What snow conditions look like for skiers across French Alps and Pyrenees

Consistent snowfall since the beginning of January means snow conditions are looking promising for skiers in the French Alps and Pyrenees. 

This is good news for many people in France who are expected to head to ski resorts this weekend for the start of the winter break (for those based in Zone A).

The Southern Alps and eastern Pyrenees are the ranges with the deepest snow, while “ski resorts such as Font-Romeu, Cambre d'Aze, and Isola 2000 have not seen such snow cover for several years,” states La Chaine Météo.

A total of 360cm of accumulated snow has been recorded at Isola 2000 since the beginning of winter, with 30cm falling last night (February 5-6) alone.

Sunshine and snow in the French Alps

Temperatures throughout January were in line with seasonal norms bringing good snow conditions across the Alps, without any significant thaw, at medium and even low altitudes.

“Today, there is 20 - 50cm of snow above 1,500m and more than 1m above 2,000m on all slopes,” in the Northern Alps, says state forecaster Météo France.

In the Southern Alps, between 10 - 80cm is recorded in the high valleys and lower resorts, while there is 150 - 200cm of snow at higher altitudes of around 2,500m.

Sunny weather is forecast this weekend however heavy snowfall this week (up to 40cm in some mountain resorts) has increased the risk of avalanches in the Northern Alps and high in the Southern Alps.

Further snowfall is expected on Sunday (February 8) due to a low-pressure system moving across the Mediterranean and further disturbances will bring more snow next week, particularly in the Northern Alps, reports La Chaine Météo. 

‘Remarkable’ conditions in the Pyrenees

Snow cover in the Pyrenees is good across the entire mountain range. 

Up to 2m of snow can be found at high altitudes in ski resorts, with 1m at 1,800m, and snow cover on north-facing slopes at altitudes of 1,100 -1,300m. 

Snow in the Eastern Pyrenees is “remarkable” according to Météo France, measuring 2m at the Nivôses stations of Canigou and Puigmal.

Conditions are also good in the western border mountains of the range, with 180cm of snow at the Gavarnie Especière ski resort which sits at an altitude of around 1,850m.

Weather conditions are expected to be “very unsettled” next week, with frequent precipitation in the form of rain or snow depending on temperature fluctuations. Snow may be very wet from rain at low and medium altitudes, says La Chaine Météo.