Updated: 11.30am Tuesday 20 September 2016 - Improved snow conditions for the Alpine glaciers
Following a very warm end to the summer, the weather in the Alps has taken a distinctly autumnal turn, with fresh snow on the glaciers and a temporary dusting as low as 1500m in places (e.g. the French Queyras).
Fresh snow on the Allalin glacier above Saas-Fee - 20 September 2016 - Photo: saas-fee.ch
This early snow is not particularly unusual, nor will it mean anything for the season ahead, but it is good news for the summer/glacier ski areas that were looking decidedly threadbare just a week or two ago.
We will be updating weather and snow conditions in the Alps on a daily basis with Today in the Alps from early October. In the meantime, find out where you can ski this September…
A healthier looking Grande Motte glacier following the recent fresh snow in Tignes - 20 September 2016 - Photo: tignes.net
Updated: 11.40am Thursday 15 September 2016 - First autumn snow in the Alps!
It’s not much, and it won’t last, but we do have a little fresh snow in parts of the Alps this morning - as illustrated by this webcam shot above Tignes, where it has settled to about 2700m.
Fresh snow above Tignes this morning – 15 September 2016 - Photo: tignes.net
Despite a promising start to the summer skiing season, another hot summer in the Alps led to deteriorating snow conditions in August and early September.
Further dustings of snow are likely at altitude over the next few days, but it won’t be significant and will have absolutely no bearing whatsoever on how things might pan out later in the autumn.
Updated: 11.03am Tuesday 6 September 2016 – End of another hot summer in the Alps
It’s been another hot summer in the Alps, which has left many of the glaciers looking threadbare as we move into autumn.
A threadbare Grande Motte glacier above Tignes, following another hot summer. Skiing here is expected to resume on 1 October 2016 – Photo: tignes.net
Thanks to a snowy spring, the summer ski season started well, with excellent snow conditions throughout June and much of July. However, above average temperatures (especially in August) eventually took their toll, leading to the very thin - or in some cases non-existent - snow cover that we are witness to right now.
The current situation is an all too familiar one in recent years, and it’s easy to see why so many summer ski areas have been forced to close over the last decade or two. That said, you can still ski in the Alps this September. There was even a dusting of snow on some eastern Alpine glaciers this morning, and it just takes one big storm for snow conditions to drastically improve.
Be sure to follow Snow News for regular snow updates as we start the countdown to the 2016-17 ski season, with daily “Today in the Alps” reports starting in October.
Updated: 9.30am Thursday 14 July 2016 - Fresh snow in the Alps!
Following a very warm start to July, temperatures have plummeted this week with fresh snow as low as 1600m in parts of the Alps this morning!
Lots of fresh snow in Ischgl's upper bowls - 14 July 2016 - Photo: ischgl.com
The heaviest snow has been in Austria (benefiting summer ski areas such as Hintertux and Mölltal), eastern Switzerland and parts of the central and eastern Italian Alps (e.g. Passo Stelvio), where as much as 30cm has fallen at high altitude with more forecast today.
Fresh snow at Passo Stelvio, one of a handful of ski areas open in the Alps in July - 14 July 2016 - Photo: passostelvio.com
Western glaciers (e.g. Tignes) have also had at least a dusting, but the cold weather won’t last long, with temperatures expected to return to normal by the weekend.
Fresh snow to 1800m in Livigno this morning - 14 July 2016 - Photo: valtline.it
Updated: 12.45pm Friday 17 June 2016 - Fresh snow for the eastern Alpine glaciers
Some parts of the Alps have seen fresh snow in the last day or two, heaviest in the east where it has (briefly) settled to as low as 1800m in places.
Fresh snow at Passo Stelvio - 17 June 2016 - Photo: passostelvio.com
Although this will be a nuisance to bikers and walkers, it is great news for the summer ski areas, particularly those in the Austrian and eastern Italian Alps, such as Passo Stelvio (pictured above).
Right now, summer glacier skiing is possible in:
France
Val d’Isère opened last weekend and will be joined by Les 2 Alpes tomorrow (18 June), and Tignes on 25 June.
Switzerland
Zermatt is the only summer skiing option in Switzerland right now, with Saas-Fee joining the action on 16 July
Italy
Passo Stelvio is currently the only option, but will be joined by Cervinia on 25 June.
Austria
You can ski on the glacier above Hintertux 365 days a year. The other three options are the Kitzsteinhorn glacier above Kaprun (open until 24 July), the Mölltal glacier in Carinthia (which will remain open until next spring), and the Dachstein glacier near Schladming (which will continue to offer summer skiing as long as conditions allow, but no later than 17 July).
Updated: 9.35am Monday 23 May 2016 - Big snowfalls for the western Alps!
“Winter” has returned with a vengeance this morning, with heavy snow falling as low as 1000m in places in the central and western Alps. This follows a short spell of more summery weather, which saw temperatures peak at 32°C in the northern Austrian Alps (Salzburg) yesterday afternoon.
