Autumn is Approaching in the Alps
29th August 2026
The summer heatwaves are over with some light snow falling at high altitude. The glacier ski areas remain closed, but thoughts are turning to winter. NEW
The past week has seen up to 10cm of fresh snow with sub-freezing temperatures on the glaciers.
This summer has seen the freezing level above 4,000m for extended periods with all the glacier ski areas remaining closed for the first time in six decades:
It has been a poor summer for skiing in the Alps, and it is questionable how many years of the activity remain.
All the summer glacier ski areas that should be open at this time of year remain closed:
- Zermatt/Cervinia
- Saas-Fee
- Val Senales
In Norway Gladhøpiggen, Scandinavia’s only summer ski area, also remains shut though a reopening is expected later in September.
Now, our thoughts at PlanetSKI are turning to winter, though there is still a long way to go.
In North America Loveland in Colorado has posted that it expects to start snow making in less than 40-days.
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Vail Resorts has just announced the opening dates for its ski areas:
Winter may still be a long way off, but it is on its way and our thoughts are turning to the season of 2026/27.
Here is the current state of play in the southern hemisphere:
- Another ski resort in Chile extends its season after record-breaking snow
- Some ski resorts in Australia close early as snow deterioratates
The Andes. Image © PlanetSKI
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