to analyse the best ski conditions – and where to find the best powder snow.
A ‘Powder Snow Score’ formula was created using six key factors: surface temperature, snowfall levels, relative humidity, air temperature, wind speed, and elevation.
The team then determined the exact conditions for producing the softest, fluffiest powder snow, rating each destination out of 100.
If you’re heading on a ski trip, for instance, and find watery slopes instead of a blanket of white, your trip could be ruined from the get-go. But now experts have revealed where to find the world’s softest snow this winter
Westendorf, Austria, is the global leader for the world’s best powder snow, beating popular Italian and French destinations
And it’s Westendorf, Austria, that’s been named the global leader for the world’s best powder snow, beating popular Italian and French destinations.
Westendorf has easy access to both the Kitzbühel and SkiWelt Regions, and got a impressive score of 84.8, coming top of the list.
In second place is Ortisei, Italy with a score of 84.
Located in the Dolomites ski area, it offers world-class skiing and snowboarding.
Following in third is Gressoney, Italy (80.2) – often dubbed as one of Europe’s best-kept secrets.
Here, skiers can take advantage of high-altitude skiing and beautiful, unspoilt off-piste slopes.
The fourth and fifth spots went to Lech in Austria and Soldeu in Andorra.
While most of the best powder snow destinations reside in Austria and Italy, Switzerland and France both have a high number of ranking destinations.
Every ski season (typically from December to April), online searches for ‘powder snow’ spike
Melvin Westlake, head of winter product at Inghams Ski at Inghams Ski, said: ‘When planning a snowsports holiday, many skiers and snowboarders – particularly experienced ones, or those looking to level up – go on the quest for powder snow.
‘Unlike “groomed” or compacted snow, powder snow is light, dry, fluffy, and mostly untouched, which means when skiing or boarding through it, you’ll feel like you’re floating to a degree.
‘Anyone who has experienced powder snow will know how exhilarating it feels to glide over it effortlessly, but it’s not always obvious where to find it. That’s why we were keen to partner with Jim for this research.
‘Of course, powder snow – or weather for that matter – can be unpredictable, but we hope this research helps those in the quest for powder this season.
‘Just remember, powder snow often lives in lesser-explored, off-piste areas, so for safety, it’s always recommended to explore with an experienced guide who knows the area.’
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