Autumn Snow Falls in the Alps
6th September 2025
Last modified on September 12th, 2025
There has been some fresh snow at altitude in the Alps. It’s fallen on some of the glacier areas, some of which are hoping to open later this month. UPDATED
One of the resorts to benefit is Pitztal in Austria.
Pitztal, that is now on the Indy Pass, is planning to open its season on 27th September.
Sulden in Italy has also seen a dusting of snow in the recent fall.
Sulden is hoping to open this month, as is its fellow Italian of Val Senales.
Val Senales has schedule in an opening date of September 19th.
In France, Tignes and Val Thorens some snow last Friday.
The recent fresh snow is undoubtedly welcome, and after the temperature warmed up last weekend it has now dropped and further falls are forecast later this week.
There could be up to 10cm in places.
“Some of the Alpine summer ski areas look like they are in reasonable shape thanks to the snow that has fallen in the Alps in recent days, but this is a bit misleading,” said the alpine weather expert, Fraser Wilkin from weathertoski.co.uk, at the beginning of the month.
“The summer of 2025 was another brutally hot one, with freezing levels exceeding 5000m on more than one occasion – something that was previously extremely rare but has become more common in recent years.
“The alpine glaciers have consequently suffered a lot of damage again, and although there are some signs of improvement right now, this is likely to be either very temporary or just cosmetic.”
There are currently three ski areas open in the Alps:
- Zermatt, Switzerland
- Saas-Fee, Switzerland
- Passo Stelvio, Italy
Hintertux in Austria is usually open for summer skiing, but this year had to close due to poor conditions.
It has said it will open in September, but no details have been released.
For an assessment of the areas currently open see more from Fraser at weathertoski.co.uk
Zermatt, Switzerland
Opening dates: 365 days a year.
With one of the only two glaciers in the Alps that attempt to offer skiing 365 days a year (weather-permitting), Zermatt offers extensive, but mostly very gentle, glacier skiing in a splendid setting at the foot of the Matterhorn.
Up to 20km of pistes can be open in September, with a top height of 3899m and a vertical drop of 450m.
It is currently offering about 12km of runs between 3450m and 3899m – pretty much what you would normally expect at this time of year.
Saas-Fee, Switzerland
Opening dates: 18 July 2025 through until spring 2026
Saas-Fee is one of the only two serious skiing options in Switzerland in September.
Zermatt may have more altitude, but the glacier at Saas-Fee offers a little bit more gradient and is another popular option for a serious pre-season work-out.
Up to 20km of pistes can be open in September, with a top height of 3500m and a vertical drop of 300m.
Passo Stelvio, Italy
Opening dates: 31 May to 2 November 2025
Relatively unknown Passo Stelvio, near Bormio in eastern Italy, usually offers skiing from June to November.
Easily accessible by road, the glacier here is compact but scenic, with around 20km or so of mostly gentle terrain.
In September you can expect around 12km of pistes to be open, with a top height of 3450m and a vertical drop of 250m.
Elsewhere Levi and Ruka in Finland are expected to open some ski trails later this month using snow that has been stored from last winter.
At the other side of the world New Zealand has finally seen some decent falls after a poor season.
More to follow…
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