Austrian resorts have received a thick blanket of snow this week, allowing 26 resorts to begin their season early this weekend.

Many of the resorts are small, and able to react to events quickly. But big resorts like Obergurgl, Mayrhofen and Sallbach are also planning to open this weekend, two or three weeks ahead of schedule. Zell am Zee opens tomorrow.

The big falls have been repeated in parts of France and Switzerland, where Verbier is now scheduled to open on Saturday. Norway’s largest resort, Trysil opened today and will be followed by Hemsedal tomorrow and Geilo on Saturday.

Innovation Norway’s Country Manager, Catherine Foster says: "With some great snowfall already in our main resorts it looks set to be a fantastic year for skiing in Norway."

The heaviest snowfalls have been in Austria. Obergurgl currently has 100cm on upper slope, while St Anton is "swimming in snow," and is scheduled to open on November 30, said the Ski Club of Great Britain.

Kitzbühel opened some of its runs last Saturday, six weeks ahead of schedule, and the earliest in its history, said Marion Telsnig, spokeswoman for Crystal and Thomson.

It has been snowing heavily in Austria since last week. Lech, which is due to open on December 1, received 180cm of snow and was actually cut off last Sunday, prompting authorities to block roads because of a risk of avalanche, local officials said.

Authorities warned of a high risk of avalanches in several Austrian provinces. Over a metre (more than three feet) of white powder has fallen since last Friday in mountainous regions in western Vorarlberg and northern Upper Austria. All glacier resorts are open including Sölden, Hintertux, Stubai (Neustift), Kaprun, Dachstein (Schladming).

Other Austrian resorts are doing equally well. The resort of Schladming opened on October 26, a month earlier than planned. The Ski Club of Great Britain says Sölden received 30cm of snow on Wednesday and is enjoying powder conditions - a full list of resorts opening is available on www.welove2ski.com

But it is not only Austria that is benefitting. John Yates-Smith of UK tour operators, YSE, told welove2ski.com that a foot of snow fell on Val d'Isere yesterday. "It's going to be an amazing season," he says, boldly. "We haven't had a foot of snow in the village on 14 November since 1996, and it hasn't stopped yet.

"We're forecast -20º and snow showers for tomorrow, then another heavy fall on Sunday or Monday. The snow cannons are running non-stop, and by the time the lifts open on 1 December we should have the best base for decades."

At St. Antoenien, in the Swiss canton of Grisons, a metre of snow fell in the Praettigau valley, breaking a 55-year-old record at the start of wintertime in November

The Ski Club’s Betony Garner said: “After a tough start to the season last year, particularly in Austria, it is fantastic that already we have seen heavy snowfalls in not just Austria, but most of the Alps. It has also been cold so the snow is staying and the resorts have also been able to make snow. This is a great start to the winter season.”

Crystal is among operators with early season deals - seven nights catered accommodation at Club Hotel Hofer in Kitzbühel, Austria now costs £269 per person (saving £245), for departures on December 15. The deal includes return flights from Gatwick, transfers and free wine with evening meals.

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