What sort of weather can I expect in the Alps during December?

Traditionally in alpine regions December has been thought of as a very cold month with snowfall and severe frosts. This can often lead to excellent skiing conditions by the Christmas period. In recent years there is some evidence to suggest that early season conditions have been less reliable, with snow sometimes at a premium. To compensate for this, many resorts now making increasing use of artificial snow making machines to increase snow depths and improve the conditions for skiing.