Tonight from Meteo Tarentaise
A very nice but cold Saturday before the arrival of significant snow!
A weekend cut in two with a very beautiful Saturday day on the agenda with blue skies from morning to evening.
Temperatures at sunrise will be very cold, up to -5°C in the valley, -10°C at sunrise at 1800m and up to -20°C at 3500m altitude.
At the best moment of the day in the bottom of the valley, we won't exceed +4°C, -2°C at 1800m and no higher than -1°C at 3500m altitude.
It will not defrost above 1000m.
Sunday, looking for a significant episode of snow...
The day will be covered by sunrise with already cluttered peaks, a few flakes possible at altitude during the afternoon, orographic effect.
The first real precipitation of the episode will arrive in the afternoon around 5/7pm depending on sectors, initially light, will intensify in the evening and night Sunday into Monday.
This episode looks locally important and should affect us all day Monday and Tuesday, with some valley snow possible later today.
But it's especially this Monday that will be monitored closely, very closely with significant rainfall throughout the day, on the episode we're currently waiting for accumulations of 50 to 80 mm!
Snow will fall in abundance to a locally low altitude, we will return tomorrow on the accumulations and rain-snow limits, but from now on we can board 50cm above 1400/1500m.
70/80cm possible above 1800/2000m height.
Surprises remain possible also at lower altitude, with a possibility of cold air resistance that could promote the risk of isothermia in this type of stream, called snow of redoux, and the Tarentaise Valley is the perfect example with significant snow episodes up to the valley while it rains in the Pre-Alps at much higher altitudes...
We're talking about it Sunday morning in the special bulletin, but the mountain is expected to be covered in snow, the point is we're just a few days and/or weeks away from opening our stations!
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Met Office video about Sudden Stratospheric Warming and possible implications for UK weather. Says essentially the same thing that @Polo has been saying, but using easier to understand words for neophyte meteorologists like me.
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
As usual @polo is on the money. Looks
Like the artic influence could be shortlived with more zonal atlantic driven patterns or even mild high pressure coming up from the sw 1st week of dec around 5th as the SSW is short lived “reflective” event ie polar vortex rapidly becoming stonger, increased zonality in atlantic and less likely to create waves of cold air form the artic dropping south as seen in recent models.
But some longer models inc the EC46 seems to still favouring blocking without any strong mild signals - so other underlying drivers, favouring cold, come back into play - a case where the SSW in the strat has “queered the troposphere winter pitch” early dec rather than “helping the batters” (well the ashes are on - the problem of drop in pitches!! Is the perth pitch a SSW pitch?)
Still Plenty of snow on the way next week, mild begining of Dec (could be unsettled or high pressure driven winter gloom under highs). ……then who knows
……….. have a look at the pine cones and then twkena view …
Is there a low emerging to be kicking around begining of Dec in the med and southern europe going to create something interesting in the alps?
A very impressive outlook for early season snow across pretty much the entire Alps this next week (although a heavy bias to the northern and western flanks).
There should be 1m+ widely especially in France and Switzerland.
Hopeful this will hold on to form a season base even down to 1500m.
There is still some uncertainty out to a couple of weeks but there aren’t signs of a major thaw.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
1m+ this week would be spot on for those resorts just opening and bare a major thaw is probably great season defining base amounts surely?
Special updated forecast for Haute Tarentaise from Meteo Tarentaise ,cold pool of air could spring a surprise .
See below
️ ️ ️ SNOW EPISODE EXPECTED BETWEEN TONIGHT AND WEDNESDAY!
Special bulletin for this winter episode, which will start tonight, and extend through Wednesday. , with significant snow accumulations from the mid-mountain, and a risk of snow into the valley as well between Tuesday and Wednesday!
Episode chronology:
Sunday, the day starts under a split sky, some light clearing possible in the morning but as the hours go by, the clouds take over and the afternoon is very cloudy with peaks closing quickly, ahead of disturbance.
