More Snow Falls in the Alps as Weather Changes
2nd January 2025
Last modified on January 4th, 2025
After blue skies across the holiday period the weather has changed with more snow falling in places. 2025 is looking good with more to follow. UPDATED
A new weather system has come in from the north bringing some snowfall to the northern Alps.
It is now rather tasty in places this weekend.
Here’s Sainte Foy in France where PlanetSKI will be in the middle of next week, Thursday is the plan, as we are about to hit the French Alps for a little road trip.
“More snow due over the next few days after a day of sunshine yesterday after 40cm snowfall from the night before,” said Fiona Harvey-Jordan from Premiere-Neige in the resort on Saturday.
Sainte Foy, France. Image ©premiere-neige
Sainte Foy, France. Image ©premiere-neige
The latest storm started overnight on Thursday and the lucky ones woke up on Friday to new snow.
“Decent dump overnight,” said one PlanetSKI reader in Les Arcs on Friday morning.
Here was the scene in La Clusaz in France on Friday morning after the fresh snow.
“Plenty of snow overnight,” said PlanetSKI reader, Mike Hutchinson, who is in the resort.
Mike Hutchinson, La Clusaz, France. Image © M Hutchinson
La Clusaz, France. Image © PlanetSKI.
There was snow on the trees and down to the valley floor on Saturday as he headed to neighbouring Le Grand Bornard.
Le Grand Bornard, France. Image © M Hutchinson
Le Grand Bornard, France. Image © M Hutchinson
Resorts that have seen between 5cm and 30cm include:
- Val d’Isère and Avoriaz in France
- Verbier and Laax in Switzerland
- St Anton and Kaprun in Austria
Verbier, Switzerland. Image © PlanetSKI
A bluebird powder day across the 4Vallees – sublime end to a holiday period of superb skiing conditions #Thyon #Veysonnaz #Nendaz #Verbier pic.twitter.com/IcYXjXB50E
— Valais Dude (@ValaisDude) January 3, 2025
The southern Alps missed miss out on the latest snow.
“Over the weekend a warm front will bring a bit more snow at altitude to some northern and western parts of the Alps but also some rain for a time lower down, most likely on Saturday night,” said Fraser Wilkin from weathertoski.co.uk on Friday.
“The weather in the Alps will remain unsettled next week with the chance of further snow for many, but also fluctuating temperatures.
“Later in the week it should turn colder more generally though.”
The Xmas and New Year period has been one of the best in recent years in many places in large parts of the Alps.
We have been reporting on it all across the holiday period:
The bumper holiday conditions led to many more people skiing and snowboarding over Xmas and New Year.
First figures are being released.
In Switzerland, Verbier reported that more than 20,000 skiers a day on the slopes over the festive period.
The Grimentz-Zinal area reported better-than-usual figures.
“It’s the best December we’ve ever had,” said the resort director, Pascal Bourquin.
Lower-altitude resorts, where snow is sometimes becoming increasingly scarce, also reported positive figures.
“The number of vacation guests and sales have doubled compared with last season,” said Marc-André Léchot, chair of the executive board of Les Téléskis aux Prés-d’Orvin, above Biel.
In France Tignes reported that it’s hotels and chalets were 85% full over Xmas, and 95% over New Year.
The lower levels resorts like Morzine and Les Gets also reported strong occupation levels as there were much improved snow conditions compared to the previous couple of years.
France has the deepest bases of snow after the recent storm with Flaine reporting a base of 1.25m at the top of the ski area.
There has been less snow in Italy and the southern Alps.
Livigno still only has about half its slopes open.
There has been little fresh snow in the Dolomites but thanks to cold temperatures and snowmaking ski areas like Val Gardena report 100% of their groomed runs open.
PlanetSKI reader, Miriam Wilson, was in Risoul 1850 in the southern French Alps where there was less snow than the northern French Alps.
Risoul 1850, France. Image © PlanetSKI
“The snow here is hard with ice in places,” said Miriam last weekend.
“But there is great coverage on all pistes we have skied on so far, with only a couple of runs are closed.
“The snow is good even down to 1600 in Vars and the weather is great too.
“It’s quite warm here in 1850 at about 4C. and is overall, a great bluebird day.”
Risoul 1850, France. Image © PlanetSKI
PlanetSKI’s James Cove is now in France and is arriving in the Alps on Monday as we have already mentioned.
He is first visiting Les Arcs and some surrounding areas including Sainte Foy and Tignes.
He is hooking up with his old partner in crime, Alf Alderson.
Then he’ll be heading to the resorts of La Clusaz, Manigod and Le Grand Bornand in the Aravis ski area near Lake Annecy.
La Clusaz, France. Image © PlanetSKI
Do look back to check back for his reports on the ski areas and the all-important weather in the Alps as 2025 gets underway.
Will it build on the early promise?
It’s looking good.
Watch this space…
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