Snow Report: 5 November 2025
Weather to Ski weathertoski.co.uk Detailed snow report for 5 November 2025 covering the Alps, other European ski resorts, and North America (US and Canada), including current snow depths, conditions, and forecasts.
Snow Report: 5 November 2025
After a largely unremarkable autumn, snow conditions in the Alps improved significantly towards the end of October thanks to a major storm cycle that dumped over 1m of snow at altitude across some of the north-western Alps.
This was followed by further top-ups both at end of the month and early in November, leaving many higher parts of the Alps with above average snow depths for the time of year.
The area that saw the most snow from the recent storms was the northern French Alps, especially L’Espace Killy (Val d’Isère and Tignes). With well over a metre of snow having fallen in late October, there should now be a lasting base here, at least on the upper sectors of the ski area.
Several other high ski areas in the Alps also now have something of a base, even if in most cases it is only at high altitude. This includes Val Thorens in France, Verbier in Switzerland, Cervinia in Italy, and Ischgl and Obergurgl in Austria.
So, while this is an encouraging start for a select few high ski resorts across the Alps, the recent snow means little if anything for the vast majority of resorts, which will lose most (and in some cases, all) of their snow over the next few days if they haven’t done so already. This is entirely normal for the time of year, when warm and cold airmasses jostle for position over Europe...
Austria
There has been some good skiing on the Austrian glaciers this week, with firm grippy conditions in Hintertux (65cm upper base) and Sölden (25cm upper base), both of which are offering over 30km of groomed runs including some non-glacial terrain.
The weather has turned warmer though, with some moderate Foehn winds and temperatures as high as 17˚C today in Innsbruck.
No new snow is forecast in the Austrian Alps for at least the next week.
Good skiing on the Mölltal glacier in Carinthia – 5 November 2025 – Photo: moelltaler-gletscher.at
France
There is no lift-served skiing on offer in France right now, despite impressive snow cover at altitude, particularly in the northern Alps.
Tignes and Val Thorens are scheduled to be the first French resorts to start their ski season on 22 November 2025.
Apart from the extreme south (e.g. Isola 2000), where a few centimetres of snow are forecast above 1900m on Thursday night and Friday, there is no new snow in the forecast in the French Alps for at least the next week.
Good snow cover at altitude in Val d’Isère, most of which should hang on now until the season proper – 5 November 2025 – Photo: valdisere.com
Italy
Only 3 ski areas are open in the Italian Alps right now – Val Senales (30cm upper), Sulden am Ortler (25cm upper) and Cervinia (150cm upper).
Cervinia is offering the most extensive terrain, at least in good weather, with skiing possible both in its Plan Maison sector and up on the glacier it shares with Zermatt, although these areas are not connected for now. The snow quality this week has been described as excellent, although the snow will inevitably become firmer as the week progresses due to the lack of new snow.
No new snow is forecast in the Italian Alps over the next week, aside from in the far south-west (e.g. Prato Nevoso, Limone Piedmonte) where a few centimetres are expected above 1900m on Thursday night and Friday.
Nicely groomed runs at Plan Maison above Cervinia, although this area remains unconnected to the glacier area for now – 5 November 2025 – Photo: cervinia.it
Switzerland
Zermatt (150cm upper) and Saas-Fee (175cm upper) continue to offer the best snow conditions in Switzerland right now and are open daily, weather-permitting. The skiing still largely revolves around the glaciers but with a bit more open than you would find in the summer.
The Diavolezza glacier (50cm upper) near St Moritz is also open today, though only on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.
The weekend sees many more options open, including Verbier, Mürren and Engelberg among others, albeit on a very limited basis.
There is no fresh snow forecast in the Swiss Alps in the next week.
Excellent snow conditions this week on the glacier in Saas-Fee – 5 November 2025 – Photo: saas-fee.ch
Rest of Europe
A handful of ski resorts are open in Scandinavia on a very limited basis and thanks to artificial snow, including Finland’s Ruka (25cm upper base). Conditions vary, and some resorts are only partially open.
USA
Three resorts are open for skiing in the western US, again on a very limited basis. These are all in Colorado (Winter Park, A-Basin and Keystone), all of which have upper bases of around 45cm.
Canada
The Banff/Lake Louise area is the first western Canadian ski area to offer any skiing this season, with a total of 8km of pistes open on an upper base of 60cm.
Fresh snow has allowed some good skiing conditions for the opening of the Lake Louise/Banff ski area – 5 November 2025 – Photo: facebook.com/skilouise
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