The disturbance arrives at the beginning of the evening around 19/21h depending on sectors, from west to east of Tarentaise.
First light rainfall will strengthen.
It starts snowing in the evening from 1100/1200m altitude, sometimes lower.
Sunday night through Monday:
Precipitation is increasing sharply from the first part of the night, bringing hourly intensities of 2 to 3 mm/h in the valley, or 2/3 cm of snow per hour at the elevations or it will snow.
It will snow in the first part of the night at 1300/1400m as well as at the end of the night, attention there is doubt over the limit rain snow, cold air lake resistance in Tarentaise remains possible and surprises can occur lower if the rainfall is intense, and it could So snowing down.
Day of Monday:
The rainfall continues all day, in the morning, the latter remains very intense with 2/3mm/h.
It continues to snow heavily at altitudes above 1300/1400m, the peaks are completely clogged and clouded under heavy snowfall.
Intensities can sometimes calm down during the day between 12pm and 4pm before resuming in the second part in the afternoon and evening.
With this new front, the current cold front, cool air coming in, and the snow rain limit coming down as well, with a wind gust expected around 10/11pm, snow coming down sharply late tonight to 1000m.
Monday to Tuesday:
Precipitation is weakening and periods of respite are ensuing, but a few light-intensity snowfalls are also possible up to 800m.
northwest wind is also strengthening at altitude.
Tuesday:
Rainfall is easing sharply but light snowfall is possible all day and the LPN continues to come down, snowing in the morning from 700m elevation and 600m in the afternoon then 400/500m in the evening.
Wednesday:
A few uncertainties begin for this Wednesday or several scenarios are possible, either a cloudy but cold day looming in or steady light snow throughout the day, or it could snow into the valleys. still adding quite a lot of snow to altitude!
The evolution of the models in the coming days will be published!
Snowfall expected by Wednesday evening:
2000/2200m: 80 to 100cm
1600/1800m: 50 to 80cm locally 90cm
1400/1500: 30 to 40cm locally 50cm
1200m: 20 to 30cm locally 35/40cm
1000: 10 to 20cm locally 25cm
700/800: 5 to 10cm locally 15cm
300/500m: 2 to 7cm
A doubt remains at the altitude of 1200m or real surprises are possible, to follow in livie now, several points will be made during the episode!
Map of the cumuls interviewed by Arpège, not to be taken at the feet of the letter.
( Weather )
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Well, that sounds great
After all it is free
After all it is free
Wow.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
It's snowing already quite a lot in Bourg Saint Maurice, so the predicted rain/snow limit was a bit off!
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
@timlongs, as said above from your local weather expert Roman of Meteo Tarentaise the cold pool of air trapped in the valley could spring a surprise
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
@Le Grand Renard, indeed - thought people would be interested in an update from the ground though
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
@timlongs, yes indeed I’m watching my own personal webcam , interesting I’ve been in the same situation before when snowing at 1550m in Ste Foy where the cold air is trapped but raining in Meribel up to 2000m also very similar to the big fall last April
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
Who has the happy power to make this thread sticky, and remove last year's from the sticky list?
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
The Big Wolf
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
@Admin can you change to sticky pls
Last edited by Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name: on Wed 26-11-25 10:34; edited 1 time in total
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Well that delivered then. With the cannon snow last week and this natural fall anything above 1500m looks set for one of the best starts in the western alps for many years .
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Indeed set to continue cold this week so cannons can keep running (which seems to be happening from a glance around a few webcams) and more snow looks very probable across pretty much all the alps in early December.
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Despite all the recent snow looks like Pila is delaying opening till 5 December 2025
According to a recent report from AostaSera, Pila has officially delayed the start of its winter season. The ski lifts are now scheduled to open on 5 December 2025.
Source: AostaSera – “Dove sciare in Valle d’Aosta: skipass, impianti e piste 2025/2026”
Even though snow has started to fall, it has not yet created the stable and safe piste conditions required to open. So despite the excitement surrounding the brand-new cabin-car project debuting this winter, skiers and snowboarders will need to wait a bit longer before hitting the slopes.
