Rain Hits Large Parts of the Alps Washing Away Recent Snow
10th November 2023
Last modified on November 16th, 2023
The temperatures have shot up and the snow has sadly turned into rain. Snow conditions remain good at altitude. UPDATED
Updated, Wednesday 15th November
Mild weather and rain has arrived in the north-west Alps.
Large amounts of the snow that fell recently is melting or being washed away at lower altitudes.
The freezing level has shot up to 2,800m, but it is set to drop to 2,000m overnight.
This rain is the heaviest in the northern French Alps:
- Grand Massif
- Portes du Soleil
Plus the western/north-western Swiss Alps:
- Villars
- Gstaad
It is also be significant across the entire northern Swiss Alps:
- Mürren
- Engelberg
Plus stretching into western Austria:
- The Arlberg
- Northern Tirol
“Most of any lying snow in the more exposed parts of the north-western Alps can be expected to disappear below 1800-2000m or so, although they will see a dusting of fresh snow again tonight as temperatures drop,” said Fraser Wilkin from weathertoski.co.uk
“This rain will be less of an issue for the highest resorts of the north-western Alps, such as Tignes, Val d’Isère and Val Thorens, which already have a solid base at altitude.
“As is often the case in these rainy, warm front scenarios, the further south-east you are in the Alps, the less of an issue any rain will be, with the Dolomites escaping completely for example.”
Do check out Weathertoski.co.uk for the very latest.
Here at PlanetSKI we will keep you posted on weather as the season approaches.
Later this week we’ll be publishing a detailed report, avoiding the hype, on what early season conditions are like and what it may mean for the approaching season.
Plus we will taking a look at how bookings are going.
Including where the best ski deals can be found for December as skiing gets more and more expensive.
Meanwhile in Switzerland the avalanche danger level has been at 4 on a scale of 5 in the Valais and other areas following the heavy rain.
It means there is a ‘high’ risk of avalanche.
The heavy rain in the Swiss Alps has led to the closure of several bridges in the Geneva area as water levels rise.
The Arve river that flows through Geneva and into the Rhône, had its highest flow ever recorded on Wednesday.
“We have exceeded 1,000 cubic metres per second”, said the Fire and Rescue Service, SIS.
Five of the eight bridges across the river have been closed.
It has caused major disruption to traffic with trams no longer able to cross from one bank to the other.
In the Haute-Savoie region of the French Alps residents in the Chamonix valley and around the Arve River were advised to stay at home on Wednesday.
Almost 300 homes were without electricity and many roads were closed because of the risk of landslides, rockfalls and subsidence.
Updated, Saturday 11th November
Snow is now falling in the Alps with cold temperatures and it is set to continue to Sunday in places.
The heaviest snow is in the north-west Alps.
“Over the next few days, there will be a lot more snow in the higher resorts of the western Alps, especially in the French Tarentaise, Val Thorens & Tignes, where another 50-70cm is possible above 2,000m by Sunday night,” said the alpine weather expert, Fraser Wilkin, from weathertoski.co.uk on Friday.
“Most of the rest of the Alps will also see some new snow over the next 2-3 days, but with a general rule that the further south-east you are, the less there will be,” added Fraser.
There was a lull in the weather on Friday in parts of France.
“New snow in Sainte Foy, with a break in the weather today with some sunshine. More snow forecast tomorrow,” said a statement from Premiere-Neige that is based in the resort.
Sainte Foy, France. Image © Premiere-Neige.
Sainte Foy, France. Image © Premiere-Neige.
Sainte Foy, France. Image © Premiere-Neige.
The stormy weather led to the cancellation of the men’s downhill racing on Saturday and Sunday from Zermatt in Switzerland to Cervinia in Italy.
⚠️ Due to the heavy snowfall from last night ❄️ and together with the wind, today’s Men Downhill race in Zermatt-Cervinia is cancelled for safety reasons.
Fingers crossed for tomorrow’s race! 🤞🏻#fisalpine pic.twitter.com/fozWEt2fCx
— FIS Alpine (@fisalpine) November 11, 2023
See here for our report: First Men’s Downhill of the Season Cancelled
Early this week the temperature is expected to shoot up, with the freezing level reaching 2,500 – 2,800m in the western Alps on Monday.
Sadly much of the low-level snow will therefore melt.
Verbier opened the Lac des Vaux area on Friday with skiing down to Les Ruinettes.
This is what it looked like:
C’est ce qu’on appelle se gaver dès le premier jour… ❄️🤤
___
That feeling of being back on snow… Spoiled from day one! ❄️🤤
.
.#verbier #valdebagnes #valais #switzerland #ski #snow pic.twitter.com/l7IFGNouNf— Verbier (@VerbierResorts) November 10, 2023
It was a bit of a murky day as the latest storm hit, but most were simply delighted to be back on snow at the start of winter.
Verbier, Switzerland. Image © Lucia Harrison.
