Snow Report & 7-Day Ski Forecast 2025/26

Last updated: Wednesday 19 November 2025

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Quick Snow Summary

Winter is switching on across Europe. A much colder pattern is moving in this week, bringing fresh snow to large parts of the Alps, especially the northern and western ranges in France, Switzerland and Austria. Early-season skiing is currently best at higher and glacier resorts, with more widespread openings expected as new snow builds.

France is set for a notable cold snap, with temperatures around 5°C below average in places and snow falling to increasingly low levels. That means fresh top-ups for high resorts like Val Thorens and Tignes as we head towards and through their opening dates, while other well-known areas such as Chamonix, Avoriaz and Morzine are building a base for December.

Where the Best Snow Is Right Now

Here are some of the stand-out areas for snow and conditions in the Alps at the moment and into the next few days:

  • High French Alps (Val Thorens, Tignes and nearby areas)
    Repeated snowfalls and a much colder airmass this week are boosting snow depths at altitude. Powder alerts are in place for Val Thorens with 20–30 cm of new snow possible over the next few days. Look out for improving cover in high French resorts served by our French ski transfers, especially those opening in the next 10 days.
  • Swiss Alps (Zermatt, Verbier and surrounds)
    High, north-facing terrain keeps snow coverage decent, with fresh snow topping things up as the new storm cycle arrives. Great for an early-season trip if you like high-altitude mileage and quieter slopes and accessible with our Swiss ski transfers.
  • Western Austria (Arlberg & Tirol)
    Resorts around the Arlberg and glacier areas such as Sölden will see colder temperatures and further snow on upper slopes this week, setting up some promising early turns in areas served by our Austria ski transfers.

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Snow Summary by Country / Region

Country / Region Current Situation 7-Day Outlook Best Early-Season Bets Transfers
France (Alps) Turning properly wintry, especially at altitude. High resorts are building a good early-season base. Cold all week with snow showers at times. Fresh falls expected on upper slopes Thu–Sun, with 20 cm+ possible in some high areas. High-altitude areas such as Val Thorens and Tignes (opening imminently). France Ski Transfers
Austria Good early-season cover on glaciers and higher slopes, with fresh snow topping things up. Cold pattern, bright spells midweek, then further snow from Thu into the weekend, especially in Tirol and the Arlberg. Sölden and other high / glacier areas in Tirol and the Arlberg region. Austria Ski Transfers
Switzerland Early-season skiing focused on high, snow-sure resorts and glacier terrain. Very cold with a mix of sunshine and light to moderate snowfalls through the week, especially around the weekend. Zermatt, Verbier and other high Swiss resorts. Swiss Ski Transfers
Italy Higher and glacier areas have a decent base; many lower resorts are still in pre-season mode with openings scheduled from early December. Colder air may bring top-ups to parts of the Aosta Valley and Dolomites later in the week. Best for planning ahead; for an emergency early-season trip, the French, Swiss and Austrian high resorts are stronger. Italy Ski Transfers
Scandinavia (Norway & Sweden) Pre-season underway in key Norwegian resorts, with early runs open and snowmaking in full swing in places like Trysil, Hemsedal and Lillehammer. Generally cold, with a mix of natural snowfall and strong snowmaking windows helping to build a solid base into early December. Norway’s larger areas such as Trysil, Hemsedal, Lillehammer and Geilo. Norway Ski Transfers
Andorra Resorts such as Grandvalira and Arinsal are in pre-season, with opening dates scheduled for early December. Cooler, more wintry conditions building. Snowfall on higher slopes helps set up the base ready for early December openings. Ideal for trips from early December onwards once the main Andorra domains open. Andorra Ski Transfers
Bulgaria Resorts like Bansko, Borovets and Pamporovo remain closed for now, with openings projected for early to mid-December. Cooler air and some high-level snowfalls help kick-start the base ahead of the early December start to the main season. Great value option from December onwards once full operations begin. Bulgaria Ski Transfers
USA (Rockies) Several Colorado resorts are already open on limited terrain, with early-season snowpack building in the central and northern Rockies. Mixed sunshine and snow showers over the next week, with further top-ups likely for high resorts in Colorado and Utah. Early-season options around Colorado and selected Utah resorts as they open through late November. USA Ski Transfers
Japan (Hokkaido & Honshu) First proper snowfalls are arriving in Hokkaido, with light snow reported down to base in Niseko and surrounding areas. More snow expected in northern Japan over the next week, setting up an encouraging start for late November and early December openings. Planning now for trips to Hakuba, Shiga Kogen, Rusutsu and Niseko from late November onwards. Japan Ski Transfers

Snow Forecast by Country

France Snow Forecast

France is about to feel properly wintry. Polar air is pushing south, dropping temperatures and bringing snow across much of the Alps and some lower-lying areas. Expect fresh falls at altitude in major ski regions over the next 48–72 hours, particularly the 3 Valleys, Paradiski and Espace Killy.

