If you look at a satellite map of the Northern Hemisphere today, January 17, 2026, it looks like someone spilled a giant bucket of white paint across the top of the globe. But that’s a bit misleading.
The "white stuff" isn't everywhere you’d expect it to be. While some regions are literally getting buried under five-foot drifts, others are scratching by with patches of grass showing through the "snow." This winter has been a weird one. We’re currently dealing with the fallout of a massive Polar Vortex split that happened back in December, and the atmosphere is basically throwing a tantrum.
So, if you’re itching to find some real, deep powder—or if you’re just wondering why your backyard is still brown—here is the actual breakdown of where is there snow right now in the world.
The French Alps are Winning (For Once)
Honestly, if you want the "classic" winter postcard right now, you have to go to France. After a pretty dismal start to the season, the Western Alps just got slammed.
We’re talking about resorts like La Rosière and Val d'Isère seeing over a meter of fresh snow in just the last week. In some spots, they’ve reported up to 165cm in a 72-hour window. It’s glorious, but it’s also kinda dangerous. The avalanche risk is sitting at a Level 4 (High) across much of the Tarentaise Valley.
Lower down, places like Les Gets and Alpe d'Huez are holding on to a decent base, but it’s a bit of a mixed bag. The higher you go, the better it gets. If you’re at 2,000 meters, you’re golden. If you’re at 1,000 meters, you might be looking at some firm, icy morning runs that turn to slush by 2:00 PM.
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What about the rest of Europe?
- Austria: It’s "okay." That’s the best way to put it. Places like Lech have a respectable 155cm up top, but the eastern side of the country is feeling the "dry spell" vibes.
- Italy: The Dolomites are beautiful, but they are struggling for natural snow. They’re basically surviving on world-class snowmaking. If you want the deep stuff, head west toward Cervinia.
- The Pyrenees: Surprisingly, this is the place to be. Spain’s Baqueira Beret is looking incredible right now. They’re actually hosting the Freeride World Tour this week because the conditions are some of the best they’ve seen in years.
North America’s "Bipolar" Snow Season
North America is divided. It’s like two different continents right now.
In the West, British Columbia is the undisputed king. Revelstoke has already seen over 7 meters of snow this season. That’s not a typo. 7 meters. Whistler Blackcomb is also firing on all cylinders, with consistent "refreshes" (that's ski-bum for "it won't stop snowing") keeping the terrain open and fluffy.
Then you have the US Rockies. It started out rough. Like, "delayed opening" rough. But the tide turned around New Year’s. Alta and Snowbird in Utah just caught about 50 inches of snow in the last two weeks. Jackson Hole in Wyoming is also looking much better, with over 200 inches at the summit.
The East Coast Surprise
The Northeast US and Eastern Canada just got hit by a series of winter storms. Killington and Stowe are finally looking like real ski resorts instead of white strips on a green mountain. If you’re in New York or Ontario, you’ve likely seen some decent accumulation in the last 24 hours. Areas like Eden, NY reported nearly a foot of fresh snow just yesterday.
Japan: The "Snow Factory" is Back
Everyone was worried about Japan in December. It was warm. It was dry. People were panicking.
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Well, the panic is over.
The "Sea of Japan" snow machine is currently in overdrive. Niseko and Rusutsu on the northern island of Hokkaido are getting daily refills of that legendary dry powder. Further south on Honshu, Hakuba and Myoko Kogen are seeing massive totals. Myoko, specifically, has been getting walloped with 60–80cm dumps.
Next week looks even crazier for Japan. Meteorologists are tracking a deep low-pressure system that could stay parked over the islands for seven days straight. If you have a flight to Tokyo or Sapporo right now, you’re probably going to have the trip of a lifetime.
Where Else? The Unusual Spots
It’s not just the big ski hubs. Because of that Polar Vortex mess I mentioned, cold air is sinking into places that don't always see a lot of snow.
- Scotland: It’s actually happening. The Scottish Highlands have enough snow for top-to-bottom skiing at places like Cairngorm. This is rare and usually doesn't last, so locals are losing their minds (rightfully so).
- Turkey and the Caucasus: Georgia and Eastern Turkey are seeing significant accumulation. The mountain regions near the Russian border are currently under heavy winter storm warnings.
- The Southern Hemisphere: Just a reminder—it’s summer there. If you’re in New Zealand or the Andes, you might see some permanent "glacier snow," but otherwise, it’s hiking and mountain bike season.
How to Check Snow Near You (Right Now)
If you're trying to figure out if you should shovel the driveway or pack the skis, don't just rely on the local news. They tend to overhype things.
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Look at the NOHRSC (National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center) maps if you’re in the US. They provide the most accurate snow depth data based on actual ground sensors. For global views, the NASA Terra satellite (using the MODIS sensor) gives a clear picture of snow cover, though it can't distinguish between a light dusting and a ten-foot snowpack.
Real-Time Snow Stats:
- Global Snow Cover: Roughly 23.5% of the Earth's land surface is currently covered in snow.
- Deepest Base (North America): Mt. Baker, Washington (over 130 inches).
- Deepest Base (Europe): Glacier 3000, Switzerland.
Why This Matters
This "start-and-stop" winter is a result of La Niña transitioning into an "ENSO-neutral" state. Basically, the Pacific Ocean is confused, and that makes the Jetstream wavy. When the Jetstream gets wavy, you get these weird "blocked" patterns where one town gets buried while the next town over gets rain.
If you're planning a trip, look for resorts with high elevations (above 2,000m in Europe or 8,000ft in the US). The "low-altitude" resorts are the ones suffering the most this year.
Next Steps for Your Snow Hunt:
- Check the live webcams of your destination—never trust a "official snow report" from a resort website without seeing a camera feed.
- Monitor the AO (Arctic Oscillation) index; when it goes negative, expect a cold blast in the US and Europe about 7-10 days later.
- If you're headed to Japan, keep an eye on the Sea of Japan moisture plumes—that's the secret to their "Japow."
Winter isn't over; it’s just being picky about where it hangs out. Get to the mountains while the base is still solid.