Mixed January Conditions in the Alps

7th January 2025

There has been snow and rain as the temperature yo-yos up and down. PlanetSKI reports from the Alps. UPDATED

It remains decent at altitude in the north-west Alps though the warm temperatures are having an impact.

“Woke up to rain in the village,” said PlanetSKI’s senior reporter, Simon Wilson, on Wednesday from Verbier in Switzerland.

“But it was snowing from about 2000 metres and some lovely piste skiing conditions above that.

“Forecast is for some sun later and more fronts later in the week with freezing level moving up and down the mountain.

“The resort and slopes are very quiet, with not a lift queue in sight.”

Here is Simon’s latest video report:

Lower down in the Alps the temperatures are warm and rain has been falling.

Here was the scene on Wednesday morning in Le Pre, a village beneath Les Arcs, with light rain falling at 1,200m.

Le Pre, LesArcs, France. Image © PlanetSKI

Up top though, in and above Arc1950, it was a different story.

“There was some good piste skiing on the higher slopes with empty slopes and few lift queues,” said PlanetSKI’s editor, James Cove.

“There remains plenty of snow coverage, but it would be great if the temperatures were lower.”

Arc1950, France. Image © PlanetSKI

Above Arc1950, France. Image © PlanetSKI

Arc1950, France. Image © PlanetSKI

The forecast is for rain/snow to continue over the next few days with the temperature fluctuating.

At Tignes, higher up the valley, the sun made an appearance on Wednesday through the clouds.

PlanetSKI reader, Mark Edbrooke, is in the high-altitude French resort.

“There is excellent snow, especially above 2,500m but 2,000m and below snow is quite wet,” said Mark.

“It is sunny at lunchtime, but there is a strong breeze in some parts.”

Tignes, France, Image © Mark Edbrooke.

The changeable weather has also affected the World Cup ski racing calendar.

‼️ Program change for the Men’s Audi FIS World Cup in Adelboden 🇨🇭
👉🏼 This is to inform you that due to the weather forecast announced for the upcoming weekend, the Men’s Audi FIS Ski World Cup program in Adelboden has been adjusted as follows in order to maximize the chances of… pic.twitter.com/wP6GDp53uP
— FIS Alpine (@fisalpine) January 8, 2025

It all follows some excellent conditions over Xmas/New Year and the start to winter.

On Tuesday PlanetSKI editor, James Cove was making some turns in Arc1950 in France:

Arc1950, France. Image © PlanetSKI

Overall, the weather in the Alps remains very changeable, with one storm clearing from the eastern Alps while a new warm front approaches the west.

“After another break in the weather during the middle of Wednesday yet another front will reach the western Alps on Wednesday evening, bringing further rain at low altitudes but further snow higher up, this time above about 1700-1900m,” said Fraser Wilkin from weathertoski.co.uk.

“The weather will remain very unsettled on Thursday and Friday, with further weather fronts arriving from the west.

“Temperatures will yo-yo but, on the whole, it will remain mild with further rain lower down and significant quantities of snow in the north-western Alps higher up.”

Here’s Simon’s earlier video report from Verbier on Tuesday:

Between 5cm and 10cm of snow fell overnight in Verbier.

“Above 2,000m there is some excellent piste skiing and a bit of powder on the edge of pistes,” Simon added.

“Fully off piste is quite windblown and tricky.

“More snow and valley rain is expected throughout the week with the forecast changing day by day.”

More to follow…….

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