snowingplaces

Ski resort in Andalusia, Spain

Sierra Nevada

Europe's southernmost ski resort and the highest in Spain, above the village of Pradollano near Granada.

Forecast updated , when it was 15:00 in Sierra Nevada (GMT+2).

Sierra Nevada snow forecast at 3,300 m (top lift)

Next 24 hours on the upper mountain

No snow in the next 24 hours.

No snow expected in the next 7 days.

High confidence, all three forecast models agree

No snow is forecast for Sierra Nevada at the top lift (3,300 m / 10,800 ft) in the next 7 days, and all three weather models we compare agree. Expect temperatures from 1 to 9 °C (34 to 48 °F) and the freezing level near 3,850 m (12,600 ft) over the next day.

Temperature now
5 °C (41 °F)
Freezing level
3,850 m (12,600 ft)
Wind
8 km/h (5 mph), gusts 21 km/h (13 mph)

Sierra Nevada hour by hour, on the upper mountain

Hourly snowfall
Show the hours as a table
Hourly forecast for Sierra Nevada on the upper mountain, local time (GMT+2)
TimeWeatherSnowfall
NowRainNone
4pmRainNone

Hours not listed are dry. Times are local (GMT+2).

Sierra Nevada 7-day snow forecast, on the upper mountain

DayWeatherSnowfall
TodayDry2 to 6 °C (36 to 43 °F) · freezing level 3,800 m (12,500 ft)No snow
SatDry1 to 9 °C (34 to 48 °F) · freezing level 4,050 m (13,300 ft)No snow
SunDry2 to 10 °C (36 to 50 °F) · freezing level 4,500 m (14,800 ft)No snow
MonDry2 to 10 °C (36 to 50 °F) · freezing level 4,550 m (14,900 ft)No snow
TueDry2 to 12 °C (36 to 54 °F) · freezing level 4,700 m (15,400 ft)No snow
WedDry3 to 13 °C (37 to 55 °F) · freezing level 4,650 m (15,300 ft)No snow
ThuDry3 to 13 °C (37 to 55 °F) · freezing level 4,650 m (15,300 ft)No snow

Sierra Nevada 14-day snow outlook, on the upper mountain

Days 8 to 14. Only two of our three models run this far ahead, and forecasts at this range often change, so read this as a guide to the pattern rather than a plan.

DayWeatherSnowfall
Fri 25 SepDry4 to 13 °C (39 to 55 °F)No snow
Sat 26 SepDry2 to 12 °C (36 to 54 °F)No snow
Sun 27 SepDry2 to 11 °C (36 to 52 °F)No snow
Mon 28 SepDry1 to 11 °C (34 to 52 °F)No snow
Tue 29 SepDry1 to 11 °C (34 to 52 °F)No snow
Wed 30 SepDry1 to 11 °C (34 to 52 °F)No snow
Thu 1 OctDry0 to 10 °C (32 to 50 °F)No snow

How much snow is there in Sierra Nevada on the upper mountain?

No snow on the ground

This is an estimate from weather models, not a measurement, so it can differ from the depth a resort reports on its pistes. Check the official snow report before you travel.

Where is Sierra Nevada?

Autonomous community
Andalusia
Country
Spain
Village
2,100 m
Top lift
3,300 m
Vertical
1,200 m
Season
Late November to Early May

About Sierra Nevada

Sierra Nevada is in the province of Granada, about 32 km from the centre of Granada. Its base is the village of Pradollano at 2,100 m, and it is both the southernmost ski resort in Europe and the highest in Spain.

The resort hosted the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in 1996, the 2015 Winter Universiade and the 2017 FIS Freestyle Ski and Snowboard World Championships.

When does it snow in Sierra Nevada?

In Sierra Nevada, snow falls on about 12 days in March in a typical year, the snowiest month. Snow is regular from November to May.

Average days per month with at least 1 cm of snowfall in Sierra Nevada at mid-mountain, 2016–2025
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
7 days6 days12 days7 days3 days<1 days0 days0 days0 days2 days5 days6 days

Average days each month with at least 1 cm of snowfall at mid-mountain, 2016–2025. Calculated from ERA5 reanalysis data.

Snow in Sierra Nevada month by month

Averages for 2016 to 2025 at mid-mountain, from ERA5 reanalysis data.

