The Weather Outlook

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Brian Gaze
19 April 2025 14:57:38
Parts of the Alps have seen huge snowfall in the last few days. I was looking at the webcams, and most of the slopes below ~2000m were looking threadbare at best. Then within 24 hours the Three Valleys were plunged back into winter.

Régis Crépet, a meteorologist with La Chaîne Météo, the French weather channel, said snowfalls on such a scale were “historic” for April. “It’s quite simply the biggest snow episode ever recorded at this time of year.”

https://www.thetimes.com/world/europe/article/avalanche-france-val-thorens-r2cx3qxzw 

Webcams for the 3 Valleys ski area here:

https://www.les3vallees.com/en/live/webcams 


Brian Gaze

Berkhamsted

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DEW
  • DEW
  • Advanced Member
19 April 2025 16:50:55
Other references in 'Unusual weather' thread
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Sasa
  • Sasa
  • Advanced Member
20 April 2025 08:02:05

Other references in 'Unusual weather' thread

Originally Posted by: DEW 

In Val d'Isère and Tignes, they recorded 100 cm of new snow in just 24 hours — a truly historic event, especially during such a critical season. The snow was particularly heavy at lower altitudes, causing trees to snap under the weight. Villages were cut off, and even pavements had to be secured due to the risk of snow sliding off rooftops.

Higher up, around 160 cm of snow settled. With this much snow, the resorts will have no trouble making it to the end of the ski season on May 10th. For many other resorts, however, this has been a disappointing season. If you're planning to ski during the winter months, I’d strongly recommend choosing resorts situated at 1600 meters altitude or higher. Anything below that remains a significant gamble.


Kingston Upon Thames
Brian Gaze
20 April 2025 09:28:46

 For many other resorts, however, this has been a disappointing season. If you're planning to ski during the winter months, I’d strongly recommend choosing resorts situated at 1600 meters altitude or higher. Anything below that remains a significant gamble.

Originally Posted by: Sasa 

I agree with that. I won't call people out in public, but we received a very "good" last-minute offer to go back to the Three Valleys for the second time this season in April. The strapline claimed the snow was the "best" in years, etc. However, the webcams told a very different story, with good conditions really only above 2,000m, and the offer was for a location significantly lower than that. I'm getting a bit long in the tooth and can't be bothered with the hassle of having to spend time taking lifts to go higher up the mountain to find decent snow, so we gave it a miss. It would have been before the huge falls earlier this week.


Brian Gaze

Berkhamsted

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Brian Gaze
21 April 2025 12:01:43
Another piece about it in The Times today. It suggests that up to 250 cm accumulated in 36 hours on the Pisaillas Glacier. That said, it’s a nuanced picture with the snow being very wet, so off-piste conditions are not good.

Record late-season snow brings chaos and perfect pistes in Alps

The forecaster Meteo-Alpes said the “episode observed in the last 36 hours is obviously going down in history”. It said that never before has such a significant layer of snow been recorded in Bourg-Saint-Maurice so late in the season, with records going back to 1947.

https://www.thetimes.com/world/europe/article/alps-ski-resorts-record-snowfall-0zhz7m82c 


Brian Gaze

Berkhamsted

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Sasa
  • Sasa
  • Advanced Member
22 April 2025 15:03:38

I agree with that. I won't call people out in public, but we received a very "good" last-minute offer to go back to the Three Valleys for the second time this season in April. The strapline claimed the snow was the "best" in years, etc. However, the webcams told a very different story, with good conditions really only above 2,000m, and the offer was for a location significantly lower than that. I'm getting a bit long in the tooth and can't be bothered with the hassle of having to spend time taking lifts to go higher up the mountain to find decent snow, so we gave it a miss. It would have been before the huge falls earlier this week.

Originally Posted by: Brian Gaze 

If I were to go skiing in April—especially in the second half—the only resort I’d consider is Cervinia in Italy. I’d strongly recommend it. It’s not the prettiest resort, but it’s unbeatable for high-altitude skiing. The pistes start at around 2,500 meters, and you can ski all day without dropping much below 3,000 meters. The highest lift is on the Zermatt side, reaching 3,820 meters, which I believe is the highest in Europe. That area also forms part of the largest summer ski area in the world, if I’m not mistaken. You will not go wrong:

https://zermatt.roundshot.com/glacierparadise/#/ 

However to get to Plateau Rosa on the Italian side 3,500m you need to take I think three lifts so bit of  a mission but one you are up there yu dont need to come down to the resort for the rest of the  day so well worth it!!!

During the core winter months, I usually stick with Val d’Isère. Personally, I wouldn’t go much lower than that—it’s at 1,850 meters and has a charming village with plenty of character.


Kingston Upon Thames

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