Blizzard in Saas-Fee this morning - Photo: saas-fee.ch
This brutal change in weather conditions results from an active cold front from the north-west combined with a developing “Genoan Low”, which is circulating widespread and heavy precipitation across the western half of the Alps this morning.
Tomorrow the focus of the storm will be further east, by which time it will have lost some of its potency. The highest snowfall totals are therefore expected to be in the western Alps (e.g. Zermatt, Cervinia) where 20-50cm is expected quite widely by the end of today above 2000m, with 70cm+ possible very locally!
Heavy snow in Zermatt today - Photo: zermatt.ch
The late snow is of course great news for the glaciers (there was also snow last Thursday) but not so good for the hikers and drivers who risk getting caught unawares.
In France, there is currently no lift-served skiing possible. Val d’Isere will be the first resort to open, set to kick off its summer season on 12 June, shortly followed by Les 2 Alpes on 18 June and Tignes on 25 June.
In Switzerland, only Zermatt is currently offering any skiing. The lifts are shut today due to the heavy snow but conditions should be epic once skies clear.
In Italy, you can still ski in Cervinia throughout May, but only at weekends. The underrated Passo Stelvio area near Bormio is due to open on 28 May.
As usual, Austria offers the greatest variety of summer skiing - our pick of the options over the next few weeks being the Hintertux and Kitzsteinhorn glaciers.
Chucking it down in Champoluc - Photo: monterosa-ski.com
Updated: 7.35am Tuesday 17 May 2016 - Regular top-ups for the Alpine glaciers
The weather in the Alps has been unsettled and unseasonably cool over the last few days, with further snow for the glaciers - and to much lower levels at times too. This morning, for example, there has been a dusting to 1000m or lower in some northern and north-eastern parts of the Alps.
Dusting of snow to very low levels last night. This is Schröcken (1200m) - Photo: warth-schroecken.com
You can still ski in:
Austria:
- Stubai - glacier open until 29 May
- Hintertux - glacier open 365 days a year
- Kaunertal - glacier open until 29 May
- Kitzsteinhorn - glacier open until 24 July
- Dachstein - glacier open as long as snow conditions allow
Italy:
- Cervinia - open at weekends only until the end of May
Switzerland:
- St Moritz - Diavolezza open until 22 May
- Engelberg - open until 22 May
- Zermatt - open all year-round (though skiing is very limited in early May due to maintenance)
All the open glaciers (see below) have seen at least some fresh snow, but the heaviest falls have been in the north and east, including Engelberg in Switzerland and much of Austria.
Further snow is forecast to relatively low levels (1500m in places) on Thursday, before it turns warmer over the weekend.
Updated: 1.20pm Sunday 15 May 2016 - Skiing in Portugal in the middle of May?
Portugal’s only ski resort, Sera da Estrela, has sensationally reopened for skiing this weekend following 40cm of new snow!
Skiing in Portugal in the middle of May? You had better believe it - Photo: facebook.com/SkiSeraDaEstrela
Snow conditions are notoriously erratic in the Portuguese ski resort, which tops out at just 1967m - indeed this year skiing wasn’t possible until 14 January, only for the resort to close four days later. However, normal proceedings were resumed in mid-February and, following an exceptionally snowy spring, the resort remained open until 26 April.
Following the 40cm of new snow mid-week, resort authorities have taken the unprecedented step of opening three lifts and three runs for a one-off weekend in the middle of May, quite remarkable given the area’s modest height and southerly latitude.
40cm of new snow earlier this week in Sera da Estrela - Photo: facebook.com/skiSeraDaEstrela
As for the Alps, you can still ski in:
Austria:
- Stubai - glacier open until 29 May
- Hintertux - glacier open 365 days a year
- Kaunertal - glacier open until 29 May
- Kitzsteinhorn - glacier open until 24 July
- Dachstein - glacier open as long as snow conditions allow
Italy:
- Cervinia - open at weekends only until the end of May
Switzerland:
- St Moritz - Diavolezza open until 22 May
- Engelberg - open until 22 May
- Zermatt - open all year-round (though skiing is very limited in early May due to maintenance)
Updated: 7.30am Saturday 7 May 2016 – Great spring skiing in the few resorts still open
This is how Val Thorens has looked for much of this week, the last week of France’s 2015-16 ski season. As you can see there is still masses of snow, and the pistes are virtually empty.
Great pistes and hardly anyone on them in Val Thorens this week - Photo: facebook.com/ValThorens
The weather has now turned warmer across most of the Alps, after a generally cold and snowy April. There was, however, another fall of snow in Austria mid-week, where (if anything) the snow up on the glaciers is even better.
