April Heatwave Continues in the Alps

6th April 2024

Last modified on April 8th, 2024

Ski resorts are basking in unprecedented early April temperatures. PlanetSKI reports from the Alps. UPDATED

It was the warmest weekend of the season with the freezing level at more than 4,000m – higher than most alpine peaks.

The highest ever recorded temperatures for the time of year were seen in some parts of the Swiss Alps on Saturday.

In Chur it was 28.5°C – that’s significantly higher than the previous April record of 27.7°C.

Monthly records have already been broken at the beginning of April.

In previous years, new records have been set in the last third of the month.

In Interlaken it was over 4 degrees higher on Saturday than ever before during this period.

Forecasters said the warm temperatures were “exceptionally early”.

Some of the cities in Switzerland experienced summer temperatures, Basel in the north of the country recorded a temperature of 28.8c.

It is expected the ‘heatwave’ will end on Tuesday with the arrival of a cold front that will see a return temperatures more normal for the time of year.

“Make no mistake, this run of close to 30c in many of the lower valleys is unprecedented for early April,” said Fraser Wilkin from weathertoski.co.uk.

Some skiers took every opportunity to enjoy the sun.

St Anton, Austria. Image c/o Simon Miller/PlanetSKI.

PlanetSKI reader Vanessa Fisher was in St Martin de Belleville in Les3Vallees in France at the weekend.

“As with the rest of the Alps, the last two days have seen much warmer temperatures after fresh snow and powder skiing Monday-Thursday,” said Vanessa.

“We headed for the top peaks at 3,200m where the snow is still in excellent condition, dropping down to Orelle on one side and back to Val Thorens on the other.

“You can still ski down to the top of St Martin bubble lift and today was the earlier start to the “Ski and Bike week” so skiers can switch to bikes for the afternoon with the tracks open back to the village and the lifts adapted to take the bikes back up.

“Intersport at the base of the slopes has already switched their ski racks over to bike racks with plenty to rent.”

Les Menuires, France. Image c/o Vanessa Fisher.

Les 3Valles, France. Image c/o Vanessa Fisher.

The resorts of St Martin de Belleville and Les Menuires close on April 19th.

Another reader in Chamonix commented, “So hot here in the Alps skiing feels odd!”

Across the Alps the warm temperature is taking its toll on the already melting snowpack.

Many are out on bikes or hiking, rather than on their skis & snowboards.

Or they’re sitting in deckchairs on the slopes getting a suntan underway.

Innsbruck, the Tirol. Image © PlanetSKI

PlanetSKI editor, James Cove, is currently in Innsbruck in the Tirol:

James mentioned the temperatures at a few resorts in Austria.

Here are the numbers from Saturday at resort level around the Alps:

Chamonix: +18°C
Val Thorens: +14°C
Verbier: +17°C
Cervinia: +11°C
Zermatt: +10°C

The temperature was warm driving to the French Alps according to one PlanetSKI reader.

“29 degrees on the drive down today… just south of Grenoble!” said Antonia Simpson at the weekend.

She has now arrived in Serre Chevalier in the southern French Alps.

“Great snow coverage in Serre Chevalier, but very sticky. 24 degrees at 4pm in the valley,” said Antonia.

In France the temperature is around 10 degrees above the average for the time of year.

The hot weather is caused by a low-pressure system off the Atlantic acts like a heat pump, bringing warm air from Africa.

It is known as a Foehn wind.

Back at Seegrube above Innsbruck there were a few people heading to the fun park.

Most are just enjoying the warm weather and the views.

As we headed down to do a spot of sight-seeing in Innsbruck the queues for the cable car to get up into the cool of the mountains, and away from the heat of the city, told their own story.