snowingplaces

Ski resort in Savoie, France

Val Thorens

A high-altitude resort at the head of the Belleville valley, at the southern end of Les 3 Vallées.

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

Val Thorens snow forecast at 3,230 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 Val Thorens at the top lift (3,230 m / 10,600 ft) in the next 7 days, and all three weather models we compare agree. Expect temperatures from −4 to 7 °C (25 to 45 °F) and the freezing level near 3,500 m (11,500 ft) over the next day.

Temperature now
3 °C (37 °F)
Freezing level
3,500 m (11,500 ft)
Wind
11 km/h (7 mph), gusts 23 km/h (14 mph)

Val Thorens hour by hour, on the upper mountain

Hourly snowfall

No rain or snow on the upper mountain in Val Thorens in the next 24 hours.

Val Thorens 7-day snow forecast, on the upper mountain

DayWeatherSnowfall
TodayDry−2 to 3 °C (28 to 37 °F) · freezing level 3,600 m (11,800 ft)No snow
SatDry−4 to 7 °C (25 to 45 °F) · freezing level 3,900 m (12,800 ft)No snow
SunDry−1 to 9 °C (30 to 48 °F) · freezing level 4,300 m (14,100 ft)No snow
MonDry−1 to 9 °C (30 to 48 °F) · freezing level 4,550 m (14,900 ft)No snow
TueDry0 to 10 °C (32 to 50 °F) · freezing level 4,550 m (14,900 ft)No snow
WedDry0 to 10 °C (32 to 50 °F) · freezing level 4,350 m (14,300 ft)No snow
ThuDry−2 to 6 °C (28 to 43 °F) · freezing level 3,750 m (12,300 ft)No snow

Val Thorens 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 SepDry−3 to 9 °C (27 to 48 °F)No snow
Sat 26 SepDry−2 to 9 °C (28 to 48 °F)No snow
Sun 27 SepDry−2 to 11 °C (28 to 52 °F)No snow
Mon 28 SepDry−1 to 9 °C (30 to 48 °F)No snow
Tue 29 SepDry−3 to 5 °C (27 to 41 °F)No snow
Wed 30 SepChance of snow−8 to 1 °C (18 to 34 °F) · 1 of 2 models show snow0–3 cm (under 1 in)
Thu 1 OctDry−7 to 2 °C (19 to 36 °F)No snow

How much snow is there in Val Thorens 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 Val Thorens?

Department
Savoie
Country
France
Mountains
Alps, Graian Alps
Village
2,300 m
Top lift
3,230 m
Vertical
930 m
Season
Mid-November to Early May

About Val Thorens

Val Thorens is a purpose-built resort in the Tarentaise Valley at an altitude of 2,300 m. Its first drag lifts were installed in 1971 and its ski school opened in 1972. The highest skiable peaks are Pointe du Bouchet (3,230 m) and Cime de Caron (3,200 m).

The resort is part of Les 3 Vallées and is usually open from mid-November until early May. Summer skiing ran on the Péclet glacier from 1973 to 2002.

The snow

At 2,300 m, Val Thorens is the highest resort village in the Alps, and the whole ski area sits above the treeline between 2,300 m and 3,230 m. In our record it snows on about 13 days a month at mid-mountain in December, January and March, with January daytime highs around −7 °C. Snow was on the ground every Christmas Day in the last ten years. The height means it opens in mid-November and closes in early May, and rain is rare in midwinter; the price is wind and whiteouts, which can shut the lifts on the days when lower resorts are skiing happily in the trees.

Who it suits

Snow-sure early and late season, and anyone who wants ski-in, ski-out lodging. The resort has a young, lively feel. There are no trees for bad-weather days, so the rest of the Trois Vallées below is the fallback.

Getting there

Geneva and Lyon airports are about three hours away; trains to Moûtiers, 35 km below, connect with buses.

When does it snow in Val Thorens?

In Val Thorens, snow falls on about 13 days in January in a typical year, the snowiest month. Snow is regular from September to May.

Average days per month with at least 1 cm of snowfall in Val Thorens at mid-mountain, 2016–2025
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
13 days10 days13 days12 days9 days1 days<1 days<1 days3 days6 days12 days13 days

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

Snow in Val Thorens 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 Val Thorens, 2016 to 2025
MonthSnow daysShare of the year's snowLow to high
January1317%−14 to −7 °C (7 to 19 °F)
February1010%−13 to −5 °C (9 to 23 °F)
March1314%−12 to −4 °C (10 to 25 °F)
April129%−9 to −1 °C (16 to 30 °F)
May99%−5 to 3 °C (23 to 37 °F)
June11%0 to 10 °C (32 to 50 °F)
July<10%3 to 12 °C (37 to 54 °F)
August<11%2 to 12 °C (36 to 54 °F)
September32%−1 to 8 °C (30 to 46 °F)
October65%−5 to 4 °C (23 to 39 °F)
November1213%−11 to −3 °C (12 to 27 °F)
December1319%−13 to −6 °C (9 to 21 °F)

Snow in Val Thorens in September

In September, Val Thorens 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 8 °C (30 to 46 °F).

Snow in Val Thorens in October

In October, Val Thorens gets snow on about 6 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 5% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −5 to 4 °C (23 to 39 °F).

