The first great exodus to the Alps takes place next weekend. And after three years with a ‘green’ Christmas, it’s finally white again. A lot of snow came down in the Alps the last couple of weeks, but how thick is the snow cover next to the slopes? Can you ride powder in the backcountry during Christmas? The map below shows you at a glance how much snow you can find outside the slopes.
France
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There is a closed snow cover above 800 meters in the northern Alps and above 1500 meters in the southern Alps. Especially the two storms that passed between the 10th and the 15th of December have improved the conditions considerably. In the western and southernmost part of the southern French Alps, but keep in mind that it has rained up to high altitude. The snow has been frozen up to 2000 meters and a new layer of snow has fallen on top of it. The conditions in the French Alps are very good for the time for the year. There is a snow cover that is on average up to two times thicker than normal for the time of the year above 1500 meters In the northern Alps and above 2000 meters in the southern Alps.
A point of interest for the southern French Alps is that fresh snow came down on a layer of sugar snow. This can function as a perfect sliding layer for avalanches and is not visible with the naked eye, both for experts and laymen.
Average snow pack at 2000 meter
- Haute Savoie 100-200 cm
- Savoie 50-150 cm
- Isère 50-120 cm
- Hautes Alpes 80-170 cm
- Alpes-de-Haute-Provence 50-120 cm
- Alpes Maretimes 50-120 cm
Switzerland
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There is a closed snow cover above 1000 meters In Switzerland. You’ll find great conditions to ride above 1500 meters on the north side of the main alpine ridge, but it’s still a bit thin in the Engadine, Ticino and Haut Valais compared to other regions. That doesn’t sound good, but don’t forget that the snow cover is just as thick as the long-yearly average right now. It’s just exceptionally good in the western and northern Alps of Switzerland. The snow cover is 1.5 to 2 times thicker than normal for the time of the year. Keep in mind that the snow cover around peaks and ridges may be much thinner because of the strong wind of the past 10 days.
Point of interest on the south side and inneralpine parts of Switzerland is the fact that fresh snow came down on top of a layer of sugar snow. This weak layer forms an ideal sliding layer for avalanches, while this layer is not visible for both experts and laymen. This can cause avalanches even in the trees.
Average snow pack at 2000 meter
- Western Wallis 80-200 cm
- Eastern Wallis 50-80 cm
- The Berner Oberland 80-200 cm
- Ostschweiz 200-300 cm
- Graubünden 30-150 cm (from south to north)
- Ticino 20-100 cm (from south to north)
Austria
Austria has a particularly good start to the season. Unfortunately it rained up to high altitude on Monday, but especially in western Tyrol and Vorarlberg a lot of snow already fell on top of that layer. The areas that are situated in the east will get more snow in the wekend of December 16-18th. There is a closed snow cover above 800 meters and you can ride great snow above 1000-1400 meters.
Average snow pack at 1700 meter
- Vorarlberg 100-150 cm
- Tyrol 50-120 cm
- Salzburgerland 40-100 cm
- The north of Styria 90-180 cm
- Carinthia 50-120 cm
It rained up to high altitude in Carinthia last week. The result is that you can find some powder above 1900 meters. The snow pack is pretty soaked (and frozen) below that altitude.
Italy
The conditions have improved considerably in Italy last week. The mountains are white above 1000-1200 meters and you can ride great snow above 1400-1700 meters. A point of interest for large parts of the Italian Alps and Dolomites is the sugar snow and the fresh snow that came down on top of that layer. This weak layer forms an ideal basis for avalanches, and this layer is not visible for both experts and laymen.
Average snow pack at 2000 meter
- Southern Piemonte 90-120 cm
- Western Piemonte 60-130 cm
- Northern Piemonte 50-110 cm
- Western Aosta 70-120 cm
- Eastern Aosta 40-80 cm
- Lombardia 40-80 cm
- Süd Tirol 40-80 cm
- Trentino 40-90 cm
- Veneto 35-75 cm
Average snow pack at 1750 meter
- Friuli Venezia Giulia 50-140 cm
It rained up to high altitude in Friuli Venezia Giulia last week. The result is that you can find some powder above 1900 meters. The snow pack is pretty soaked (and frozen) below that altitude.
Slovenia
The ski areas of Slovenia are located in the extreme south-eastern corner of the Alps. You can find about 10-20 cm at 1000 meter altitude, but you can find about 200-270 cm at 2000 meters altitude.