Ski resort in Savoie, France
Les Arcs
A group of purpose-built ski villages above Bourg-Saint-Maurice, linked to La Plagne as part of Paradiski.
Les Arcs snow forecast at 3,226 m (top lift)
Out of season.
Forecasts for Les Arcs pause outside the snow season and start again in October. The lifts usually run from mid-December to late April. The snow record below shows when it usually snows here.
Les Arcs snow forecast at 1,200 m (village)
Out of season.
Forecasts for Les Arcs pause outside the snow season and start again in October. The lifts usually run from mid-December to late April. The snow record below shows when it usually snows here.
Where is Les Arcs?
- Department
- Savoie
- Country
- France
- Mountains
- Alps, Graian Alps
- Area
- Paradiski
- Village
- 1,200 m
- Top lift
- 3,226 m
- Vertical
- 2,026 m
- Pistes
- 200 km
- Season
- Mid-December to Late April
- Website
- www.lesarcs.com
About Les Arcs
Les Arcs is made up of Arc 1600, Arc 1800, Arc 1950 and Arc 2000 above the town of Bourg-Saint-Maurice. A funicular links Bourg-Saint-Maurice station to Arc 1600. The highest point of the ski area is the Aiguille Rouge at 3,226 m.
The Les Arcs ski area has 200 km of pistes. Since 2003 the Vanoise Express cable car has linked it with La Plagne, forming Paradiski with 425 km of pistes.
When does it snow in Les Arcs?
In Les Arcs, snow falls on about 13 days in March in a typical year, the snowiest month. Snow is regular from September to May.
| January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 days | 11 days | 13 days | 10 days | 8 days | <1 days | <1 days | <1 days | 3 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 Les Arcs 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 | 19% | −12 to −4 °C (10 to 25 °F) |
| February | 11 | 11% | −11 to −1 °C (12 to 30 °F) |
| March | 13 | 14% | −9 to 0 °C (16 to 32 °F) |
| April | 10 | 9% | −6 to 3 °C (21 to 37 °F) |
| May | 8 | 7% | −3 to 7 °C (27 to 45 °F) |
| June | <1 | 0% | 3 to 14 °C (37 to 57 °F) |
| July | <1 | 0% | 5 to 16 °C (41 to 61 °F) |
| August | <1 | 0% | 5 to 16 °C (41 to 61 °F) |
| September | 3 | 2% | 1 to 11 °C (34 to 52 °F) |
| October | 5 | 4% | −2 to 8 °C (28 to 46 °F) |
| November | 11 | 14% | −9 to 0 °C (16 to 32 °F) |
| December | 12 | 20% | −11 to −3 °C (12 to 27 °F) |
Snow in Les Arcs in September
In September, Les Arcs gets snow on about 3 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 2% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from 1 to 11 °C (34 to 52 °F).
Snow in Les Arcs in October
In October, Les Arcs gets snow on about 5 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 4% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −2 to 8 °C (28 to 46 °F).
Snow in Les Arcs in November
In November, Les Arcs gets snow on about 11 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 14% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −9 to 0 °C (16 to 32 °F).
Snow in Les Arcs in December
In December, Les Arcs gets snow on about 12 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 20% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −11 to −3 °C (12 to 27 °F).
Snow in Les Arcs in January
In January, Les Arcs gets snow on about 13 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 19% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −12 to −4 °C (10 to 25 °F).
Snow in Les Arcs in February
In February, Les Arcs gets snow on about 11 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 11% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −11 to −1 °C (12 to 30 °F).
Snow in Les Arcs in March
In March, Les Arcs gets snow on about 13 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 14% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −9 to 0 °C (16 to 32 °F).
Snow in Les Arcs in April
In April, Les Arcs gets snow on about 10 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 Les Arcs in May
In May, Les Arcs 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 −3 to 7 °C (27 to 45 °F).
Which winters were snowiest in Les Arcs?
Of the last ten winters in Les Arcs, 2017/18 was the snowiest, about 42% above the ten-year average at mid-mountain. The leanest was 2024/25, about 21% below average. The biggest single day of snowfall in the record was 4 January 2018.
| Winter | Compared with average | |
|---|---|---|
| 2016/17 | 81% of average | |
| 2017/18 | 142% of average | |
| 2018/19 | 99% of average | |
| 2019/20 | 116% of average | |
| 2020/21 | 103% of average | |
| 2021/22 | 81% of average | |
| 2022/23 | 94% of average | |
| 2023/24 | 118% of average | |
| 2024/25 | 79% of average | |
| 2025/26 | 88% 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 Les Arcs
Does Les Arcs have snow at Christmas?
Les Arcs 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 Les Arcs have snow at New Year?
Les Arcs 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 Les Arcs have snow in mid-February?
Les Arcs 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 Les Arcs have snow at Easter?
Les Arcs 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 6 of those years.
How many days a year does it snow in Les Arcs?
It snows on about 86 days a year in Les Arcs at mid-mountain, counting days with at least 1 cm of snowfall, averaged over 2016 to 2025. March has the most, about 13 days.
What is the snowiest month in Les Arcs?
December is the snowiest month in Les Arcs, bringing about 20% of the year's snowfall at mid-mountain, based on ERA5 reanalysis data for 2016 to 2025. March has the most snowy days, about 13.
Which recent winter was the snowiest in Les Arcs?
Of the last ten winters in Les Arcs, 2017/18 was the snowiest, about 42% above the ten-year average. The leanest was 2024/25, about 21% below average.
How cold does Les Arcs get in winter?
January is the coldest month in Les Arcs at mid-mountain, with average daily lows of −12 °C (10 °F) and highs of −4 °C (25 °F).
How high is Les Arcs?
The village or lowest lift at Les Arcs is at 1,200 m (3,900 ft) and the top lift is at 3,226 m (10,600 ft), a vertical drop of 2,026 m (6,600 ft).
When does the ski season start in Les Arcs?
The lifts at Les Arcs usually open in mid-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 Les Arcs
More ski resorts in Savoie
Sources: Les Arcs official website, Les Arcs resort overview, Skiresort.com, Wikipedia, Les Arcs Peisey-Vallandry ski area dates