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The weather in the Alps has been relatively stable for some time now.
Last week we saw some very warm temperatures and a rapid thaw at lower altitudes. This week, freezing levels are lower, though it is still mild with spring snow conditions very much in evidence at lower altitudes.
Over the next few days, it will turn a fraction cooler but remain mostly dry in the Alps, with variable cloud cover and some nuisance-value Saharan dust lingering in places.
Snow conditions remain pretty good across most of the Alps, with the most consistent snow at altitude and on north-facing slopes. Lower down, you should expect more pronounced freeze-thaw cycles but nothing too dramatic. These may become a little more pronounced later in the weekend and early next week.
In terms of snow depths, they are close to or even above average across much of the French Alps, as well as some western Italian resorts (e.g. La Thuile), but below average across most other parts of the Alps.
Across the pond, the western Canadian ski resorts are faring much better than their counterparts in the western US...
It has been mostly fine in the Austrian Alps this week which, at this time of year, means spring-snow conditions in the lower resorts like Zell am See (20/95cm) and Westendorf (75/95cm).
Higher up, the snow is still staying firm for most of the day in the likes of Obergurgl (95/110cm) and Kühtai (145/175cm), but no Austrian ski resort is expecting any fresh snow any time soon.
Obertauern in the eastern Austrian Alps is well placed to avoid the worst of the Saharan dust today – 5 March 2026 – Photo: obertauern.com
French ski resorts still have the best overall snow cover in the Alps, with the higher resorts like Val d’Isère (95/130cm) and Les 2 Alpes (60/355cm) offering some of the best conditions in the Alps.
Lower down there is still plenty of snow in the likes of Les Gets (45/200cm), but spring snow conditions are more prevalent.
Hazy skies from Saharan sand today in Les Gets – 5 March 2026 – Photo: lesgets.com
Natural snow cover is better in the western Alps, where the likes of Cervinia (90/140cm) and La Thuile (90/320) are offering some of the best snow conditions in Italy.
Further east, natural snow cover is a bit patchier (lower down, at least) and conditions are more spring-like in the Dolomites, but there is still plenty of good piste-skiing in Arabba (80/90cm) and Madonna di Campiglio (75/90cm).
Plenty of snow but very hazy skies in Bardonecchia, thanks for a mixture of high cloud and Saharan dust in the south-western Italian Alps – 5 March 2026 – Photo: bardonecchia.it
Snow conditions are quite spring-like in the lower resorts of the Swiss Alps, including Villars (30/140cm) and Adelboden (15/110cm), though there is still plenty of good piste-skiing on offer in both resorts.
For more consistent and wintry snow conditions you ideally need to be in a resort where most of the skiing is above 2000m, such as Zermatt (50/120cm) and Saas-Fee (50/260cm).
Sunny but still with a slight haze in Engelberg today – 5 March 2026 – Photo: titlis.ch
Snow conditions are very mixed in the Pyrenees right now. There is generally a lot of snow still, especially at altitude, but it has been warm recently with a mixture of rain and snow to finish the week. For the best conditions you need to head as high as possible, to resorts like Andorra’s Pas de La Casa (260/310cm) or Spain’s Boi Taull (200/350cm).
Temperatures asre quite mild across much of Scandinavia but you can still find plenty of good skiing in Norway’s Hemsedal (75/90cm) and Sweden’s Sålen (60/102cm), even if conditions lower down are a little spring-like right now.
The snow is steadily melting in Scotland but there is still a bit of skiing available, the best of which is in Cairngorm, Glenshee and Glencoe. Always check individual ski area websites for the status of lift operations and ticket restrictions before committing!
Mild but with good piste-skiing in Norway’s Hemsedal – 5 March 2026 – Photo: skistar.com
Snow depths in all western US ski areas remain below par for the time of year, and in many cases considerably so.
Colorado’s disappointing season continues. You can still find some reasonable piste-skiing in the likes of Winter Park (107cm upper base), but this season’s snowfall has only been just over half of what it should be. The good news is that it will snow on Friday but next week looks like another sunny and very mild one.
California is faring slightly better, with good snow coverage across Mammoth (193/310cm), though snow depths are also a little below par here and the forecast is decidedly spring-like.
The Banff/Lake Louise area continues to offer some of the best snow conditions in North America, with upper base depths close to 2m and more snow forecast over the weekend.
Further west, Whistler (237cm mid-mountain base) remains a bit below par but is skiing well and will improve further with new snow over the next few days.
Fine weather and great snow conditions this morning in Lake Louise – 5 March 2026 –Photo: skilouise.com
Our next full snow report will be on
Thursday 12 March 2026
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