Alps

Can anyone report on the conditions of the Alps this month? From what I have read conditions are just about impossible below 1500m, and even beginners have to go above that level. I am aware that the last thing anyone who has had an awful holiday wants to do is talk about it on this forum but it really would help me as I have a number of beginners in my group who I need to accommodate.

Weather resorts for the Alps this week couldn't be much worse, with few temperatures below freezing and zero snow fall. Moving resorts is an expensive option but one I should consider.

The question is therefore, having been to the Alps this year, would you recommend it?

Thank you in advance.

Hi James, where and when are you planning to go?

Check recent posts here for some fairly frank reports; but your summary is just about right (below 2,000m is difficult, under 1,500m is pants) for the moment.

That said, the GFS models are getting fairly consistent for a big drop in temperatures right across the Alps around next weekend, and there's even some snow appearing in the 7-day forecasts for Andorra.

It's too far out to be confident but there is much colder weather forecast down the East Coast of the States and Canada over the next few days - which may or may not be of any relevance whatsoever. :lol:

Powderhound

Hi James,
We expect some snow on thursday and temperatures already dropped a bit since last 2 days. Not frezzing but cold enough for snow canons at night time.
Still below 1500m it's not very good but if you choose a high resort you should be fine as most of them have a glacier and the snow on top (2000-3000m) it's very good, better than you have in mind, probably. High resorts also have good beginner slopes.
Bye !

thanks for the replies which were extremely helpful. I'm off to serre chevalier in two weeks. 1500m is about as high as it gets I'm afraid. Where can I obtain a 7-day forcast from? I only seem to be able to find up to six days?

many thanks, james

Hi James,

We have a Snow Forecast for Serre Chevalier. Looking like colder temperatures after next weekend so you might get lucky - maybe hold your nerve for now and see how the forecast develops.

If things don't improve, look at Les Deux Alpes - it's not too far from Serre Che and is an "upside down" resort; with the beginner's areas at the top (3,000m on the glacier).

HTH

can't thank you enough Admin. Will let you know how things turn out. I've seen the glacier at les deux which is 15kms away.

James