Austria Snow Forecast

Austria has seen a solid early-season reset at higher elevations, and this week’s colder pattern will support further snow on north-facing slopes. The Arlberg and key resorts in Tirol should benefit from the new storm cycle, with snow falling to progressively lower levels.

Switzerland Snow Forecast

In Switzerland, early-season skiing remains focused on the big-name high resorts and glaciers, with Zermatt/Cervinia and Verbier among the best options. Fresh snow from the incoming colder storms should further improve conditions on upper slopes through the week.

Italy Snow Forecast

Italy has a mix of conditions: higher and glacier areas have a decent base, while lower resorts are still waiting for their first major dump. The upcoming pattern may favour parts of the southern Alps at times, so keep an eye on high resorts such as those in the Aosta Valley and Dolomites as new snow rolls through.

Beyond the Alps – Scandinavia, Andorra, Bulgaria, USA & Japan

If you’re looking beyond the Alps, there are more options on the radar for this season:

  • Scandinavia (Norway & Sweden) – Pre-season skiing is already possible in some Norwegian resorts, with cold temperatures and reliable snowmaking helping to build up the pistes. Perfect for those wanting quieter slopes and long seasons. Check out our Norway ski transfers.
  • Andorra – Grandvalira, Pal-Arinsal and Ordino Arcalís are gearing up for early December openings. A great choice for December and New Year trips from Barcelona, Girona or Toulouse. Check out our Andorra ski transfers.
  • Bulgaria – Resorts like Bansko, Borovets and Pamporovo are fantastic value once they open in December, with improving snow cover expected as colder air settles. Check out our Bulgaria ski transfers.
  • USA Rockies – Multiple Colorado resorts are already spinning lifts on early-season terrain, with more terrain opening as snow builds. Ideal if you want to mix skiing with a longer North American trip. Check out our USA ski transfers.
  • Japan – Northern Japan (especially Hokkaido) is seeing its first significant snowfalls, and long-range forecasts again point to an excellent winter. Plan ahead for deep powder in places like Niseko, Rusutsu, Hakuba and Shiga Kogen with our Japan ski transfers.

7-Day Alpine Snow Outlook ❄

  • Today & Tonight: Temperatures dropping as colder air moves in. Snow developing across higher parts of the French, Swiss and western Austrian Alps, with rain turning to snow lower down overnight.
  • Next 24–48 hours: Colder, with snow showers continuing in the northern Alps. Expect further accumulations on upper slopes, especially in France and Switzerland, with improving cover in early-opening high resorts.
  • Later this week & weekend: The cold pattern persists with additional disturbances likely, bringing top-ups to many Alpine regions. This should set up better bases for opening weekends in high French resorts and improve conditions further in Sölden and Zermatt.

Snowfall Intensity Key

❄ = light  |  ❄❄ = moderate  |  ❄❄❄ = heavy  |  ❄❄❄❄ = very heavy

Resort Country Status 7-Day Outlook New Snow
(Next 7 Days)		 Transfers
Sölden Austria Open Cold all week. Several periods of snow Thu–Sat. Excellent glacier conditions for early-season skiing. ❄❄❄ Up to 15–20 cm Book Now
Zermatt Switzerland Open Very cold. Mostly clear early in the period with light to moderate snow returning towards the weekend. ❄❄ Up to 5–10 cm Book Now
Val Thorens France Opens 22 Nov Cold throughout. Multiple snowfalls from Wed night into the weekend. Strong start expected for opening weekend. ❄❄❄ Up to 20–30 cm Book Now
Tignes France Opens 22 Nov Very cold with some fresh snow, especially mid–late week. Strong early-season cover expected on the glacier and upper slopes. ❄❄ Up to 5–10 cm Book Now

Best Early-Season Options

For customers looking to travel in the next week or so, these are strong early-season options (only resorts open now or opening within the next 10 days):

  1. Sölden, Austria – Open now with glacier skiing already underway and several snowfalls expected through the week. Book a transfer to Sölden.
  2. Zermatt, Switzerland – High, reliable terrain and very cold temperatures, with light snow topping up conditions on upper slopes. Book a transfer to Zermatt.
  3. Val Thorens & Tignes, France (from 22 November) – Both open within the next week, just as the colder, snowier pattern locks in. Book a transfer to Val Thorens | Book a transfer to Tignes.

Wherever you’re heading for your next ski trip, Ski-Lifts can get you there. We offer shared, private, luxury and coach transfers to thousands of resorts across Europe, North America and Japan, with door-to-door service and excellent customer service.

Want to check when your favourite resort opens for the 2025/2026 season? See our full guide to European ski-season dates: 2025/2026 European Ski Season Dates

Live Webcams – See the Snow Right Now

Want to check the snow with your own eyes before you travel? Here are the official resort webcam pages for the main early-season resorts we’re featuring:

For other destinations, we recommend checking the webcam or “live” section on each resort’s official website for the most accurate, up-to-date images.

Airport Transfers to the Snow

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