Mountain range

Alps

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

Alps snow forecast

Snow is expected at 44 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	80–135 cm32–52 in	Likely
2	Les ArcsSki resort, France	75–100 cm30–40 in	Likely
3	Val d'IsèreSki resort, France	80–95 cm32–37 in	Likely
4	La PlagneSki resort, France	60–110 cm24–43 in	Likely
5	CourmayeurSki resort, Italy	55–110 cm22–42 in	Likely
6	CourchevelSki resort, France	55–95 cm21–37 in	Likely
7	ChamonixSki resort, France	45–105 cm18–40 in	Likely
8	MéribelSki resort, France	60–90 cm25–34 in	Likely
9	MegèveSki resort, France	30–105 cm12–41 in	Likely
10	Val ThorensSki resort, France	45–90 cm19–36 in	Likely
11	VerbierSki resort, Switzerland	45–90 cm19–34 in	Likely
12	Crans-MontanaSki resort, Switzerland	50–60 cm20–23 in	Likely
13	AndermattSki resort, Switzerland	40–60 cm15–22 in	Likely
14	Serre ChevalierSki resort, France	30–70 cm12–28 in	Likely
15	Alpe d'HuezSki resort, France	35–70 cm13–27 in	Likely
16	GrindelwaldSki resort, Switzerland	30–60 cm13–22 in	Likely
17	CerviniaSki resort, Italy	35–55 cm14–21 in	Likely
18	Les Deux AlpesSki resort, France	20–70 cm9–27 in	Likely
19	EngelbergSki resort, Switzerland	30–60 cm13–22 in	Likely
20	ZermattSki resort, Switzerland	35–40 cm14–16 in	Likely
21	St. Anton am ArlbergSki resort, Austria	15–40 cm7–15 in	Likely
22	AvoriazSki resort, France	20–45 cm9–17 in	Likely
23	Lech ZürsSki resort, Austria	15–40 cm7–14 in	Likely
24	IschglSki resort, Austria	15–40 cm6–15 in	Likely
25	Saas-FeeSki resort, Switzerland	15–30 cm6–12 in	Likely
26	SestriereSki resort, Italy	15–35 cm6–13 in	Likely
27	Davos KlostersSki resort, Switzerland	15–25 cm6–9 in	Likely
28	LaaxSki resort, Switzerland	5–35 cm3–12 in	Likely
29	SöldenSki resort, Austria	10–25 cm5–10 in	Likely
30	Arosa LenzerheideSki resort, Switzerland	10–25 cm4–9 in	Likely
31	Obergurgl-HochgurglSki resort, Austria	5–20 cm2–7 in	Likely
32	Zell am See-KaprunSki resort, Austria	5–20 cm2–7 in	Likely
33	MayrhofenSki resort, Austria	3–15 cm1–6 in	Likely
34	Bad GasteinSki resort, Austria	5–10 cm2–4 in	Likely
35	LivignoSki resort, Italy	5–15 cm2–5 in	Likely
36	ObertauernSki resort, Austria	5–9 cm2–4 in	Likely
37	Garmisch-PartenkirchenSki resort, Germany	0–15 cm0–6 in	Possible
38	St. MoritzSki resort, Switzerland	2–15 cm0–5 in	Likely
39	BormioSki resort, Italy	2–15 cm1–5 in	Likely
40	KitzbühelSki resort, Austria	2–9 cm0–4 in	Likely
41	Saalbach HinterglemmSki resort, Austria	4–9 cm1–4 in	Likely
42	Alta BadiaSki resort, Italy	1–3 cmunder 1 in	Likely
43	Val GardenaSki resort, Italy	0–3 cmunder 1 in	Possible
44	Cortina d'AmpezzoSki resort, Italy	1–2 cmunder 1 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