The PlanetSKI Snow Report
14th March 2025
Last modified on March 22nd, 2025
Friday 21st March
The weather in the Alps is changing after some glorious spring weather this week.
“Many areas will stay dry today, although there is a lot more cloud around with only the eastern Austrian Alps hanging on to any serious sunshine,” said Fraser Wilkin from weathertoski.co.uk.
“There will also be some showers or flurries in the south-west, mostly later today and in the southern French Alps close to the Italian border (e.g. Isola 2000) and in the Italian Piedmonte (e.g. Prato Nevoso, Sestriere).
“Over the weekend it will remain rather cloudy with showers or flurries becoming more widespread across the southern Alps.
“A few showers will appear further north, though they will be more scattered with the Foehn continuing to “protect” many areas from any notable precipitation.”
Thursday 20th March
Here’s an update from one of our favourite small resorts near Innsbruck in Austria.
Step forward Axamer Lizum and PlanetSKI reader, Holger Gasler, who has been making a few spring turns.
“Great compact conditions and sunny days,” said Holger.
Axamer Lizum, Innsbruck, Austria. Image c/o Holger Gasler.
Axamer Lizum, Innsbruck, Austria. Image c/o Holger Gasler.
PlanetSKI’s Jane Peel was in Axamer Lizum earlier this winter.
Wednesday 19th March
There is fine spring-like weather across large parts of the Alps, though the far south west has seen some clouds with a small amount of snow in places.
PlanetSKI’s Sally Lovegrove is currently in Val d’Isere in France.
“It’s been glorious blue skies for the past three days,” said Sally.
“However the powder snow we saw on Sunday has now disappeared and it’s been very icy with the fluctuating temperatures.
“If you’re planning to take the first lift up it’s very icy at the top, but the snow has been a little softer from late morning onwards.”
Val d’Isere, France. Image © PlanetSKI
Val d’Isere, France. Image © PlanetSKI
Val d’Isere, France. Image © PlanetSKI
The crowds have also been enjoying the weather at La Folie Douce.
“Perfect weather for the Folie!” said Sally.
Val d’Isere, France. Image © PlanetSKI
Weathertoski.co.uk’s Fraser Wilkin is currently in Lech in Austria where there has been blue sky this week.
“With the ambient air temperature still relatively low, the snow also held up pretty well, remaining firm on north-facing slopes at most altitudes for a good part of the day with deep blue skies in the Arlberg,” said Fraser on Tuesday.
“Over the next couple of days, most of the Alps will remain fine, though always with the risk of a bit more cloud in the far south-west, and it will gradually turn warmer too,” Fraser added.
Things may change in places later in the week and across the weekend.
In Verbier in Switzerland rising temperatures, strong winds with possible rain up to 3,000m could hit the resort by Friday.
This has led the organisers of the finale of the Freeride World Tour to move the confirmed competition date to Thursday 2oth March.
Cody Bramwell, GB Snowboarder on the FWT. Image © PlanetSKI
Here are few social media posts from resorts around the Alps.
Stubai, Austria
Val Thorens, France
Innsbruck, Austria.
PlanetSKI’s James Cove has now returned to Europe after well over a month in Japan, and he came back via an extended stop-over in Istanbul.
He passed through the city on a ski trip in Turkey last year, and vowed a longer stay.
Skiing in Turkey. Image © PlanetSKI
Istanbul, Turkey. Image © PlanetSKI
James heads out to the lesser-known French resorts of Les Sybelles and Val d’Arly early next week.
Look out for those reports from ski areas that are new to him – his favourite.
More to follow…
Monday 17th March
The latest pictures we have of conditions in the Alps come from Kuhtai in Austria, near Innsbruck.
Kuhtai, Austria. Image Copyright: Bergbahnen Kühtai/Philip Haselwanter
Kuhtai, Austria. Image Copyright: Bergbahnen Kühtai/Philip Haselwanter
Kuhtai, Austria. Image Copyright: Bergbahnen Kühtai/Philip Haselwanter
Kuhtai, Austria. Image Copyright: Bergbahnen Kühtai/Philip Haselwanter
Looking good, folks.
More to follow…
Sunday 16th March
There has been a fall in temperatures and some fresh snow overnight in parts of the western Alps.
On Saturday it was a case of heading high to get the best conditions.
“There was some lovely sunshine but you had to get up really high to get some decent snow and it was very slushy in the town,” said PlanetSKI reader, Sally Lovegrove, who is in Val d’Isere, France.
She headed over to neighbouring Tignes
Tignes, France. Image © PlanetSKI
Val d’Isere/Tignes, France. Image © PlanetSKI
“On Sunday we’ve just had a load of fresh snow overnight and the sun is trying to creep out, so it should be a fantastic day.
Val d’Isere, France. Image © PlanetSKI
PlanetSKI reader, Adrian Lamb has been in neighbouring Tignes.
“There had been light snow on Friday night and it was 0c in Tignes first thing Saturday morning.
“The pistes are in excellent condition, but below 2500 m the snow is becoming more sun affected.
“Below 2000m the pistes are slushy going down to La Daille in particular.
“North facing slopes still retain good powder.
“On sun affected slopes,where wind has removed the snow to a thin layer (Grand Huit & Aiguille Percee areas of Tignes), snow creep & small avalanches have occurred.”
Lac du Chevril, Tignes. Image c/o Adrian Lamb.
Friday 14th March
The southern Alps, especially the Dolomites in Italy, has seen the best of any snow.
In Switzerland there is “considerable” risk of avalanches in some ski areas, with a “high” risk in the south of the country.
The Swiss Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research (SLF) has issued an avalanche danger level 4 out of 5 on Friday for the lower Maggia valleys, the Riviera, the lower Leventina and the Blenio Valley.
In the other areas, the avalanche danger is widely at level 3, considerable.
The reason is a lot of new and drifting snow on an unfavourable surface of old snow.
Image c/o The Swiss Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research.
On Saturday, a further 15 to 30 centimetres of fresh snow could fall in the south above 1,400m.
The risk of avalanches is likely to increase further, especially in areas with lots of fresh snow.
PlanetSKI reporter, Sally Lovegrove, has arrived in Val d’Isere in France and the area should be seeing some snow and she will be reporting on the latest falls and how the season has gone.
“Just arrived in Val D’Isere, it was a bit murky on Friday but is forecast to snow over the weekend with the sun coming out on Monday.
“Should be perfect for a mix of powder ski and some chilled lunches in the sun after the weekend.
I’ve just collected my Skis from Intersport – smooth process as usual.
I have opted for some Black Crows in Japan and am trying out a slightly longer, lighter pair which should be better for the slightly firmer snow we have here currently, and then I cna chage them if the owder arrives.”
Intersport, Val d’Isere. Image © PlanetSKI
Intersport, Val d’Isere. Image © PlanetSKI
“Later in the weekend and especially early next week the weather will become much more settled,” said Fraser Wilkin from weathertoski.co.uk.
“The week will start off cold, with a few flurries still in the south-west but, for most parts of the Alps, the sun will return and it will warm up again as the week goes on.”
On Friday there was cloud in the Grand Montets area in the Chamonix Valley with light snow falling.
“There is good snow off piste and pistes are very well groomed, but as one goes lower down to the village of Argentière the snow gets heaver,” said PlanetSKI’s Tashie Cove.
Grand Montets, Argentiere. Image © PlanetSKI
Resorts are hosting Spring events and looking ahead to Easter that is over a month away.
Many resorts are now placing greater emphasis on the end of the season:
- New spring event for La Plagne
- Ski Club GB heads to Tignes for end of season
- Verbier focuses on spring skiing
More to follow…
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