Snow Falls in The Alps

2nd November 2022

Last modified on November 8th, 2022

There’s been some welcome snow across the Alps but temperatures are set to rise this week. UPDATED

The snow is very welcome as the season approaches.

We are looking at the snow in the open glacier resorts in the Alps and hearing from those able to enjoy the conditions.

First the latest from Val Thorens in Les3Vallees which opens in a couple of weeks and is the first ski area PlanetSKI will visit this winter:

Here is the scene in neighbouring Courchevel and Les Menuires.

Les3Vallees has launched a new on line travel agency for this winter.

See here for further details: Les 3 Vallées Travel

October has been unseasonably warm with some glacier ski areas not opening as planned, and others taking a hammering from the warm weather.

Snow has fallen across many areas of the Alps with the areas at altitude faring the best.

Five glacier ski areas in Austria are currently open and there is snow down to the floors of the valleys.

Not yet but soon 🎄☃️👀
There’s fresh snow on the mountains again and the Christmas tree is back in the Old Town. Innsbruck Christmas Markets will open on 15th November 🙌
More info >> https://t.co/6a0fXtbPM7
📷: Markus Mair #myInnsbruck #ChristmasMarket #Christkindlmarkt pic.twitter.com/dPX0IuKV5B
— Innsbruck Tourism (@InnsbruckTVB) November 5, 2022

However the temperatures are set to warm up this week and much of the snow will melt.

World Cup ski racing scheduled for next weekend in Lech has already been called off.

More World Cup ski races cancelled

“Before anyone gets too excited, this is NOT a “season defining” storm – not by any stretch of the imagination – but with 10 to 30cm of sometimes quite windblown snow falling quite widely above 2500m, and a dusting to as low as 1200m in the northern Alps, it is certainly a sign that winter proper is not far away,” said Fraser Wilkin from weathertoski.co.uk on Friday 4th November..

“It is also great news for the glaciers, for which an exceptionally mild Autumn has meant generally average pre-season snow conditions to date.”

Fraser Wilkin supplies PlanetSKI with regular updates across the winter and we believe weathertoski.co.uk is one of the most accurate sites for general alpine weather and snow conditions.

See here for a related PlanetSKI article as snow finally falls on the Austria glacier areas:

Austria glacier areas see fresh snow

Here’s the was the scene in St Anton as the snow fell:

Let it snow! ❄️😍#stchristophamarlberg #stantonamarlberg
🎞️ https://t.co/UTNAJnseVd
🎞️ Helga Mair Schwenninger #snowfall #winteriscomingsoon #austria #skiresort #inTirol pic.twitter.com/4UwoHsLPJq
— St. Anton am Arlberg (@StantonReview) November 4, 2022

In nearby Ischgl that opens at the end of November it was cold enough for the snow cannons to be fired up.

Ischgl. Image © TVB Paznaun – Ischgl

SkiWelt in Austria:

While there’s been a dusting of snow across the Alps in Morzine, France.

Here at PlanetSKI we have been reporting on the recent snow in the USA and Canada, with resorts opening early.

We have also been following the early season conditions in Europe:

Here is the current state of play:

Glacier Areas Open in Europe

Austria – Kaunertal, Pitztal, Stubai, Kaprun, Soelden and Hintertux.

Switzerland – Engelberg, Zermatt and Saas-Fee.

Italy – Val Senales, Passo Stelvio and Cervinia.

France – There are no areas open as Tignes and Les2Alpes suspended autumn operations. Val Thorens is planning to be the first top open on 19th November.

PlanetSKI’s Chris Moran will be in the resort and reporting back on the start of its season.

The first non-glacier resort to open in Austria is set to be Obergurgl in the Tirol, that fires up its lifts on November 17th.

PlanetSKI will also have a reporter in resort for the opening.

Here at PlanetSKI we’ll keep you posted so do check back….