The latter half of May is traditionally the quietest period of the entire year for world skiing as the northern hemisphere’s season ends while the southern hemisphere’s is yet to begin, and several dozen northern ski areas that will open for summer skiing from June take a few week’s break for low season maintenance.

It is still snowing in different areas around the world however. Mammoth Mountain, the only ski area still open in California, has reported 5.5 inches (14cm) of new snow in the past 24 hours to add to its 8-12 foot base and there’s been new snow at Arapahoe basin in California and in the southern hemisphere in Australia.

The ski season has now ended in France and no outdoor snow slopes are open in the country. Tignes, Val d’Isere and les Deux Alpes will re-open in June for summer skiing.

There’s plenty of snow still lying however and the ski touring season is still going strong for those prepared to hike up however.

There’s not much open in Italy either as Cervinia closed last weekend until it re-opens for summer skiing in late June. Two other ski centres will also be open for summer skiing – Passo Stelvio which re-opens for the last weekend of May, and Val Senales, which opens on 12th June.

In the interim however the Presena Glacier above Passo Tonale will remain open until late June. It currently has around four metres (13 feet) of snow on the glacier and two red and two black runs to enjoy.

In Switzerland the weather has warmed up after last week’s snow showers and three resorts are still open. Engelberg’s Titlis glacier as well as the slopes of Zermatt remain open, as dopes the Diavolezza glacier near St Moritz which has a 1000m+ vertical to enjoy still, with 50cm (1.6 feet) of snow at the top.

Austria has the lion’s share of Spring skiing in Europe now with glacier skiing available at five areas. At the Kaunertal glacier where all lifts are running and all pistes open, heavy snow showers are expected for the rest of the week topping up the 85-135cm (3-4.5 foot) base.

The Stubai has one of the largest ski areas open anywhere at the moment with 18 runs served by 16 lifts to choose from on an 1.8m (six foot) base.

In Northern Europe several ski areas remain open in Norway, Sweden, Finland and Scotland.

There’s a heavy frost this morning in the Scottish Highlands where the mountains have been repeated small falls of fresh snow over the past few days. The ski area is open weekends only through May.

In Sweden Riksgransen ski area in the Swedish Arctic is stil, in full swing and will begin its midnight sun skiing in the next few weeks. In Finland Riuka still has ski slopes open and in Norway Galdhøpiggen summer ski area is due to join already open Folgefonn, which has a four metre (13.3 foot base) when it opens tomorrow, May 13th.

In North America more ski areas closed after last weekend and resorts still known to be operating are down to Mammoth Mountain in California, Snowbird in Utah, Arapahoe Basin in Colorado and Timberline in Oregon. Mt Hood Meadows, also in Oregon, is reported to be opening this weekend and next.

With a month to go to the start of the new season in Australia, Mt Hotham is expecting nowfalls through the next 48 hours. This comes hot on the heels of some earlier snowfalls in the previous week when the heavens opened over Hotham and Dinner Plain with snowfalls down to 1300m at Hotham Airport.

At this time of the year, early light snowfalls work well to cool the ground and prepare it for snowfalls closer to the season opening. This also helps the resort to prepare for the commencement of snowmaking as the ground will be ready to hold snow on it.