Meanwhile, several other major resorts in the Aosta Valley remain on track. Courmayeur, La Thuile and Monterosa Skiare planning partial openings from 29 November 2025, offering early-season skiers alternative options for their first turns of the winter.
Source: AostaSera
@ster, i reckon that’s code for the new lift is not quite ready
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
@Le Grand Renard, oh, not good. I’ve seen it running on the webcams (and cannons going for a week).But that new lift shouldn’t mean the whole resort needs to not open. You can still get up using the existing lifts even if the chair its replacing had been decommissioned and I expect visitor numbers would not be the highest in Wk1.
Last edited by Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do. on Wed 26-11-25 12:53; edited 1 time in total
@ster, yes that came up on my fb feed today. I assume La Thuile & Courmeyeur copped a bit more natural snow being marginally nearer the ridge and La Thuile is higher anyway and with their gondola access you can open the higher parts and leave the lower stuff closed. "partial opening" also covers a multitude of variants.
Pila needs good coverage down to 1800m for it to "work" being open and they have been doing a load of work on the new gondola there up to very recently so haven't been able to get the base down until the week just gone.
The extra week should bring more natural and cannon snow so probably a wise decision in the long run. your out nearer xmas aren't you? I'm there mid march
they havent put the new gondola links on the piste maps online either yet....
Le Grand Renard wrote:
@ster, i reckon that’s code for the new lift is not quite ready
Nah its been running for a week or so, you can see on the webcams.
Last edited by You'll need to Register first of course. on Wed 26-11-25 12:53; edited 1 time in total
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
@t44tomo, yup, we’re there from 28th Dec to 2 Jan. Should be fine by then if the lift is the issue, snow who knows .
A lot of meteo sites are forecasting regular top ups for Northern Alps in next week - I am off to Tignes on Saturday. Any basis in the charts for that?
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
@Mark1863, yes
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
After a few nice powdery runs I've switched off from chart watching, often the case once a good base is down my initial over-excitement fades. But will it last?
It's remarkably flat across the ensembles next 2 weeks, with 850hpa temps averaging around 2-3c, range more like zero to +5c, so no sign of any really damaging thaw on the surface. But I'll never be convinced that cold is locked in now, as we know the models are unreliable beyond a week or so and it wouldn't take much change to see milder SW flow return. Which seems more likely than any northerly influence coming back in the foreseeable.
First a look at how much the near term modelling is shifting around, and something I mentioned back in October I think....is that even when the forecasted week 2 pattern is high pressure from azores up towards scandi, systems have been finding a way to track SE into western europe / the med. Almost like a chink in the armour that we don't usually see once the azores starts to nose into france.
Easier to see on a graph....here is week1 Dec from last thursday (left) compared to yesterday.
So a small improvement over the week with atlantic lows now more likely to hit the mainland, albeit too far west....another theme that keeps cropping up is initial lows heading to Spain, which brings milder air to most of the alps. But there is an element of the low temp base already across the alps and the good snow cover reflecting energy / heat back into the atmosphere. So instead of seeing +4 to +8c from a mild pattern, it's tending to be 0 to +4c roughly. Ideally of course those lows continue to be modelled further east towards Italy instead of Spain, but that's not evident right now.
Long story short....the models seem to be over-estimating the strength of any west euro high, which is a nice change.
Here are the 3 mean anom charts for ECM, GFS and GEM at day 8, next friday 5th.
Good to see better northern blocking re-appear (which keeps a lid on temps via high pressure over scandi) and a small azores high being kept supressed by those atlantic systems turning SE. It's nothing like the recent set up though, need to see it keep pushing east. I would say it favours western mid altitude currently but nothing too dramatic with FL between roughly 1400 and 2000m.
Btw for anyone following the AI models, both GFS and GEM have released their own versions on meteociel....so 2 more models to add to the collection.
