Excellent Xmas Snow Conditions in Large Parts of the Alps & Pyrenees
11th December 2024
Last modified on December 15th, 2024
It is one of the best starts to a season in recent years. Check out the updated PlanetSKI snow report direct from the Alps. UPDATED
The cold temperatures across both of Europe’s main mountain ranges are preserving things very nicely and allowing the snow guns to top things up.
It follows good snow at altitude in recent weeks and now lower down too.
All in all it is looking very good for the time of year with the Xmas and New Year holidays approaching.
Fingers it will last and it is the start of an epic season.
In the Alps most of the major resorts are now open, with almost all of the final 25% opening this weekend or next week.
The Alps are currently being hit by cold air coming down from the north east, while the Pyrenees has been hit by a huge snowstorm leaving well over 1m in places.
The Alps
The PlanetSKI editor, James Cove, is in Crans-Montana in Switzerland.
Here was the scene on Sunday morning as the weather lifted.
And here is his updated snow report from the end of the day.
The lucky ones are out making a few turns after 5cm of overnight snow freshened things up nicely.
Crans-Montana, Switzerland. Image © PlanetSKI
We will be updating with more images and information.
Here was the situation in Crans-Montana on Saturday.
James arrived in Crans-Montana late on Friday and found snow down to resort level at 1,495 in the village of Montana with the home runs open.
Crans-Montana, Switzerland. Image © PlanetSKI
Crans-Montana, Switzerland. Image © PlanetSKI
“The resort has seen some recent snow, but most importantly the temperatures have remained cold,” said James on Friday.
“I am told the pistes are in good condition for the time of year though the off piste opportunities are very limited.”
And so it proved to be on Saturday.
Crans-Montana, Switzerland. Image © PlanetSKI
Crans-Montana, Switzerland. Image © PlanetSKI
Crans-Montana, Switzerland. Image © PlanetSKI
Around 50 Swiss ski areas are now open, that’s over half of the major resorts.
Zermatt has the most skiing on offer – around 100kms (63 miles) of runs.
PlanetSKI reporter Simon Miller is currently in Tignes where conditions are superb for the time of year.
He filed this report on Wednesday 11th December.
And here is what it looked like in Tignes/Val d’Isere:
Tignes/Val d’Isere, France. Image © PlanetSKI
Tignes/Val d’Isere, France. Image © PlanetSKI
Simon is currently on the Ski Club of Great Britain’s Reps course:
Most importantly the temperatures are low across the Alps so the snow can be preserved and man-made snow pumped out.
Gurgl, Austria. Image © PlanetSKI
Around 100 resorts are now open in Austria.
Mayrhofen has the largest amount of skiing on offer with more than 80% of its terrain open – that’s around 120km (75 miles) of slopes.
In Austria it’s been a largely cold in recent days with a few snow flurries.
The freezing level has been down to the valley floor at times.
PlanetSKI was at high altitude in the French Alps as the storm struck last weekend.
Val Thorens, France. Image © PlanetSKI
In Italy Val Gardena has 150km (93 miles) of slopes open – the most In Europe.
It is mainly due to the excellent snowmaking facilities in the region.
The Legendary 8, Val Gardena. Image © PlanetSKI
Around 60 Italian ski areas are now open.
Here are a selection of images, videos and social media posts from around the Alps.
High altitude:
Image © Arc1950 Tourist Office
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Low Altitude:
View this post on Instagram
And a reminder that chains have been needed in recent days as the snow fell, though most of the mountains roads have now been cleared.
Here was the seen in Les3Vallees, France with the authorities ensuring rules were followed.
The above video has been viewed 510K times , with 615 likes and 246 comments as PlanetSKI readers discuss driving in snow and the best winter tyres to use.
The Pyrenees
Compared to the Alps the Pyrenees got off to a slow start with some ski areas forced to delay their openings due to unfavourable conditions.
That has now changed with heavy snow in France, Andorra and Spain.
In the French Alps La Mongie is reporting over 1m of snow at resort level.
In Spain Baqueira Beret is looking rather tasty.
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Scandinavia
In Scandinavia winter is well and truly underway.
Temperatures have been much colder though and most of the region’s resorts have seen fresh snowfall.
Most of the major resorts in Norway are open including Geilo and Norefjell.
In Finland Levi and Ruka have been open for several weeks and resorts in Sweden are open including Are, Salen, Stoten and Klapen.
So, what about the all-important forecast?
“The next snow is forecast for this weekend, initially in the western Alps (e.g. Alpe d’Huez) then in the northern Alps (e.g. Engelberg, Lech) but in very modest quantities in both cases,” said Fraser Wilkin from weathertoski.co.uk.
“Snow conditions in the Alps are generally good for the time of year even if snow depths are unremarkable.
“The southern Austrian Alps (Carinthia) and the northern and eastern Dolomites (e.g. Kronplatz) have the least natural snow, but still have some excellent piste-skiing on offer thanks to world-class snow-making.
“The area with the most natural snow is at altitude in the western Alps with, for example, a claimed 115cm of settled snow up top in Val Thorens.
“Many lower resorts also look wintry right now albeit with modest snow depths, so ideally need further significant snow to be secure for the early season.”
Do check out the very latest on weathertoski.co.uk
The snow has also led to rising interest from UK skiers and snowboarders looking to book a ski holiday.
Inghams Ski says that web bookings increased by 32% from last week.
It says the strongest areas of uplift in online sales have been for 2025 departures, increasing by 33% week on week, with January 2025 proving the most popular month for travel.
France and Austria have had the most bookings, with Austria seeing a 32% increase compared to last week.
“A spike in bookings like these are what you expect to see when people are confident in great snow conditions for the start of the season,” said the Managing Director of Inghams Ski, John Mansell.
“We are seeing those who have been tentative to book a ski holiday now committing, and it’s clear everyone is feeling the excitement for the season ahead.”
Here at PlanetSKI we will be updating this report so do check back…
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