Ski France

Welcome to the Ski France page, providing a regular round-up of the skiing conditions and current snow reports for the main ski resorts in the French Alps and the Pyrenees. Over recent years some of the most consistently good piste conditions have been reported at Tignes, Val d'Isere, Flaine, La Rosiere, La Plagne, Alpe d'Huez, Val Thorens and La Grave showing a mix of glacial resorts and those most exposed to the prevailing storm paths. However, in any given week or season the best slope conditions may be found at any of the other high French resorts or at lower elevation ski stations in poor weather.

For off-piste powder, resorts such as La Rosiere, Les Menuires, Morzine, Samoens, Les Saisies, Le Grand Bornand, Montchavin/Les Coches and Val d'Isere have proven among the most consistent either for their regular snowfalls, northerly aspect or for not getting tracked out quickly. Warm moist weather fronts drifting in from the Atlantic can produce significant snowfalls in the French Alps Chamonix, Argentiere, Flaine and Samoens have impressive records) but can also raise the freezing level so your choice of resort can be crucial if you are chasing powder. Check out the reports below for the latest news and the forecasts we provide for different elevations in the resort.

France is one of the world’s top skiing destinations. The best known of the country’s 400 or so ski areas are in the Northern and Southern Alps but there are also several dozen ski areas in the French Pyrenees and in other sectors like the Auvergne and Jura.

French ski resorts have really come in to their own in the past 40 years – later than the other three main Alpine skiing nations.

The post-war plan skiing in France was to help stop the migration of agricultural communities to the cities has been reversed by the country’s efforts to develop ski resorts. They have grown to include the world’s biggest fully lift-linked ski region (The 3 Valleys – which always had a 600km total no matter how many new runs are added); its biggest lift served vertical (at Chamonix) and indeed six of the world’s 10 biggest ski regions. Europe’s highest resort, Val Thorens, is also here.

But it’s not just size but also convenience that led many French resorts to success and ever more people to love to ski France – the original concrete resorts built in the 1960s were not always pretty but they were designed to be functional and give slopeside access to the skiing and all other facilities in a few short steps at a time when most resorts in Europe required a laborious trek to catch a ski bus and then ages on lifts getting up to the slopes.

This decision to build resorts at altitude has paid extra dividends in these years of climate change fears as, with many ski areas beginning and ending 1000 vertical metres higher than many traditional resorts, they are more likely to get natural snowfall when lower elevation resorts get rain, and for it to be cold enough to run snow making machines when lower resorts have air too warm.

Those who are not so keen on this high altitude, purpose-built ski experience however criticise the resorts as soul-less places, artificial communities (they are almost completely empty in spring and autumn) with their captive market charged high prices for a sometimes inferior service. The slopes are also criticised as bleak, being high above the treeline.

Aimed squarely at the family market, French resorts also offer the most comprehensive childcare for babies as young as a few months old at most resorts, and ski kindergarten from three, although they do make children pay for lift passes a few years younger than elsewhere in the Alps and the full adult price from early teens or younger. The family orientation also means that lively après ski is something of a rarity in France.

Although French lift passes for these big ski regions are – except when the Swiss franc is on a high – among the most expensive to ski at in Europe, the French argue that they are still the best value because your extra Euros buy access to far more kilometres of piste and the use of many more fast lifts than at smaller resorts. In any case there is usually a cheaper pass for part of the giant ski area which in any case is equal in size or larger than a ‘regular’ ski area elsewhere.

It is wrong to think however that all French resorts are purpose-built. Chamonix, Morzine, Val d'Isere, Montgenevre (Via Lattea) and many other famous resorts have long histories as mountain and ski tourism communities, some originally spa towns. Megeve was developed in the 1920s as a rival to St Moritz by Baroness Rothschild and it still retains much of the ‘old money’ and more Michelin starred chefs than any other French resort, while Courchevel has become the country’s most glitz resort where the most expensive chalet costs £200,000 a week to rent.

Summer glacier skiing has declined dramatically in France since 2000. There used to be 7 or 8 resorts offering summer skiing but now only three (Tignes, Val d'Isere and Les Deux Alpes) are open briefly in July and August and there’s no skiing at all in France from mid-May to late June or in September. From October to late November Tignes is the only ski area open.

For Brits, France has been the most popular destination for the past two decades taking nearly 40% of the UK market each winter. Fast motorways from the English Channel to the Alps make French resorts the easiest to reach from southern England and it’s also possible to reach many French ski areas direct by Eurostar from London St Pancras railway station. read more...

