Up To 45cm (18”) Of Snowfall in 24 Hours in the Alps

The Alps are enjoying one of their coldest and snowiest few days of March, bringing a period of warm, sunny weather to a temporary end.

Temperatures dipped below freezing down to valley floors to start this week and up to 45cm (18") of snowfall has been reported so far, the biggest accumulations in the western Alps, particularly France, and on higher slopes above 2000m.

Tignes, which has been posting the deepest snow in Europe on its glacier all season, is now posting a 4.4 metre base on its highest slopes – nearly 15 feet.

The avalanche danger has risen however, and is now at 4, one below the highest danger alert, at many areas.

Most other well-known French, Swiss and Italian resorts have had at least 20cm of snowfall on their higher slopes, with snow falling down to low valleys.

In Switzerland Engelberg has posted 38cm of snowfall in the past 24 hours, Leysin 30cm, in France Val Thorens 37cm, nearby Courchevel 32cm and Val d'Isere 27cm.

The snowfall is expected to ease over the next few days, with warmer, sunnier weather returning before more snowfall expected later this week.

St Anton pictured on Monday, 27th March.