Snow in Val Thorens in November

In November, Val Thorens gets snow on about 12 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 13% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −11 to −3 °C (12 to 27 °F).

Snow in Val Thorens in December

In December, Val Thorens 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 −13 to −6 °C (9 to 21 °F).

Snow in Val Thorens in January

In January, Val Thorens 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 −14 to −7 °C (7 to 19 °F).

Snow in Val Thorens in February

In February, Val Thorens gets snow on about 10 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 10% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −13 to −5 °C (9 to 23 °F).

Snow in Val Thorens in March

In March, Val Thorens 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 −12 to −4 °C (10 to 25 °F).

Snow in Val Thorens in April

In April, Val Thorens gets snow on about 12 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 9% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −9 to −1 °C (16 to 30 °F).

Snow in Val Thorens in May

In May, Val Thorens 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 −5 to 3 °C (23 to 37 °F).

Which winters were snowiest in Val Thorens?

Of the last ten winters in Val Thorens, 2017/18 was the snowiest, about 37% above the ten-year average at mid-mountain. The leanest was 2021/22, about 23% below average. The biggest single day of snowfall in the record was 4 January 2018.

Snowfall in Val Thorens for each of the last ten winters, as a percentage of the ten-year average
WinterCompared with average
2016/1778% of average
2017/18137% of average
2018/19104% of average
2019/20116% of average
2020/21103% of average
2021/2277% of average
2022/2389% of average
2023/24125% of average
2024/2580% of average
2025/2690% 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 Val Thorens

Does Val Thorens have snow at Christmas?

Val Thorens 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 Val Thorens have snow at New Year?

Val Thorens 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 Val Thorens have snow in mid-February?

Val Thorens 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 Val Thorens have snow at Easter?

Val Thorens 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 8 of those years.

How many days a year does it snow in Val Thorens?

It snows on about 91 days a year in Val Thorens 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 Val Thorens?

December is the snowiest month in Val Thorens, bringing about 19% 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 Val Thorens?

Of the last ten winters in Val Thorens, 2017/18 was the snowiest, about 37% above the ten-year average. The leanest was 2021/22, about 23% below average.

How cold does Val Thorens get in winter?

January is the coldest month in Val Thorens at mid-mountain, with average daily lows of −14 °C (7 °F) and highs of −7 °C (19 °F).

How high is Val Thorens?

The village or lowest lift at Val Thorens is at 2,300 m (7,500 ft) and the top lift is at 3,230 m (10,600 ft), a vertical drop of 930 m (3,100 ft).

When does the ski season start in Val Thorens?

The lifts at Val Thorens usually open in mid-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 Val Thorens

Map of ski resorts and cities within 150 km of Val ThorensMéribel, about 10 km away, out of season; Courchevel, about 10 km away, out of season; La Plagne, about 20 km away, no snow this week; Tignes, about 30 km away, no snow this week; Les Arcs, about 30 km away, out of season; Val d'Isère, about 40 km away, no snow this week; Serre Chevalier, about 40 km away, out of season; Sestriere, about 50 km away, out of season; Alpe d'Huez, about 50 km away, out of season; Les Deux Alpes, about 50 km away, no snow this week; Chambéry, about 60 km away, out of season; Courmayeur, about 60 km away, no snow this week; Megève, about 60 km away, out of season; Grenoble, about 70 km away, out of season; Chamonix, about 70 km away, out of season; Annecy, about 80 km away, out of season; Turin, about 90 km away, out of season; Avoriaz, about 100 km away, out of season; Verbier, about 100 km away, no snow this week; Geneva, about 110 km away, out of season; Cervinia, about 110 km away, no snow this week; Zermatt, about 120 km away, no snow this week; Crans-Montana, about 130 km away, no snow this week; Saas-Fee, about 140 km away, no snow this week.50 km100 km150 kmNMéribel: Out of seasonCourchevel: Out of seasonLa Plagne: No snow this weekTignes: No snow this weekLes Arcs: Out of seasonVal d'Isère: No snow this weekSerre Chevalier: Out of seasonSestriere: Out of seasonAlpe d'Huez: Out of seasonLes Deux Alpes: No snow this weekChambéry: Out of seasonCourmayeur: No snow this weekMegève: Out of seasonGrenoble: Out of seasonChamonix: Out of seasonAnnecy: Out of seasonTurin: Out of seasonAvoriaz: Out of seasonVerbier: No snow this weekGeneva: Out of seasonCervinia: No snow this weekZermatt: No snow this weekCrans-Montana: No snow this weekSaas-Fee: No snow this weekMéribelCourchevelLes ArcsSerre ChevalierSestriereAlpe d'HuezChambéryCourmayeurMegèveGrenobleChamonixAnnecyTurinAvoriazGenevaCerviniaZermattCrans-MontanaSaas-FeeVal Thorens
Blue dots expect snow in the next 7 days. Distances are straight lines, not driving distances.
MéribelSki resort, about 10 km awayOut of seasonCourchevelSki resort, about 10 km awayOut of seasonLa PlagneSki resort, about 20 km awayNo snow this weekTignesSki resort, about 30 km awayNo snow this week

Compare Val Thorens for snow

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Facts checked 18 September 2026. Sources: Wikipedia, Skiresort.com, Les 3 Vallées