To check snow levels during the ski season (Dec-Apr)
at the various ski resorts that we feature, please
check the relevant tourist office’s website
– links from our website’s resort pages.
The previous season
was superb snow wise with incredible late snow
from early November right until the end of
April. This late snow trend can
actually be seen very clearly in the stats for
the past 5 years or so. Not every year is the same so
it is essential to look at historical snow
records over the past few years to get a true picture
on snow reliability. What seems clear over the past 5
years or so is that early December (before 15/12) is
not as good as it used to be but at the same time
April has been getting better and better.
Nearly all our resorts
have a snow range above 1500m (around 5,000ft).
Altitude is however not the only important factor.
Some areas like the Grand Massif or Mont-Blanc Val
d’Arly benefit from
a microclimate because of their close proximity to
Europe’s highest peak, Mont-Blanc. These areas
have a much more reliable snow record than other
resorts at the same altitude or even than some
higher-up. Other important factors for good snow are
North-facing slopes as whatever cover their get will
simply last longer. What lies below the snow cover is
also of importance: a few centimetres will be enough to
ski on pasture whereas more will be required to cover
a rocky surface. Finally resorts that have snow
cannons to cover the lower slopes (generally the
nursery slopes) offer a good guarantee. These will
normally run at night from early December to top-up
on natural snow cover. Above all what is important is
to check the hard facts as in the end the snow
history over a period of time is the only reliable
indicator.
For ski weather and snow conditions forecasts click
on the image below: