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On the whole, snow conditions in the Alps are less than ideal as we approach the end of 2025. There is still some enjoyable piste skiing around but the fact remains that, aside from a handful of ski resorts in the far south-western Alps, snow levels are below average for late December - in most cases way below average.
The only exceptions to this rule are in the southern Piemonte, where Prato Nevoso, Limone Piemonte, Prali and one or two other very minor ski resorts have above average snow depths, largely thanks to the huge pre-Christmas storms. Some other ski resorts have close to average depths, including Isola 2000, the resorts of the Queyras (e.g. Abriès, Ristolas), and the eastern Monte Rosa (Alagna).
Not surprisingly, these ski areas have been offering the best snow conditions in recent days but, after a week or so of mostly dry weather and high skier traffic, much of this advantage will have been lost. In the very short term, it is perhaps the resorts of the north-western Austrian Alps (e.g. Schladming) that are offering the best (on-piste) skiing, thanks to the few centimetres of snow they saw yesterday.
For most of the Alps, though, it is still a case of hard-packed pistes – sometimes quite good, especially at altitude, but with plenty of worn, scratchy or icy areas, especially lower down.
As for the forecast, the weather models have been particularly volatile in recent days, with much uncertainty as to when the Alps will next see significant snow. As things stand, there should be a few centimetres to low levels on Friday night and Saturday across the northern Alps (e.g. Avoriaz, Engelberg, Lech, Kaprun) but not the widespread heavy snow we were hoping for. This now looks more likely to come in the second week of January.
Across the pond, Lake Louise has declared it’s snowiest start to the season on record…
Snow depths are way below normal right across Austria. A few centimetres of snow have helped freshen up pistes in the north-east (e.g. Salzburg area) but, in most areas, runs are hard-packed or even a bit icy in places.
Low temperatures mean that there is little difference between on-piste conditions in higher ski resorts like Ischgl (20/50cm) and lower ones like Saalbach (10/70cm), both of which are using a mix of natural and artificial snow.
Snow is forecast to low levels this weekend but mostly in the northern Austrian Alps.
Evidence of a few centimetres of snow in the Salzburgland from yesterday – 31 December 2025 – Photo: foto-webcam.eu
Snow depths are generally below average for the time of year in the French Alps, with only the far south (e.g. Isola 2000) close to or even a little above average. Unsurprisingly this has been where the best snow conditions have been in recent days, although some of this advantage has now been lost.
Further north, with little (if any) snow in December, runs are generally very hard-packed – ok in places, but with plenty of scratchier areas, especially lower down. You can still ski back to resort in Les Gets (10/60cm), for example, but natural snow cover is a bit patchy and more snow is needed.
The best snow conditions remain at high altitude in resorts like Val d’Isère (50/80cm) and Val Thorens (55/105cm).
Some snow is forecast in the French Alps over the weekend, but only in modest quantities and mostly in the far north.
Good pistes still at altitude in many French resorts. This is Les Contamines – 31 December 2025 – Photo: lescontamines.com
As we have extensively reported, thanks to the huge pre-Christmas dumps, the best snow conditions in recent days have been in the far south-west of Italy, in ski resorts like Prato Nevoso (90/200cm).
Many other western Italian ski resorts have also been in good shape (on-piste at least) including Sestriere (30/50cm) and Cervinia (40/85cm) but, further east, there is less natural snow.
Natural snow cover in the Dolomites is now quite patchy lower down, with resorts like Selva (20/50cm) relying heavily on their world-class snowmaking to ensure decent piste conditions.
There is little, if any, snow in the forecast for Italian ski resorts over the next few days.
Excellent snow conditions in the southern Piemonte following last week’s storms – Photo: riservabianca.it
Snow depths are uniformly below par across the Swiss Alps with little, if any, snow having fallen across the country in December.
Some of the best skiing in Switzerland is currently at high altitude in Zermatt (15/85cm) and Saas-Fee (20/175cm) thanks to the few centimetres of snow that fell here last week.
Lower down, and more generally across the Swiss Alps, pistes are hard-packed though, with some enjoyable skiing in places but also some icy or bare patches lower down. This is the case in both Engelberg (5/65cm) and Grindelwald (5/55cm).
Some snow is forecast in the Swiss Alps over the weekend but in modest quantities and mostly in the far north.
Decent piste-skiing in Verbier, but more snow would be welcome – 31 December 2025 – Photo: verbier.ch
Most of the Pyrenees is skiing well for the time of year, especially in the east where resorts such as La Molina (60/130cm) caught a lot of snow last week.
Snow depths remain modest across much of Scandinavia, although there has been some fresh snow in recent days, notably in western Norway where Myrkdalen has upper base depths of 35cm, and further snow forecast later today. For now, though, the greatest extent of open terrain is in Sweden’s Åre (25/40cm) where around half of its 90km of pistes are open.
Skiing in Scotland remains limited to beginner areas (with artificial help) but significant snow is possible in the next few days in some resorts, especially in the east (e.g. Cairngorm) which may allow a bit more terrain to open.
Plenty of snow in Ax 3 Domaines in the eastern French Pyrenees – 31 December 2025 – Photo: ax.ski
Many western US resorts are continuing to struggle for snow.
Utah’s Snowbird has improved slightly, with around 50cm of snow this week but snow depths still way below where they should be for late December. As a result, the resort is only partially open with mid-mountain base depths around 90cm.
Over in Colorado, most major resorts are also in dire need of some serious snow, with only a limited part of Vail (70cm upper base) open, with considerable artificial help.
For better snow conditions, you need to head further south-west, where Mammoth is now two-thirds open and has around 2m of settled snow up top.
A special mention should be made to the Eastern US, where resorts such as Jay Peak (46/102cm) are having one of their best early seasons in recent memory.
Western Canadian ski resorts continue to offer the best snow conditions in north America. Whistler (170cm mid-mountain base) had lots of snow last week and is prime shape right now, with further snow forecast this weekend.
Further inland, the Lake Louise area (175cm upper base) has just announced that it has had its snowiest early season on record and is also skiing superbly.
Lake Louise has seen its snowiest start to the season on record – 31 December 2025 – Photo: bowvalleyinsider.com
Our next full snow report will be on
Thursday 8 January 2026
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