Verbier, Switzerland. Image © Lucia Harrison.
Verbier, Switzerland. Image © Lucia Harrison.
Verbier will be open each weekend in November and then the main ski area plans to be open on December 2nd.
On a vraiment été gâtés ces derniers jours ! 🥰❄️ L’hiver arrive en force à #Verbier. 🤘https://t.co/SGzn54dNyh
——
We’ve been truly spoiled the past few days in #Verbier! 🥰❄️ Winter is coming strong.🤘https://t.co/SGzn54dNyh
.
.@valaiswallis @MySwitzerland_f pic.twitter.com/rUO97U5DmN— Verbier (@VerbierResorts) November 7, 2023
Verbier, Switzerland. Image © Steve Sparks.
PlanetSKI editor, James Cove, was in Verbier in early October looking ahead to winter:
Tignes has already announced it is opening early – November 18th.
Bumper snowfall in Tignes! ❄️
The ski season is kicking off a week early in the resort of Tignes due to heavy snowfall over several days ⛷️🏂
With over a metre of fresh snow, it’s a fantastic start to the 2023/24 ski season 👏https://t.co/JhuEmMqHvL
📸 @tignesofficiel pic.twitter.com/7pUvRiVdU9
— VIP SKI (@VIP_SKI) November 10, 2023
Now Val Thorens in Les3Vallees has followed suit.
“Due to negative temperatures and significant early snowfall, Val Thorens will be open a week early with some select slopes skiable from November 18, 2023,” said a statement from the resort.
The slopes include the Funitel Péclet, the Cascade chairlift and all the magic carpets in the centre of the resort which will be available from 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
For this pre-opening week only – up to Saturday November 25, 2023 – skiers and snowboarders will be able to hit the slopes at a discounted rate of just €20 per day.
BREAKING NEWS ! 🚨
Une partie du domaine skiable de Val Thorens et sera accessible dès le 18 novembre prochain !
Toutes les infos ici : https://t.co/sQbD82dHbo#ValThorens @Val_Tho pic.twitter.com/BzATRZKr5p— Les 3 Vallées (@3Vallees_france) November 10, 2023
PlanetSKI reporter Simon Wilson will be in the resort the following weekend for its official opening, La Grande Premiere.
Other resorts opening early include Kitzbuhel in the Tirol in Austria that fired up a few lifts on Saturday November 11th.
The other Swiss resorts of Davos/Klosters and Arosa/Lenzerheide offered some skiing at the weekend.
Several glacier areas in Austria have been open from some weeks and PlanetSKI editor James Cove will making his first turns of the season in Kaunertal and Pitztal in 10-days or so.
More terrain in opening in the resorts.
Cervinia in Italy is planning to open more slopes next week.
- Plan Maison chair
- Fornet wheelchair
- Bontadini chair
- Baby La Vieille silly
- Tapis Plan Maison
In Italy Madonna di Campiglio opens on November 18th.
We have a full round up of which resorts are open in Europe at the end of this article.
It all comes as more snow is now falling in the Alps as the latest storm hits.
It is forecast to continue across 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
It is one of the best starts to the winter in recent years and at altitude it will make a difference for the approaching ski season with a firm base laid down in places at 2,000m and above.
Elsewhere the snow will melt or be affected by rain.
We have been following the autumn snowfall closely on PlanetSKI over the past few weeks:
Sainte Foy, France. Image © Premiere-Neige.
“Storms have been piling into the Alps for the last two weeks, with snow accumulations of more than 100cm quite widespread now on the upper slopes,” said the Managing Director of Ski Solutions, Ian McIlrath.
“This will ensure a solid base for the winter ahead, and with a lot more snow in the forecast, it’s shaping up to be one of the best starts to the winter ski season that I can remember.
“As news of this exceptional early snowfall gets out, demand to book holidays has exploded.
“Bookings since the beginning of November are up 20% on prior year as clients snap up bargains for December trips.
“The pre-Christmas weeks are the real bargain, with savings of up to £700pp available, though these won’t last long as word of this snowfall spreads”.
See here plenty of offers in the PlanetSKI Deals & Discounts page.
Here are the resorts in Europe offering some skiing at the moment, weather permitting:
Austria:
Kaunertal, Soelden, Hintertux, Pitztal, Stubai, Moltaller, Kitzbuhel & Kitzsteinhorn.
Finland:
Levi & Ruka.
Italy:
Passo Stelvio, Solda & Cervinia.
Norway:
Norefjell.
Sweden:
Idre Fjall
Switzerland:
Saas-Fee, Diavloezza, Engadine, Davos/Kolsters, Arosa/Lenzerheide & Zermatt.
There is currently no skiing on offer in France.
As we have reported Val Thorens and Tignes are opening some slopes on November 18th.
Les2Alpes is scheduled to open on Saturday 2nd December.
Do check back for the latest as the next storm hits an other resorts announce opening dates…
