Ski resort in Isère, France
Alpe d'Huez
A large linked ski area in Isère, rising to Pic Blanc at 3,330 m.
Alpe d'Huez snow forecast at 3,330 m (top lift)
Out of season.
Forecasts for Alpe d'Huez pause outside the snow season and start again in October. The lifts usually run from early December to late April. The snow record below shows when it usually snows here.
Alpe d'Huez snow forecast at 1,120 m (village)
Out of season.
Forecasts for Alpe d'Huez pause outside the snow season and start again in October. The lifts usually run from early December to late April. The snow record below shows when it usually snows here.
Where is Alpe d'Huez?
- Department
- Isère
- Country
- France
- Mountains
- Alps, Dauphiné Alps
- Village
- 1,120 m
- Top lift
- 3,330 m
- Vertical
- 2,210 m
- Pistes
- 250 km
- Lifts
- 67
- Season
- Early December to Late April
- Airports
- Grenoble (GNB)
- Website
- www.alpedhuez.com
About Alpe d’Huez
Alpe d’Huez’s ski area links Alpe d’Huez with Auris-en-Oisans, Oz, Vaujany and Villard-Reculas, and has 250 km of runs. The top lift reaches Pic Blanc at 3,330 m, near the Sarenne glacier. From there, La Sarenne is a 16 km black run.
The road up to the resort, with its 21 hairpin bends, is a well-known climb in the Tour de France.
When does it snow in Alpe d'Huez?
In Alpe d'Huez, snow falls on about 13 days in January in a typical year, the snowiest month. Snow is regular from October to May.
| January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 days | 9 days | 12 days | 9 days | 8 days | 1 days | 0 days | <1 days | 2 days | 5 days | 11 days | 12 days |
Average days each month with at least 1 cm of snowfall at mid-mountain, 2016–2025. Calculated from ERA5 reanalysis data.
Snow in Alpe d'Huez month by month
Averages for 2016 to 2025 at mid-mountain, from ERA5 reanalysis data.
| Month | Snow days | Share of the year's snow | Low to high |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 13 | 17% | −12 to −3 °C (10 to 27 °F) |
| February | 9 | 10% | −10 to −1 °C (14 to 30 °F) |
| March | 12 | 16% | −9 to 0 °C (16 to 32 °F) |
| April | 9 | 9% | −6 to 3 °C (21 to 37 °F) |
| May | 8 | 7% | −2 to 7 °C (28 to 45 °F) |
| June | 1 | 0% | 3 to 13 °C (37 to 55 °F) |
| July | 0 | 0% | 5 to 16 °C (41 to 61 °F) |
| August | <1 | 0% | 5 to 16 °C (41 to 61 °F) |
| September | 2 | 2% | 1 to 12 °C (34 to 54 °F) |
| October | 5 | 5% | −2 to 8 °C (28 to 46 °F) |
| November | 11 | 13% | −8 to 1 °C (18 to 34 °F) |
| December | 12 | 21% | −10 to −2 °C (14 to 28 °F) |
Snow in Alpe d'Huez in October
In October, Alpe d'Huez gets snow on about 5 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 5% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −2 to 8 °C (28 to 46 °F).
Snow in Alpe d'Huez in November
In November, Alpe d'Huez gets snow on about 11 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 13% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −8 to 1 °C (18 to 34 °F).
Snow in Alpe d'Huez in December
In December, Alpe d'Huez gets snow on about 12 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 21% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −10 to −2 °C (14 to 28 °F).
Snow in Alpe d'Huez in January
In January, Alpe d'Huez gets snow on about 13 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 17% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −12 to −3 °C (10 to 27 °F).
Snow in Alpe d'Huez in February
In February, Alpe d'Huez gets snow on about 9 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 10% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −10 to −1 °C (14 to 30 °F).
Snow in Alpe d'Huez in March
In March, Alpe d'Huez gets snow on about 12 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 16% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −9 to 0 °C (16 to 32 °F).
