Concentration on a few days in November

A large portion of snow production was concentrated on just a few days in November, right before the start of the season. Between November 18 and 23, 40 percent of the total snow volume was produced.

In many ski resorts, this period falls into the base snowmaking phase. During this time, a uniform and durable snow foundation is established, which contributes significantly to slope quality throughout the winter season.

More than half of the snow produced – 58 percent – was created at marginal temperatures, specifically wet-bulb temperatures between minus 2 and minus 7 degrees Celsius.

The wet-bulb temperature factors in both air temperature and humidity, making it a critical metric for technical snowmaking. Subsequent supplemental snowmaking throughout the rest of the season occurs mostly selectively, depending on weather, snow conditions, and slope usage.

“Base snowmaking establishes an essential foundation for slope quality throughout the winter season. During a brief weather window, ski resorts create the snow base that serves as the foundation for all subsequent slope grooming. Achieving this requires optimal interplay between weather conditions, infrastructure, and control systems,” explains Illmer.

The data also provides insights into operating times, weather conditions, and trends across the entire set of analyzed systems.

“The larger the database, the better we can identify patterns. These anonymized evaluations help us make technical snowmaking even more precise and efficient. At the same time, they provide valuable insights for the ongoing development of our systems,” says Illmer.