Average snow days, share of annual snowfall and temperature by month in Sierra Nevada, 2016 to 2025
MonthSnow daysShare of the year's snowLow to high
January713%−5 to 1 °C (23 to 34 °F)
February610%−5 to 2 °C (23 to 36 °F)
March1235%−5 to 2 °C (23 to 36 °F)
April712%−2 to 5 °C (28 to 41 °F)
May37%2 to 10 °C (36 to 50 °F)
June<10%6 to 15 °C (43 to 59 °F)
July00%11 to 20 °C (52 to 68 °F)
August00%10 to 20 °C (50 to 68 °F)
September00%6 to 14 °C (43 to 57 °F)
October24%3 to 10 °C (37 to 50 °F)
November59%−2 to 4 °C (28 to 39 °F)
December610%−4 to 2 °C (25 to 36 °F)

Snow in Sierra Nevada in November

In November, Sierra Nevada gets snow on about 5 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 9% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −2 to 4 °C (28 to 39 °F).

Snow in Sierra Nevada in December

In December, Sierra Nevada gets snow on about 6 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 10% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −4 to 2 °C (25 to 36 °F).

Snow in Sierra Nevada in January

In January, Sierra Nevada gets snow on about 7 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 13% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −5 to 1 °C (23 to 34 °F).

Snow in Sierra Nevada in February

In February, Sierra Nevada gets snow on about 6 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 10% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −5 to 2 °C (23 to 36 °F).

Snow in Sierra Nevada in March

In March, Sierra Nevada gets snow on about 12 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 35% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −5 to 2 °C (23 to 36 °F).

Snow in Sierra Nevada in April

In April, Sierra Nevada gets snow on about 7 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 12% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −2 to 5 °C (28 to 41 °F).

Snow in Sierra Nevada in May

In May, Sierra Nevada gets snow on about 3 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 7% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from 2 to 10 °C (36 to 50 °F).

Which winters were snowiest in Sierra Nevada?

Of the last ten winters in Sierra Nevada, 2017/18 was the snowiest, about 71% above the ten-year average at mid-mountain. The leanest was 2016/17, about 47% below average. The biggest single day of snowfall in the record was 9 March 2024.

Snowfall in Sierra Nevada for each of the last ten winters, as a percentage of the ten-year average
WinterCompared with average
2016/1753% of average
2017/18171% of average
2018/1987% of average
2019/2090% of average
2020/2192% of average
2021/22121% of average
2022/2353% of average
2023/2498% of average
2024/25109% of average
2025/26125% 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 Sierra Nevada

Does Sierra Nevada have snow at Christmas?

Sierra Nevada had at least 2.5 cm (1 in) of snow on the ground on Christmas Day in 1 of the 10 years from 2016 to 2025 at mid-mountain. Fresh snow fell during 20 to 26 December in 3 of those years.

Does Sierra Nevada have snow at New Year?

Sierra Nevada had at least 2.5 cm (1 in) of snow on the ground on New Year's Day in 2 of the 10 years from 2016 to 2025 at mid-mountain. Fresh snow fell during 27 December to 2 January in 6 of those years.

Does Sierra Nevada have snow in mid-February?

Sierra Nevada had at least 2.5 cm (1 in) of snow on the ground on 15 February in 1 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 Sierra Nevada have snow at Easter?

Sierra Nevada had at least 2.5 cm (1 in) of snow on the ground on Easter Sunday in 1 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 Sierra Nevada?

It snows on about 47 days a year in Sierra Nevada at mid-mountain, counting days with at least 1 cm of snowfall, averaged over 2016 to 2025. March has the most, about 12 days.

What is the snowiest month in Sierra Nevada?

March is the snowiest month in Sierra Nevada, bringing about 35% of the year's snowfall at mid-mountain, based on ERA5 reanalysis data for 2016 to 2025.

Which recent winter was the snowiest in Sierra Nevada?

Of the last ten winters in Sierra Nevada, 2017/18 was the snowiest, about 71% above the ten-year average. The leanest was 2016/17, about 47% below average.

How cold does Sierra Nevada get in winter?

January is the coldest month in Sierra Nevada at mid-mountain, with average daily lows of −5 °C (23 °F) and highs of 1 °C (34 °F).

How high is Sierra Nevada?

The village or lowest lift at Sierra Nevada is at 2,100 m (6,900 ft) and the top lift is at 3,300 m (10,800 ft), a vertical drop of 1,200 m (3,900 ft).

When does the ski season start in Sierra Nevada?

The lifts at Sierra Nevada usually open in late November and close in early May. Exact dates change each year with the snow, so check the resort's own website before you book.

Snow forecasts near Sierra Nevada

Map of ski resorts and cities within 150 km of Sierra NevadaGranada, about 20 km away, out of season.50 km100 km150 kmNGranada: Out of seasonGranadaSierra Nevada
Blue dots expect snow in the next 7 days. Distances are straight lines, not driving distances.
GranadaCity, about 20 km awayOut of season

Sources: Wikipedia, Wikipedia (Spanish)