Skiers rejoice as game-changing snowfall is set to transform the Alps next week

Following the unusually mild period of weather in Europe at the end of December 2022 and early January 2023, the weather in the Alps is set to make a decisive shift to a period of colder, snowy conditions from this weekend which are set to last till at least the end of next week.

With a succession of storms being forecast to bring five consecutive days of snow to the Alps, with accumulations of 100cm+ in popular resorts, demand for bookings is expected to spike next week as news of the expected storms spread. Temperatures will plummet from Sunday, with the freezing level dropping to sea level by the end of next week. Ski Solutions predicts that snow depths in resorts popular with British skiers will be back to the seasonal average or better for the time of year following a below-average start in places

The mild weather which brought warmer temperatures and rain to lower resorts before Christmas has already been swept away by more normal, cooler conditions in recent days, and most resorts in the Alps benefitted from 30-60cm of fresh snow on Monday and Tuesday this week.

Commenting on the expected change in conditions, Ski Solutions Managing Director, Craig Burton said:

“After a tricky start to the season in places, the storms we are expecting next week will be a game-changer and an enormous relief to lower-lying resorts impacted by the recent mild weather. We have a stormy, snowy week coming up, but when the skies clear the conditions will be incredible and set most resorts up perfectly for the season ahead.

Booking demand in recent weeks has been concentrated towards higher altitude destinations in the Alps and Norway, but with all resorts set to benefit from this snow, we are preparing ourselves for an avalanche of bookings in the next few days. If you haven’t secured your trip for this winter, we recommend booking quickly before word gets out”

Whilst higher altitude resorts with extensive skiing above 1800m such as Val d’ Isere, Courchevel, Zermatt and Obergurgl have all enjoyed ample snow cover since the start of the season, lower resorts popular with British skiers such as Morzine in the Portes du Soleil and Megeve have suffered an unusually difficult start to the season with rain at times at lower elevations.

Forecasters suggest it will be these lower-lying French resorts most in need of snow that will be the biggest beneficiaries of next week’s storms, though most resorts in France, Switzerland, Austria and Italy will see significant snow by the end of the week.

Predicted cumulative new snow accumulation for the period Sunday 15^th-Friday 20^th January as of 13.00hrs 12/01/23 (Source:www.snow-forecast.com)