Haven't read anything about the SSW recently....it was a very minor reflective one with strat winds recovering quickly, but again they are forecast to peak below average and possibly start weakening again into mid Dec. All good.
ECM's AIFS here showing a near split in the trop vortex next weekend. Usually a dramatic occurence and potentially good for europe when a big chunk of vortex sets up over Scandi-Siberia side.
But but but....the other half of the vortex over Canada-Greenland is threatening to drop into the mid atlantic.....exactly where we don't want to see it....driving up SW'lies.
So that's my quick take....a fairly benign outlook for cold and snow near term....but not bad considering what most already have. The big danger is that atlantic lobe just sitting out there to our west....could go either way of course if it ends up further east.
Another positive background factor that doesn't happen often is the MJO heading into phase 7.....often leads to high lat blocking in europe. You'll have to ask the robots to explain how all that works, but it only comes around every month or two, and not always reaching a favourable strength (amplitude) and phase....so watch out for high pressure over scandi-iceland further into mid Dec given the typical 2 week lag.
I'll only be popping in infrequently....lot's of snow to flatten, and a social time of year.....
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Windy's ECMWF paid model (15 days) showing a lot of snow for Tignes 9th through 11th. I think that the 5 days or so are generated by the AI model?
Severe weather had an article today about SSW forecasting milder conditions unsettled conditions for Europe.
It's all up for grabs some are saying for Dec - there is something seemingly troubling the models, some say the early, albeit weak, SSW is hard to incorporate with very mixed views on the polar vortex winds mid Dec as Polo says. Many are hanging onto weaker vortex, blocking coming back with the influence of the MJO as it goes into phase 7 - nothing new vs what Polo is saying....
Certainly in the next 5 days its going to be warmer than "average" - but not too drastic, 10-15 days out a bit warmer than "average" still.
Fingers crossed there is enough latent cold in the alps to keep the cool air in given warmer than average pattern over the next 2 weeks or so.
Fingers crossed - son's trip is 13th Dec to L2As - apologies in in advance - suspect skiing to the resort will be tricky/not possible as rain is forecast at resort to 1800m (could be 2000m at time) next week.
All in all, I think things are changing and the models are struggling, and the near-view forecasts is all we have, as ever. And for those in the UK (plus northern Europe/Iceland) the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC)is forecast for an increasing likelihood of "collapse"....albeit uncertain. As someone who works in wine production, lots of talk about "warming" but the bigger issues are shorter summers and later frosts which some think is indicative of pre-glacial conditions.......
I drove out to Serre Chevalier yesterday and around Grenoble you could see reasonably decent coverage up high, then further on towards Bourg snow was in the valley floor and looking up at ADH did look good.
Below La Grave it was positively wintry with still good amounts on the trees, so they'd had no wind, then after LG even the South facing slopes of Villar D'Arene looked inviting.
But alas, once over the Lautaret, the snow cover dwindled substantially, and I reckon a third of what was over the other side.
Taking the dogs out this morning and was speaking to the wife of a well-known expat instructor, and he is teaching at Tignes, and he told his OH how the snow cover was excellent up there with more to come.
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Repeat this around 45 times and you will have the weather for Glasgow for most of the year!
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Everything I’m reading suggests December continuing as warm and wet.
We’re heading to PDS for Christmas so was hoping for something different come that week!
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
The Christmas holiday weather + snow quality panic had started … FL in the high 2Ks across the NW Alps over the weekend and into next week. Who knows after that?
After all it is free
After all it is free
We need Whitegold to come in and calm everyone down !!!
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
@franga, I’d be more worried if the mountains were green , they’re not .
@phillip33, seems to have retired from this page sadly …. Hoping for a comeback
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
franga wrote:
The Christmas holiday weather + snow quality panic had started … FL in the high 2Ks across the NW Alps over the weekend and into next week. Who knows after that?
It is what it is isn’t it? We can’t change it.
Christmas in the Alps vs being here wins hands down either way!
Though powder on Christmas Day would be an added bonus obviously
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
️ 
Episode chronology:
