Ski resort in Hautes-Alpes, France
Serre Chevalier
A long ski area in the Guisane valley, linking several villages between Briançon and Le Monêtier-les-Bains.
Serre Chevalier snow forecast at 2,800 m (top lift)
Out of season.
Forecasts for Serre Chevalier pause outside the snow season and start again in October. The lifts usually run from early December to mid-April. The snow record below shows when it usually snows here.
Serre Chevalier snow forecast at 1,200 m (village)
Out of season.
Forecasts for Serre Chevalier pause outside the snow season and start again in October. The lifts usually run from early December to mid-April. The snow record below shows when it usually snows here.
Where is Serre Chevalier?
- Department
- Hautes-Alpes
- Country
- France
- Mountains
- Alps, Dauphiné Alps
- Village
- 1,200 m
- Top lift
- 2,800 m
- Vertical
- 1,600 m
- Pistes
- 250 km
- Lifts
- 58
- Season
- Early December to Mid-April
- Website
- www.serre-chevalier.com
About Serre Chevalier
Serre Chevalier’s ski area connects Briançon with the villages of Chantemerle (Saint-Chaffrey), Villeneuve (La Salle-les-Alpes) and Le Monêtier-les-Bains. It has 250 km of pistes and 58 lifts, and some of the skiing is in larch forest.
The resort is due to host freestyle skiing events at the 2030 Winter Olympics.
When does it snow in Serre Chevalier?
In Serre Chevalier, snow falls on about 11 days in December 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 days | 9 days | 10 days | 9 days | 7 days | <1 days | <1 days | <1 days | 1 days | 3 days | 10 days | 11 days |
Average days each month with at least 1 cm of snowfall at mid-mountain, 2016–2025. Calculated from ERA5 reanalysis data.
Snow in Serre Chevalier 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 | 11 | 15% | −10 to −2 °C (14 to 28 °F) |
| February | 9 | 11% | −8 to 1 °C (18 to 34 °F) |
| March | 10 | 15% | −7 to 1 °C (19 to 34 °F) |
| April | 9 | 11% | −4 to 4 °C (25 to 39 °F) |
| May | 7 | 8% | 0 to 9 °C (32 to 48 °F) |
| June | <1 | 0% | 5 to 16 °C (41 to 61 °F) |
| July | <1 | 0% | 7 to 19 °C (45 to 66 °F) |
| August | <1 | 0% | 7 to 19 °C (45 to 66 °F) |
| September | 1 | 1% | 4 to 15 °C (39 to 59 °F) |
| October | 3 | 5% | 0 to 10 °C (32 to 50 °F) |
| November | 10 | 16% | −6 to 2 °C (21 to 36 °F) |
| December | 11 | 18% | −8 to −1 °C (18 to 30 °F) |
Snow in Serre Chevalier in October
In October, Serre Chevalier gets snow on about 3 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 5% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from 0 to 10 °C (32 to 50 °F).
Snow in Serre Chevalier in November
In November, Serre Chevalier gets snow on about 10 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 16% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −6 to 2 °C (21 to 36 °F).
Snow in Serre Chevalier in December
In December, Serre Chevalier gets snow on about 11 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 18% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −8 to −1 °C (18 to 30 °F).
Snow in Serre Chevalier in January
In January, Serre Chevalier gets snow on about 11 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 15% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −10 to −2 °C (14 to 28 °F).
Snow in Serre Chevalier in February
In February, Serre Chevalier gets snow on about 9 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 11% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −8 to 1 °C (18 to 34 °F).
Snow in Serre Chevalier in March
In March, Serre Chevalier gets snow on about 10 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 15% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −7 to 1 °C (19 to 34 °F).
Snow in Serre Chevalier in April
In April, Serre Chevalier gets snow on about 9 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 11% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −4 to 4 °C (25 to 39 °F).
Snow in Serre Chevalier in May
In May, Serre Chevalier gets snow on about 7 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 8% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from 0 to 9 °C (32 to 48 °F).
Which winters were snowiest in Serre Chevalier?
Of the last ten winters in Serre Chevalier, 2023/24 was the snowiest, about 48% above the ten-year average at mid-mountain. The leanest was 2021/22, about 34% below average. The biggest single day of snowfall in the record was 11 December 2017.
| Winter | Compared with average | |
|---|---|---|
| 2016/17 | 95% of average | |
| 2017/18 | 133% of average | |
| 2018/19 | 92% of average | |
| 2019/20 | 108% of average | |
| 2020/21 | 98% of average | |
| 2021/22 | 66% of average | |
| 2022/23 | 80% of average | |
| 2023/24 | 148% of average | |
| 2024/25 | 90% of average | |
| 2025/26 | 90% 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 Serre Chevalier
Does Serre Chevalier have snow at Christmas?
Serre Chevalier 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 9 of those years.
Does Serre Chevalier have snow at New Year?
Serre Chevalier 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 Serre Chevalier have snow in mid-February?
Serre Chevalier 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 Serre Chevalier have snow at Easter?
Serre Chevalier 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 Serre Chevalier?
It snows on about 71 days a year in Serre Chevalier at mid-mountain, counting days with at least 1 cm of snowfall, averaged over 2016 to 2025. December has the most, about 11 days.
What is the snowiest month in Serre Chevalier?
December is the snowiest month in Serre Chevalier, bringing about 18% of the year's snowfall at mid-mountain, based on ERA5 reanalysis data for 2016 to 2025.
Which recent winter was the snowiest in Serre Chevalier?
Of the last ten winters in Serre Chevalier, 2023/24 was the snowiest, about 48% above the ten-year average. The leanest was 2021/22, about 34% below average.
How cold does Serre Chevalier get in winter?
January is the coldest month in Serre Chevalier at mid-mountain, with average daily lows of −10 °C (14 °F) and highs of −2 °C (28 °F).
How high is Serre Chevalier?
The village or lowest lift at Serre Chevalier is at 1,200 m (3,900 ft) and the top lift is at 2,800 m (9,200 ft), a vertical drop of 1,600 m (5,200 ft).
When does the ski season start in Serre Chevalier?
The lifts at Serre Chevalier usually open in early 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 Serre Chevalier
Sources: Serre Chevalier official website, Wikipedia, Serre Chevalier winter season dates