Fabulous Xmas & New Year Snow Conditions in the Alps
22nd December 2024
Last modified on December 27th, 2024
There are excellent Xmas conditions across the Alps as the weather clears after the latest storm. UPDATED
The latest storm brought very significant quantities of snow in many places.
Now high pressure is dominating the weather with plenty of sunshine until the middle of next week.
There are some superb conditions for Xmas and the New Year – the best in recent memory in some places.
Après le déluge … #Valais pic.twitter.com/324Nv1nvXo
— Valais Dude (@ValaisDude) December 24, 2024
Many ski areas in the north-western Alps, including Val d’Isère, Chamonix, Flaine, Avoriaz, Mürren and Engelberg have seen 1m or more new snow at altitude in the past week.
It has been good lower down too.
“There has also been significant snow lower down, meaning that resorts like Megève, Morzine, Villars and Adelboden are looking at one of their best Christmas periods for many years,” said Fraser Wilkin from weathertoski.co.uk.
“Other northern parts of the Alps have also done very well (e.g. Arlberg), although Austria has generally seen slightly less impressive quantities of snow.”
Verbier, Switzerland. Image © PlanetSKI
The off-piste is dangerous in many places, especially in the north-western Alps.
A teenager has died in Les Arcs while skiing with his family.
Here was the avalanche risk in Switzerland on Xmas Day.
Image c/o Swiss Avalanche Institute
The authorities are warning people to be extra cautious, and to obey all the rules and regulations.
The Swiss Olympic Snowboarder, 26 year old Sophie Hediger , was killed in an avalanche in Arosa during the storm.
We have reported on the tragedy elsewhere on PlanetSKI:
The storm has cleared leaving clear blue skies. Amazing powder everywhere. Stay on piste!!!!
Village(1638m): 89cm
Türliboden(2332m): 212cm
Avalanche: 4 🚨#murren #schilthorn #swissalps #switzerland #ThePhotoHour #SnowHour #StormHour pic.twitter.com/b1oV4wyq4C— Mürren Lover (@Murrenlover) December 24, 2024
During the storm many lifts were closed with restrictions in place, but the brave ones were out enjoying the conditions.
Here was the picture in Verbier from the ski school, European Snowsport, as the storm hit earlier in the week.
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The weather caused severe trouble disruption.
Road and rail lines were cut off in places, with air travel affected.
In France heavy snowfall caused Météo-France to place four departments on Orange Alert:
- Ain
- Savoie
- Haute-Savoie
- Isère
In mountainous areas under orange alert, over a metre of snow fell above 1,500/1,800 metres, and between 40 to 60 cm around 1,000 metres.
“This level of avalanche activity typically occurs every three to eight years,” said Meteo-France.
Once again, the police were out in the mountain areas ensuring motorists put on chains.
PlanetSKI reader, Cathy Rankin, commented on the the situation approaching Meribel, “Don’t forget to put your chains on before you need them if driving into resort – carnage from 1,300m up to Meribel.”
Winds gusted up to 100km/h.
In Austria GeoSphere issued orange weather warnings for the west of Tirol and Vorarlberg, indicating the second highest alert level.
The avalanche danger is at level four out of five on the avalanche danger scale.
The areas seeing the most snow include:
- Obere Lechtal
- Arlberg
- Paznaun areas
- Landeck and Reutte.
There is snow down to valley level.
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In Switzerland the Federal Government has generally warned of ‘considerable’ danger from snow in large parts of the Swiss Alps.
The avalanche risk was ‘High’ – Level 4 on a scale of 5 – in the Valais, the northern Alpine ridge, and the Gotthard region on Xmas Eve.
Avalanche danger in Switzerland. Image c/o SLF.
The A 9 was over the Simplon Pass in Switzerland was closed on Monday in both directions for trailer trucks and articulated lorries due to snowfall.
Heavy snowfall blocked the north entrance/exit of the Gotthard tunnel, the police had to stop traffic for a while to clear the snow from the road.
PlanetSKI was been in Verbier, Switzerland, last week as the storms rolled in.
Verbier, Switzerland. Image © PlanetSKI
PlanetSKI editor, James Cove, was in the thick of it at the weekend after the first storm:
As well as the snow in the latest storm there will also be very cold temperatures with snow down to valley level in many places.
The temperature will remain low for much of the week.
Here was the scene at 750m in the Swiss Alps last weekend.
The Valais, Switzerland, Image © PlanetSKI
The cold temperatures will help preserve the snow and keep it light – ideal for skiing and snowboarding.
Italy largely missed out on the action, except for the far north-west of the country and the resorts in the Aosta Valley where 50cm fell:
- La Thuile
- Courmayeur
- Cervinia
The southern Alps saw little snow, but they had cold temperatures which allowed artificial snow to be made.
PlanetSKI has been monitoring the situation direct from the Alps in recent weeks:
- Good conditions in the run up to Xmas
- Excellent snow conditions in large parts of the Alps & Pyrenees
- Heavy snow set to fall in the Alps
With the snow there are now excellent conditions in places for Xmas and the New Year once the storm passes.
It further solidifies one of the best starts to a ski season in recent years .
Verbier, Switzerland. Image © PlanetSKI
Meanwhile, if you’re heading across the Atlantic to ski, it’s none too shabby there either.
Do check back…
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