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Welcome to our first detailed snow report of the 2026-27 season!
A lot has been happening in the Alps in recent days, and there’s also a very interesting week of weather ahead!
A fairly potent storm has just dumped significant quantities of snow at high altitude across much of the Alps, especially in the south-west where around 30-50cm fell above 2800m in the southern French Alps and some western Italian regions (e.g. Courmayeur, Cervinia).
More generally we have seen 10-30cm of fresh snow in the last 36 hours or so at high altitude, with a sprinkling to as low 1000m close to some of the northern foothills. However, since the bulk of the precipitation was over before the cold air dug in, broadly speaking, this was a high-altitude snow event.
As you would expect, snow conditions have improved considerably in the resorts currently open in the Alps – to be expected, given that most of the options right now still revolve around glaciers. Some resorts are also offering some considerable non-glacial terrain but most of this still requires artificial help. The one major exception is Cervinia, where significant non-glacial terrain with “proper” snow is available, with more set to open up this weekend.
If you are lucky enough to be able to get away at very short notice then, Cervinia is THE place to be, closely followed by its linked resort, Zermatt. However, it looks like it will become very stormy next week which will no doubt hamper lift operations and piste openings at times.
Across the pond, skiing options in North America are extremely limited for now…
Austria may have the greatest number of open ski areas in the Alps right now but that doesn’t mean it has the best snow conditions. Some snow has fallen over the last 48 hours, and even to quite low levels for a time across the northern Austrian Alps. However, overall, there has been less snow here in recent days, even weeks, than there has been further west.
Today, 7 ski areas are open in the Austrian Alps, all involving glaciers but with a reasonable amount of non-glacial terrain also available, especially in Sölden (0/68cm) where over 70km of pistes are now available and Hintertux (0/55cm) which has around 40km.
Yesterday’s snowfalls have freshened things up but any non-glacial terrain is still heavily dependent on artificial help. The next big opening will be entirely non-glacial Obergurgl (on ) probably on a mix of natural and man-made snow.
The weather in the Austrian Alps is expected to turn unsettled again next week with significant fresh snow at altitude in places, especially in the west.
Wintry conditions up on the Kitzsteinhorn glacier above Kaprun today – Photo: kitzsteinhorn.at, 13 November 2026
There are currently no lift-served skiing options open in the French Alps. The first ski resorts scheduled to open in France are Val Thorens and Tignes, both next weekend ().
Right now, Tignes has reasonable snow cover at high altitude but nothing at resort level. Val Thorens is in a similar situation high up (albeit with slightly less snow than Tignes) but does have a thin covering at resort level.
The good news for both these ski areas, and more generally for the higher not yet open resorts of the French Alps is that lots of snow is forecast next week.
Lots of fresh snow up on the Grande Motte glacier above Tignes with much more forecast next week – Photo: tignes.net, 13 November 2026
Higher parts of the western Italian Alps did well from the recent storm with Cervinia (5/60cm) now hands down offering the best snow conditions in the Alps. Not only is the glacier in good condition but you can also ski down non-glacial runs all the way to Plan Maison (2550m) in what now feels like full-on winter conditions.
What’s more, Cervinia’s Goillet and Gran Sometta chairlifts will open tomorrow (). Combined with the terrain available on the Swiss side in Zermatt (where you can ski down to Trockener Steg), this means that at least 40km of pistes will be open this weekend, more than half of which will be non-glacial.
Elsewhere in the Italian Alps you can ski on some very limited terrain on the glacier at Val Senales (0/50cm) and in non-glacial Sulden am Ortler (0/40cm).
The weather in the Italian Alps will turn very unsettled again next week with lots more snow at altitude, especially in the west.
Cervinia offers the best snow conditions in the Alps right now – Photo: cervinia.it, 13 November 2026
Switzerland has 7 ski areas open today with more set to join the action this weekend.
Most of the Swiss options, including the glaciers at Engelberg (20cm upper base) and Glacier 3000 (35cm upper base) and some non-glacial terrain in Davos-Klosters (opening today) are still extremely limited in extent.
Bucking the trend is Zermatt (0/50cm) where, in combination with increasing piste openings in the linked ski area of Cervinia, hopes to offer at least 40km of skiing this weekend. This area also probably has the best snow conditions in the Alps right now.
Another good option is nearby Saas-Fee (0/80cm) where snow conditions are also excellent at altitude and at least 30km of runs should be open this weekend. New openings in the Swiss Alps this weekend, albeit again on a more limited basis, will include Verbier and Andermatt.
The weather in the Swiss Alps will turn much more unsettled again next week with further significant snow expected at altitude, especially in the west.
Skiing is now possible down to 2900m at Trockener Steg in Zermatt – Photo: zermatt.ch, 13 November 2026
Scandinavia has a handful of skiing options, all on a very limited basis and still somewhat dependent on artificial snow, including Finland’s Ruka (40cm upper base).
There won’t be any skiing in the Pyrenees until next weekend () at the very earliest.
Around half a dozen ski areas are currently open in the western US, all on a very limited basis – as is entirely normal at this time of year.
Most of these are in Colorado, although California’s Mammoth is currently offering 4km of pistes on a 50cm upper base and has a moderate fall of snow in the forecast later today.
Only 4 ski areas are currently open for skiing in Canada, 3 of them in the Banff-Lake Louise area where Lake Louise itself has 4km of pistes available on a 26cm upper base.
Further west, Whistler (which is not yet open) has been experiencing wash-out conditions. However, temperatures are forecast to turn colder with significant fresh snow over the weekend – good news ahead of its scheduled opening next weekend ().
Early season snow conditions in Lake Louise this week where only 4km of pistes are open right now – Photo: facebook.com/skilouise, 13 November 2026
Our next full snow report will be on
Friday 20 November 2026
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