More Snow About To Fall In The Alps

6th November 2023

Last modified on November 9th, 2023

Significant amounts of early season snow have fallen with more set to come down this weekend. UPDATED

It is already looking good in the Alps after the recent heavy snow of early November.

In places 1m of snow fell with the freezing level down to 1,500m in some areas.

There has been a lull in proceedings this week, but more snow is forecast to start falling on Thursday and it will continue into the weekend in places.

The north west Alps will see the most with another 50-80cm of new snow possible above 2,000m by Sunday in the northern French Alps:

Tignes,
Val Thorens
Avoriaz

And the western Swiss Alps:

Verbier

“Other regions including parts of Switzerland away from the far south (e.g. Engelberg, Mürren), the western Austrian Alps (e.g. Lech), and the far north-west of Italy (e.g. La Thuile) will also see significant snow at altitude over the next few days (30-50cm) but, on the whole, the further south-east you are, the less snow there will be,” said Fraser Wilkin from weathertoski.co.uk.

“During this period the rain/snow limit will typically sit between 1,000m and 1,600m, perhaps a bit lower for a time later in the week and early next weekend. However, early next week it may rise significantly.

“Right now, there is significant snow cover at altitude across much of the Alps, especially in the north-west where some sort of base is already assured in resorts such as Val d’Isère and Val Thorens.

“Lower down, as you would expect, the picture is much more mixed, and it is far too early to pass any judgment on how things will pan out come the season ‘proper’ in a month or so.”

Do check out Weathertoski.co.uk for the very latest.

It is looking good at altitude and the snow on the upper slopes will help to form a base for the approaching season.

Many resorts are now moving the snow around the slopes and packing it down.

🚨Nous sommes prêts ! pic.twitter.com/ZEpuJ8iILb
— Val d’Isère (@valdisere) November 9, 2023

À Avoriaz on a pas encore vu d’aurores boréales la nuit… mais on a vu de sacrés paquets de neige le jour ❄️😄
45-50cm dans la station 😱☃️#Avoriaz #Neige #Alpes pic.twitter.com/O1FRWOZJJ7
— Avoriaz 1800 (@Avoriaz1800) November 6, 2023

Lower down it is a different story as much will melt but it certainly looks good, and has got people in the mood for winter.

Morzine, France. Image c/o Morzine Tourist Office.

We have been reporting on the new snow over the past few days on PlanetSKI:

Sainte Foy, France. Image © Premiere-Neige.

Over the weekend, the heaviest snow fell in the north-western Alps, including the high resorts of the northern French Alps :

Tignes
Les Arcs
La Rosiere
Chamonix

Plus the higher resorts of the western Swiss Alps:

Glacier 3000
Verbier

And and the far north-west of Italy:

Courmayeur
La Thuile

Here are some images of the snow from Arc 195o in France:

Arc 1950, France. Image c/o Arc 1950 tourist office.

Several resorts have opened some slopes and there is talk of more ski areas opening this weekend.

Verbier has confirmed it is opening this Friday, November 10th.

It will be open for weekends in November and from December 2nd every day.

Here are the resorts in Europe offering skiing at the moment, weather permitting:

Austria:

Kaunertal, Soelden, Hintertux, Pitztal, Stubai, Moltaller & Kitzsteinhorn.

Finland:

Levi & Ruka.

Italy:

Passo Stelvio, Solda & Cervinia.

Norway:

Norefjell.

Switzerland:

Saas-Fee, Engadine & Zermatt.

There is currently no skiing on offer in France.

Val Thorens opens at the end of November and Tignes has just announced it is opening an area on November 18th.

Les2Alpes is scheduled to open on Saturday 2nd December.

Tour operators and agents also report a rise in enquiries following the fresh snow in the Alps and colder temperatures in the UK.

“I’m very excited to see this much snow already, and more to come in the forecast,” said Zac Brown from Ski France.

“Sales last week were the best of the year so far, so it certainly seems as if the talk of snow has got our customers excited too.

“Let’s hope it’s the start of a fantastic season to come.”

Meribel, France. Image c/o Ski France.

15cm and counting.

Meribel, France. Image c/o Ski France.

Do check out the latest offers in the PlanetSKI Deals & Discounts page.

Other ski businesses are preparing for winter.

“After one of the hottest autumns on record the winds recently changed and down came the rain in Geneva and snow at higher levels is finally here,” said the Simon Carrelli the co-founder of the transfer business, Alpine Fleet

“We were in Les 2 Alpes last week doing some prep for the upcoming Rise Music Festival in December and the snow was coming down heavily in the mountains.

“We have noticed that bookings have picked up considerably after the half term school holidays, but in particular the last 10 days as the snow is falling.”

Simon Carrelli, Alpine Fleet. Image © PlanetSKI

The World Travel Market took place at the ExCel Centre in London this week and though skiing only takes up a fraction of the floor space there was a buzz around the stands of the alpine countries.

World Travel Market. Image c/o PlanetSKI

“It’s absolutely chucking it down with snow in the Alps at the moment and let’s hope it signals a great winter ahead,” said Cathy Rankin from the French accommodation provider, Pierre et Vacances.