Latest snow forecast

Updated: 5.30pm Sunday 26 January 2025

The weather in the Alps remains very unsettled with a complex storm system set to affect the Alps on Monday and Tuesday, before the weather quietens down again on Wednesday.

 

This new storm will bring significant snow to some of the Alps, with the higher resorts of France (e.g. Val d’Isère, Alpe d’Huez, Chamonix), the far south-east of Switzerland (e.g. St Moritz) and the central-eastern Italian Alps (e.g. Madesimo, Livigno, Passo Tonale) likely to be most favoured, with 40-70cm or more above 2000m by Tuesday night.

 

Most other Alpine regions will receive some useful snow but, with the rain/snow limit all over the place, rain will also be a nuisance at times lower down, particularly on Monday and in the southern Alps.

 

As a result, the lower valleys and resorts will not see much of a net increase in snow, although the complex nature of this storm means that there may be some surprises…

Detailed forecast:

Austria

Monday will see the Foehn wind keep most areas in the Austrian Alps dry and very mild, with variable cloud. Later in the day, some showers (snow 1600m) will reach the far west and south-west with some more significant precipitation (snow 1400-1800m) reaching the south and west early on Monday night, spreading north and east later.

 

Tuesday will be mostly cloudy with rain or snow in many areas, initially falling as snow above 1300-1600m but dropping towards or even below 1000m later. The heaviest snow will fall early in the day in the far south (i.e. Carinthia), while in the far west (e.g. Vorarlberg, west Tirol) it should gradually brighten up as the day goes on.

 

Wednesday will see drier brighter weather return to all regions. 

Snow falling in Warth am Arlberg, Austria, with view of snow-covered cars and buildings in the village – Weather to ski – Snow forecast, 26 January 2025 Heavy snow earlier today in Warth am Arlberg, with more to come on Monday night – 26 January 2025 – Photo: warth-schroecken.at

France

Monday will be mostly cloudy in the French Alps with showers. These will tend to become heavier and more persistent later in the day, especially overnight. The rain/snow limit will sit around 1900-2200m for much of the day before lowering towards 1300-1600m in the north during the evening, then 1000-1200m overnight.

 

In the southern French Alps, the rain/snow limit will stay higher for longer, but will also descend towards 1000m by night’s end.

 

Tuesday will remain mostly cloudy, with further showers or flurries (900-1200m). These will be scattered at first, again becoming more persistent on Tuesday evening.

 

It will become drier and brighter everywhere on Wednesday

Sun breaking through the clouds above the ski slopes and lifts in Montgenèvre, France, with crowds of skiers at the bottom of the slopes – Weather to ski – Snow forecast, 26 January 2025 Good snow conditions in Montgenèvre, with lots more snow to come early this week – Photo: montgenevre.com, 26 January 2025

Italy

Monday will be mostly cloudy in the Italian Alps. It may start dry in the far east (Dolomites) but showers are likely elsewhere, tending to get heavier and more persistent later in the day and overnight. The rain/snow limit will be highly variable across the country. It will be highest in the south-west (e.g Sestriere), where it will sit at 2000m or higher for much of the day before descending sharply late on Monday night. It will probably be lowest in the far north-west (e.g. La Thuile, Courmayeur), where it is likely to be between 1200-1500m, but possibly lower due to local climatic peculiarities.

 

More generally in the Italian Alps, the rain/snow limit will be between 1400m and 1900m on Monday, before dropping later that night.

 

Tuesday will see rain or snow dying out from the western Italian Alps in the morning before further showers or flurries arrive late in the day. Further east, any rain or snow will continue for longer, especially in the Dolomites. The rain/snow limit will again be variable but will typically sit at around 1000-1500m, but a bit higher near some of the foothills.

 

Drier, brighter weather will extend to all regions by Wednesday

View of snow-covered ski slopes and mountain scenery in Bardonecchia, Italy – Weather to ski – Snow forecast, 26 January 2025 Bright skies today over Bardonecchia, where plenty of snow is forecast over the next couple of days – Photo: bardonecchia.it, 26 January 2025

Switzerland

Monday will be mostly cloudy in the Swiss Alps, with showers in the west and south spreading to all regions later in the day. The rain/snow limit will start at around 1800-2100m (but a bit lower in Ticinio) before lowering to 1200-1500m in the west later in the day, then to 1000-1200m everywhere overnight when the precipitation will become heavier.

 

Tuesday will see a relative reprieve early in the day, though there will still be some showers or flurries around (with a rain/snow limit of 1200m) and some more persistent rain or snow in the far south (Ticino) in the morning. Later in the day, showers and flurries (900-1200m) will become more widespread again in the west.

 

Wednesday will see some flurries (900m) lingering across the northern and eastern Swiss Alps for a time, otherwise it will be mostly dry with bright spells spreading to all areas later. 

Sun shining on the upper slopes of the ski area in Engelberg, Switzerland, with snow-less mountains in the distance – Weather to ski – Snow forecast, 26 January 2025 Mild Foehn conditions have melted a lot of the natural snow lower down in Engelberg, but there is still plenty at altitude – 26 January 2025 – Photo: titlis.ch

Outlook:

Thursday and Friday will see another disturbance approaching the Alps. There is still lots of uncertainty as to how this will develop, with most regions likely to remain dry and bright, though some snow showers may return to the south-western Alps. 

Our next detailed weather & snow forecast will be on
Friday 31 January 2025