The weather will stay mild over the next few days with sunny spells and just a few showers here and there. However, later next week yet another wintry blast is on the cards, with new snow again possible to quite low levels. Watch this space…
In the meantime you can still ski in the following resorts:
Austria:
- Sölden - glaciers open until 8 May
- Pitztal - glacier open until 8 May
- Mölltal - glacier open until 8 May
- Stubai - glacier open until 29 May
- Hintertux - glacier open 365 days a year
- Kaunertal - glacier open until 29 May
- Kitzsteinhorn - glacier open until 24 July
- Dachstein - glacier open as long as snow conditions allow
France:
- Tignes - open until 8 May
- Val Thorens - open until 8 May
Italy:
- Cervinia - open at weekends only until the end of May
- Val Senales - glacier open until 8 May
Switzerland:
- Glacier 3000 (Les Diablerets) – open until 8 May
- St Moritz - Diavolezza open until 22 May
- Engelberg - open until 22 May
- Zermatt - open all year-round (though skiing is very limited in early May due to maintenance)
Updated: 10.30am Monday 2 May 2016 - Exceptionally snowy season finale!
It’s still snowing across parts of the Alps today, chiefly in the east, which is great news for the Austrian glaciers, several of which remain open in spring. The best of any brightness today will be in the west.
A super-snowy scene in Chamrousse this morning near Grenoble, though the lifts have long been closed - Photo: chamrousse.com
This weekend saw the grand finale for a number of high profile resorts including Val d’Isère, Chamonix (Argentière) and Ischgl. Only a tiny number of ski areas (see below) remain open now, but it is possible to ski in the Alps throughout spring. What’s more, after an exceptionally snowy late April, conditions on the glaciers should be excellent for some time to come.
Further bits and pieces of snow are expected in the Alps over the next couple of days, before it settles down and turns warmer later in the week.
This will be the last “Today in the Alps” now until October, but we will be posting regular updates and blogs throughout the summer - so stay tuned and thank you for supporting weathertoski!
Resorts remaining open are:
Austria:
- Sölden - glaciers open until 8 May
- Pitztal - glacier open until 8 May
- Mölltal - glacier open until 8 May
- Stubai - glacier open until 29 May
- Hintertux - glacier open 365 days a year
- Kaunertal - glacier open until 29 May
- Kitzsteinhorn - glacier open until 24 July
- Dachstein - glacier open as long as snow conditions allow
France:
- Tignes - open until 8 May (Grand Motte area only after 1 May)
- Val Thorens - open until 8 May
Italy:
- Cervinia - open at weekends only until the end of May
- Livigno - open until 8 May
- Val Senales - glacier open until 8 May
Switzerland:
- Glacier 3000 (Les Diablerets) – open until 8 May
- St Moritz - Diavolezza open until 22 May
- Engelberg - open until 22 May
- Zermatt - open all year-round (though skiing is very limited in early May due to maintenance)
Updated: 7.30am Sunday 1 May 2016 - Yet more heavy snow in the western Alps!
The weather in the Alps remains unseasonably wintry with further heavy overnight snow for many, especially in the west, where over 40cm has fallen in places.
Heavy overnight snow in the Italian Piedmont, though sadly Sestriere is long closed for the season - Photo: vialattea.it
The greatest snowfall totals have been in the Swiss Upper Valais between Saas-Fee and the Simplon region, where 50cm of new snow has fallen at altitude in the last 24 hours.
30cm of new snow at altitude in Zermatt - Photo: apartment-zermatt.ch
However, many other parts of the Swiss, French and western Italian Alps have also seen a significant fall of snow, which has fallen to 1000m or lower in places judging by the Morzine webcams this morning
A dusting of snow in Morzine this morning! - Photo: chilloutmountain.com
Today further snow showers will affect many parts of the Alps, initially heaviest in the west but also affecting some eastern parts of the Alps. The rain/snow level will start quite low (700-1200m in the west) before rising to between 1200m and 1700m later.
Today, another clutch of big name ski resorts will close, including Val d’Isère, Argentière, Ischgl and Obertauern. Needless to say, snow conditions are excellent for the time of year - particularly in the west today, where most of the fresh snow has fallen - even if sunshine is in short supply.
Resorts remaining open are:
Austria:
- Ischgl - until 1 May
- Obertauern - until 1 May
- Kitzbühel - until 1 May
- Sölden - glaciers open until 8 May
- Pitztal - glacier open until 8 May
- Mölltal - glacier open until 8 May
- Stubai - glacier open until 29 May
- Hintertux - glacier open 365 days a year
- Kaunertal - glacier open until 29 May
- Kitzsteinhorn - glacier open until 24 July
- Dachstein - glacier open as long as snow conditions allow
France:
- Argentière - open until 1 May
- Val d’Isère - open until 1 May
- Tignes - open until 8 May (Grand Motte area only after 1 May)
- Val Thorens - open until 8 May
Italy:
- Cervinia - open until 1 May (plus weekends only until the end of May)
- Cortina - open until 1 May
- Livigno - open until 8 May
- Val Senales - glacier open until 8 May
Switzerland:
- Adelboden - open until 1 May
- Samnaun - open until 1 May
- Glacier 3000 (Les Diablerets) – open until 8 May
- St Moritz - Corvatsch open until 1 May, Diavolezza open until 22 May
- Engelberg - open until 22 May
- Zermatt - open all year-round (though skiing is very limited in early May due to maintenance)
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