Snow in Alpe d'Huez in April
In April, Alpe d'Huez gets snow on about 9 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 9% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −6 to 3 °C (21 to 37 °F).
Snow in Alpe d'Huez in May
In May, Alpe d'Huez gets snow on about 8 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 7% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −2 to 7 °C (28 to 45 °F).
Which winters were snowiest in Alpe d'Huez?
Of the last ten winters in Alpe d'Huez, 2017/18 was the snowiest, about 37% above the ten-year average at mid-mountain. The leanest was 2016/17, about 36% below average. The biggest single day of snowfall in the record was 24 November 2025.
| Winter | Compared with average | |
|---|---|---|
| 2016/17 | 64% of average | |
| 2017/18 | 137% of average | |
| 2018/19 | 97% of average | |
| 2019/20 | 117% of average | |
| 2020/21 | 105% of average | |
| 2021/22 | 75% of average | |
| 2022/23 | 93% of average | |
| 2023/24 | 124% of average | |
| 2024/25 | 86% of average | |
| 2025/26 | 101% of average |
Winters are compared with each other rather than given in centimetres. The ERA5 record is reliable on which winters were big and which were lean, but it underestimates absolute snowfall in the mountains, so the resort's own measured totals are the ones to trust for amounts.
Questions about snow in Alpe d'Huez
Does Alpe d'Huez have snow at Christmas?
Alpe d'Huez had at least 2.5 cm (1 in) of snow on the ground on Christmas Day in every one of the 10 years from 2016 to 2025 at mid-mountain. Fresh snow fell during 20 to 26 December in every one of those years.
Does Alpe d'Huez have snow at New Year?
Alpe d'Huez had at least 2.5 cm (1 in) of snow on the ground on New Year's Day in every one of the 10 years from 2016 to 2025 at mid-mountain. Fresh snow fell during 27 December to 2 January in 7 of those years.
Does Alpe d'Huez have snow in mid-February?
Alpe d'Huez had at least 2.5 cm (1 in) of snow on the ground on 15 February in every one of the 10 years from 2016 to 2025 at mid-mountain. Fresh snow fell during 10 to 20 February in 9 of those years.
Does Alpe d'Huez have snow at Easter?
Alpe d'Huez had at least 2.5 cm (1 in) of snow on the ground on Easter Sunday in every one of the 10 years from 2016 to 2025 at mid-mountain. Fresh snow fell during Good Friday to Easter Monday in 5 of those years.
How many days a year does it snow in Alpe d'Huez?
It snows on about 82 days a year in Alpe d'Huez at mid-mountain, counting days with at least 1 cm of snowfall, averaged over 2016 to 2025. January has the most, about 13 days.
What is the snowiest month in Alpe d'Huez?
December is the snowiest month in Alpe d'Huez, bringing about 21% of the year's snowfall at mid-mountain, based on ERA5 reanalysis data for 2016 to 2025. January has the most snowy days, about 13.
Which recent winter was the snowiest in Alpe d'Huez?
Of the last ten winters in Alpe d'Huez, 2017/18 was the snowiest, about 37% above the ten-year average. The leanest was 2016/17, about 36% below average.
How cold does Alpe d'Huez get in winter?
January is the coldest month in Alpe d'Huez at mid-mountain, with average daily lows of −12 °C (10 °F) and highs of −3 °C (27 °F).
How high is Alpe d'Huez?
The village or lowest lift at Alpe d'Huez is at 1,120 m (3,700 ft) and the top lift is at 3,330 m (10,900 ft), a vertical drop of 2,210 m (7,300 ft).
When does the ski season start in Alpe d'Huez?
The lifts at Alpe d'Huez usually open in early December and close in late April. Exact dates change each year with the snow, so check the resort's own website before you book.
Snow forecasts near Alpe d'Huez
Facts checked 18 September 2026. Sources: Alpes Isère tourism, Wikipedia, Alpe d'Huez ski pass opening hours