Ski resort in Haute-Savoie, France
Avoriaz
A car-free, purpose-built resort above Morzine and the highest resort in the Portes du Soleil.
Avoriaz snow forecast at 2,276 m (top lift)
Out of season.
Forecasts for Avoriaz pause outside the snow season and start again in October. The lifts usually run from mid-December to mid-April. The snow record below shows when it usually snows here.
Avoriaz snow forecast at 1,800 m (village)
Out of season.
Forecasts for Avoriaz pause outside the snow season and start again in October. The lifts usually run from mid-December to mid-April. The snow record below shows when it usually snows here.
Where is Avoriaz?
- Department
- Haute-Savoie
- Country
- France
- Mountains
- Alps, Chablais Alps
- Area
- Portes du Soleil
- Village
- 1,800 m
- Top lift
- 2,276 m
- Vertical
- 476 m
- Lifts
- 35
- Season
- Mid-December to Mid-April
- Airports
- Geneva (GVA), Annecy (NCY), Chambéry (CMF), Lyon Saint-Exupéry (LYS)
- Website
- www.avoriaz.com
About Avoriaz
Avoriaz sits at 1,800 m in the commune of Morzine and is the highest resort in the Portes du Soleil. Cars are not allowed in the village, and visitors park outside it. The resort was planned in the mid-1960s by the former Olympic downhill champion Jean Vuarnet.
Avoriaz has 35 lifts of its own and is part of the Portes du Soleil, which links 12 resorts in France and Switzerland on one lift pass.
When does it snow in Avoriaz?
In Avoriaz, snow falls on about 14 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 days | 10 days | 12 days | 9 days | 5 days | <1 days | <1 days | 0 days | 2 days | 3 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 Avoriaz 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 | 14 | 19% | −10 to −2 °C (14 to 28 °F) |
| February | 10 | 12% | −8 to 0 °C (18 to 32 °F) |
| March | 12 | 16% | −7 to 2 °C (19 to 36 °F) |
| April | 9 | 10% | −5 to 4 °C (23 to 39 °F) |
| May | 5 | 5% | −1 to 8 °C (30 to 46 °F) |
| June | <1 | 0% | 5 to 14 °C (41 to 57 °F) |
| July | <1 | 0% | 6 to 15 °C (43 to 59 °F) |
| August | 0 | 0% | 6 to 15 °C (43 to 59 °F) |
| September | 2 | 2% | 3 to 11 °C (37 to 52 °F) |
| October | 3 | 3% | −1 to 9 °C (30 to 48 °F) |
| November | 11 | 13% | −6 to 2 °C (21 to 36 °F) |
| December | 12 | 19% | −8 to 0 °C (18 to 32 °F) |
Snow in Avoriaz in October
In October, Avoriaz gets snow on about 3 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 3% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −1 to 9 °C (30 to 48 °F).
Snow in Avoriaz in November
In November, Avoriaz 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 −6 to 2 °C (21 to 36 °F).
Snow in Avoriaz in December
In December, Avoriaz gets snow on about 12 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 19% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −8 to 0 °C (18 to 32 °F).
Snow in Avoriaz in January
In January, Avoriaz gets snow on about 14 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 19% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −10 to −2 °C (14 to 28 °F).
Snow in Avoriaz in February
In February, Avoriaz gets snow on about 10 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 12% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −8 to 0 °C (18 to 32 °F).
Snow in Avoriaz in March
In March, Avoriaz 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 −7 to 2 °C (19 to 36 °F).
Snow in Avoriaz in April
In April, Avoriaz 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 −5 to 4 °C (23 to 39 °F).
Snow in Avoriaz in May
In May, Avoriaz 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 −1 to 8 °C (30 to 46 °F).
Which winters were snowiest in Avoriaz?
Of the last ten winters in Avoriaz, 2017/18 was the snowiest, about 41% above the ten-year average at mid-mountain. The leanest was 2016/17, about 23% below average. The biggest single day of snowfall in the record was 4 December 2021.
| Winter | Compared with average | |
|---|---|---|
| 2016/17 | 77% of average | |
| 2017/18 | 141% of average | |
| 2018/19 | 100% of average | |
| 2019/20 | 96% of average | |
| 2020/21 | 116% of average | |
| 2021/22 | 94% of average | |
| 2022/23 | 89% of average | |
| 2023/24 | 114% of average | |
| 2024/25 | 81% of average | |
| 2025/26 | 91% 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 Avoriaz
Does Avoriaz have snow at Christmas?
Avoriaz 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 8 of those years.
Does Avoriaz have snow at New Year?
Avoriaz 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 8 of those years.
Does Avoriaz have snow in mid-February?
Avoriaz 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 Avoriaz have snow at Easter?
Avoriaz 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 7 of those years.
How many days a year does it snow in Avoriaz?
It snows on about 78 days a year in Avoriaz at mid-mountain, counting days with at least 1 cm of snowfall, averaged over 2016 to 2025. January has the most, about 14 days.
What is the snowiest month in Avoriaz?
January is the snowiest month in Avoriaz, bringing about 19% of the year's snowfall at mid-mountain, based on ERA5 reanalysis data for 2016 to 2025.
Which recent winter was the snowiest in Avoriaz?
Of the last ten winters in Avoriaz, 2017/18 was the snowiest, about 41% above the ten-year average. The leanest was 2016/17, about 23% below average.
How cold does Avoriaz get in winter?
January is the coldest month in Avoriaz at mid-mountain, with average daily lows of −10 °C (14 °F) and highs of −2 °C (28 °F).
How high is Avoriaz?
The village or lowest lift at Avoriaz is at 1,800 m (5,900 ft) and the top lift is at 2,276 m (7,500 ft), a vertical drop of 476 m (1,600 ft).
When does the ski season start in Avoriaz?
The lifts at Avoriaz usually open in mid-December and close in mid-April. Exact dates change each year with the snow, so check the resort's own website before you book.
Snow forecasts near Avoriaz
Sources: Avoriaz official website, Avoriaz ski area and maps, Avoriaz access, Bergfex, Wikipedia