SNOWTIME. It’s still only October, but resorts throughout the European Alps have seen their first major snowfall of the season. Green and brown mountainsides have turned white and many resorts are reporting over 10cm of new snow.

Hotzone.tv Park - Hintertux (AUT), photo by Ben Kilner

It started snowiing on Sunday and then eased off on Monday. Up to 60cm has fallen in some parts of the central Alps. Today, Tuesday, in many parts of the Alps it is blue sky and quite beautiful.

Hahnenkamm, Kitzbuehel (AUT)

After the summer months it's always exciting to see snowflakes falling once again, so we've gathered a few photos to remind you that winter is just around the corner! All the pictures below were taken today.

Avoriaz, Tignes, Val d'Isere, Arosa, Verbier, St Moritz and Davos all had some snow. There was snow in the Italian Dolomites and in the southern Alps too. In the western Alps up to 20cm fell and the central Alps has had up to 30cm. In parts of Austria 50cm is forecast and it was still snowing into Monday afternoon.

Zell am See - Kaprun (AUT)

Arosa (SUI), photo by schneesicher.ch

SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser - Brixental (AUT), photo by Gasthof Rigi

Soelden, Oetztal, Tirol (AUT)

As is nornall many people are posting that winter has begun and it shows the snow is on its way and it is going to be a fabulous winter. Sadly it is not quite true. A a warm front is coming in and the freezing level will rise to 3,500m. Most of the new snow will melt. But for those out at the moment in the glacier resorts it is a welcome treat.

The glacier resorts in the Austrian Tirol seem to have the best conditions. The pictures below were taken in the Tirol glacier resort of Hintertux.

Hintertux (AUT), photo by Ivica Kostelic

Hintertux (AUT), photo by Marko Grilc

Stubai in Austria has had 20cm of new snow so far, which is great news for those taking advantage of the six lifts that are now open on the glacier.

Stubai (AUT)

Stubaier  Gletscher (AUT)

Soelden, Oetztal, Tirol (AUT)

Kitzsteinhorn (AUT)

Kaunertaler Gletscher (AUT)

New Wildspitzbahn, Pitztaler Gletscher (AUT)

Obergurgl-Hochgurgl-Gurgl, Oetztal, Tirol (AUT)

Fresh snow has also fallen in Tignes, which is also open for snowsports on the Grand Motte glacier.

La Grave (FRA)

Cevinia re-opened for snowsports over the weekend, and skiers and snowboarders there also enjoyed 10cm of fresh snow.

Fresh snow at Les Deux Alpes is also excellent news ahead of their Enjoy the Glacier event 27-28 October.

Les Deux Alpes (FRA)

For the final, watch today's video footage from Soelden, Oetztal, Tirol, Austria, and Maxxx Mountain First Snow Gletscheropening Sölden presentation, made by our friend Christian Schnoeller (Bergbahnen Soelden).