Mountain range

Alps

Europe's great mountain range, stretching across eight countries.

Alps snow forecast

Snow is expected at 45 of 45 places in Alps in the next 7 days.

Most snow in Alps in the next 7 days
Rank	Place	Snow in the next 7 days	Confidence
1	TignesSki resort, France	85–95 cm33–37 in	Likely
2	CourmayeurSki resort, Italy	65–105 cm26–41 in	Likely
3	Les ArcsSki resort, France	70–90 cm29–34 in	Likely
4	Val d'IsèreSki resort, France	55–95 cm22–38 in	Likely
5	La PlagneSki resort, France	55–75 cm23–29 in	Likely
6	ChamonixSki resort, France	35–85 cm15–33 in	Likely
7	MegèveSki resort, France	45–95 cm18–37 in	Likely
8	MéribelSki resort, France	50–75 cm21–30 in	Likely
9	Crans-MontanaSki resort, Switzerland	55–70 cm23–26 in	Likely
10	CourchevelSki resort, France	50–75 cm20–29 in	Likely
11	VerbierSki resort, Switzerland	45–70 cm19–27 in	Likely
12	Val ThorensSki resort, France	55–65 cm21–24 in	Likely
13	Serre ChevalierSki resort, France	50–60 cm21–22 in	Likely
14	AndermattSki resort, Switzerland	30–60 cm13–24 in	Likely
15	Alpe d'HuezSki resort, France	25–70 cm11–26 in	Likely
16	GrindelwaldSki resort, Switzerland	30–70 cm12–27 in	Likely
17	Les Deux AlpesSki resort, France	25–55 cm11–21 in	Likely
18	EngelbergSki resort, Switzerland	20–60 cm9–24 in	Likely
19	CerviniaSki resort, Italy	30–50 cm13–20 in	Likely
20	ZermattSki resort, Switzerland	25–50 cm10–20 in	Likely
21	Lech ZürsSki resort, Austria	15–40 cm6–15 in	Likely
22	AvoriazSki resort, France	10–40 cm5–15 in	Likely
23	SestriereSki resort, Italy	15–50 cm6–19 in	Likely
24	St. Anton am ArlbergSki resort, Austria	15–40 cm5–15 in	Likely
25	Saas-FeeSki resort, Switzerland	15–30 cm7–11 in	Likely
26	IschglSki resort, Austria	5–30 cm3–11 in	Likely
27	LaaxSki resort, Switzerland	10–20 cm5–7 in	Likely
28	Davos KlostersSki resort, Switzerland	5–20 cm2–7 in	Likely
29	SöldenSki resort, Austria	5–25 cm2–9 in	Likely
30	Garmisch-PartenkirchenSki resort, Germany	1–20 cm0–8 in	Likely
31	MayrhofenSki resort, Austria	2–20 cm1–8 in	Likely
32	BormioSki resort, Italy	5–15 cm2–6 in	Likely
33	Arosa LenzerheideSki resort, Switzerland	4–20 cm1–7 in	Likely
34	St. MoritzSki resort, Switzerland	5–15 cm3–6 in	Likely
35	LivignoSki resort, Italy	5–15 cm2–6 in	Likely
36	Zell am See-KaprunSki resort, Austria	5–15 cm2–6 in	Likely
37	Bad GasteinSki resort, Austria	5–15 cm2–5 in	Likely
38	KitzbühelSki resort, Austria	0–15 cm0–5 in	Possible
39	Obergurgl-HochgurglSki resort, Austria	4–15 cm1–5 in	Likely
40	ObertauernSki resort, Austria	2–15 cm1–6 in	Likely
41	Madonna di CampiglioSki resort, Italy	1–15 cm0–6 in	Likely
42	Saalbach HinterglemmSki resort, Austria	2–15 cm0–5 in	Likely
43	Alta BadiaSki resort, Italy	3–7 cm1–3 in	Likely
44	Cortina d'AmpezzoSki resort, Italy	2–7 cm0–3 in	Likely
45	Val GardenaSki resort, Italy	3–5 cm1–2 in	Likely

Snow in the Alps

The Alps run in an arc about 1,200 km long from the French Riviera to Vienna, and they hold most of the world’s ski resorts. Mont Blanc, on the French-Italian border, is the highest point at 4,806 m. The range is a series of sub-ranges and massifs, each with its own character: the Graian and Dauphiné Alps in France with the highest, most snow-sure resorts; the Pennine and Bernese Alps in Switzerland under the Matterhorn and the Jungfrau; the Ötztal, Zillertal and Kitzbühel Alps and the Arlberg in Austria; and the Dolomites in Italy, which are geologically and visually a world apart.

In our record the Alpine resorts average about 12 snowy days at mid-mountain in December, January and March, with 10 in February and April. The northern side of the range, facing the Atlantic storms, gets the most; the southern, Italian side gets more sun and, in most winters, less snow, though southerly storms can bury the Dolomites.

When it snows

Snow is regular from November to April across the range. The glacier resorts of the Valais, the Ötztal and the Tarentaise open in October or November and some ski into summer; most other resorts open in early December and close between early and late April.

Reading the forecast

Altitude is everything in the Alps. In a mild storm the snow line can sit at 1,800 m or higher, so the same weather brings rain to a village at 1,000 m and 30 cm to a lift station at 2,500 m. Every resort page here has a forecast for both.

Sub-ranges and massifs

Bernese AlpsThe Swiss Alps between the Bernese Oberland and the Rhône valley.2 places Chablais AlpsMountains south of Lake Geneva, along the French–Swiss border.1 place Cottian AlpsThe south-western Alps along the French–Italian border west of Turin.1 place Dauphiné AlpsThe high French Alps south-east of Grenoble.3 places DolomitesPale limestone peaks in north-eastern Italy.3 places Graian AlpsThe western Alps along the French–Italian border, including the Tarentaise resorts.7 places Hohe TauernA high range in central Austria that includes the country's highest mountain.1 place Kitzbühel AlpsRounded grassy mountains in Tyrol and Salzburg, well suited to large ski areas.2 places Mont Blanc massifThe massif around Western Europe's highest mountain.2 places Ötztal AlpsHigh, glaciated mountains along the Austrian–Italian border.2 places Pennine AlpsThe high peaks along the Swiss–Italian border, including the Matterhorn and Monte Rosa.4 places Zillertal AlpsA glaciated range at the head of the Zillertal in Tyrol.1 place