Snow: next 3 days

Ski resorts of France, alphabetically

Resort	Webcam (click to zoom)	Top and bottom snow depth	On-piste	Off-piste	Forecast snow in next 3 days (click for forecast)	Weather forecast for 3 days ahead Weather report	Last snow
Abondance					2 cm	Heavy rain (total 37.0mm), heaviest during Tue night. Later becoming colder with a dusting of snow on Tue night
Abries-Ristolas					2 cm	Moderate rain (total 19.0mm) heaviest on Tue night, then becoming colder with a dusting of snow on Tue night
Aillons-Margeriaz					3 cm	Heavy rain (total 21.0mm), heaviest during Tue night. Later becoming colder with a dusting of snow on Tue night
Albiez-Montrond					6 cm	Heavy rain (total 23.0mm), mainly falling Tue night. Becoming colder with a light covering of snow, mostly falling on Tue night
Alpe d'Huez					14 cm	Mild at first with light rain (total 5.0mm) on Tue afternoon followed by colder weather and light fall of snow, heaviest on Tue night
Alpe du Grand-Serre					5 cm	Heavy rain (total 29.0mm), mainly falling Tue night. Becoming colder with a light covering of snow, mostly falling on Tue night
Ancelle					0 cm	Moderate rain (total 17.0mm), heaviest on Tue night
Annecy-LeSemnoz					5 cm	Heavy rain (total 23.0mm), mainly falling Tue night. Becoming colder with a light covering of snow, mostly falling on Tue night
Arêches-Beaufort					3 cm	Heavy rain (total 40.0mm), heaviest during Tue night. Later becoming colder with a dusting of snow on Tue night
Argentiere		365 cm 0 cm	Closed	Powder	20 cm	Moderate rain (total 19.0mm) on Tue night. Becoming colder with heavy fall of snow, heaviest during Tue night Cloudy and snowy today	2 cm on 25 May
Artouste					2 cm	Heavy rain (total 33.0mm), heaviest during Tue morning. Later becoming colder with a dusting of snow on Tue afternoon
Arvieux en Queyras					2 cm	Moderate rain (total 18.0mm) heaviest on Tue night, then becoming colder with a dusting of snow on Tue night
Auris En Oisans					17 cm	Drizzle on Tue afternoon followed by colder weather and a moderate fall of snow, heaviest on Tue night
Auron					0 cm	Light rain (total 8.0mm), mostly falling on Tue night
Aussois					8 cm	Heavy rain (total 30.0mm), mainly falling Tue night. Becoming colder with a light covering of snow, mostly falling on Tue night
Autrans					3 cm	Heavy rain (total 31.0mm), heaviest during Tue night. Later becoming colder with a dusting of snow on Tue night
Avoriaz					7 cm	Heavy rain (total 28.0mm), mainly falling Tue night. Becoming colder with a light covering of snow, mostly falling on Tue night
Ax-les-Thermes					2 cm	Moderate rain (total 18.0mm) heaviest on Tue afternoon, then becoming colder with a dusting of snow on Tue afternoon
Ballon d' Alsace					0 cm	Heavy rain (total 34.0mm), heaviest during Tue night
Bareges & La Mongie					5 cm	Heavy rain (total 24.0mm), mainly falling Mon night. Becoming colder with a light covering of snow, mostly falling on Tue morning
Bellefontaine					0 cm	Heavy rain (total 38.0mm), heaviest during Tue night
Bellevaux					2 cm	Heavy rain (total 29.0mm), heaviest during Tue night. Later becoming colder with a dusting of snow on Tue night
Bernex					1 cm	Heavy rain (total 31.0mm), heaviest during Tue night. Later becoming colder with a dusting of snow on Tue night
Bessans Val D'Arc					6 cm	Heavy rain (total 55.0mm), mainly falling Tue night. Becoming colder with a light covering of snow, mostly falling on Tue night
Besse Super Besse					1 cm	Light rain (total 9.0mm) at first, then becoming colder with a dusting of snow on Tue afternoon
Beuil Les Launes					0 cm	Light rain (total 9.0mm), mostly falling on Tue night
Bolquere Pyrenees 2000					1 cm	Heavy rain (total 31.0mm), heaviest during Mon night. Later becoming colder with a dusting of snow on Tue night
Bonneval sur Arc					28 cm	Light rain (total 3.0mm) on Mon night. Becoming colder with heavy fall of snow, heaviest during Tue night
Bozel					0 cm	Heavy rain (total 52.0mm), heaviest during Tue night
Bramans					0 cm	Heavy rain (total 46.0mm), heaviest during Tue night
Briancon					2 cm	Heavy rain (total 22.0mm), heaviest during Tue night. Later becoming colder with a dusting of snow on Tue night
Brides Les Bains					3 cm	Heavy rain (total 38.0mm), heaviest during Tue night. Later becoming colder with a dusting of snow on Tue night
Bussang					0 cm	Heavy rain (total 37.0mm), heaviest during Tue night
Camurac					2 cm	Moderate rain (total 17.0mm) heaviest on Tue afternoon, then becoming colder with a dusting of snow on Tue afternoon
Cauterets					5 cm	Heavy rain (total 26.0mm), mainly falling Mon night. Becoming colder with a light covering of snow, mostly falling on Tue morning
Ceillac en Queyras					1 cm	Moderate rain (total 15.0mm) heaviest on Tue night, then becoming colder with a dusting of snow on Tue night
Ceuze Gap					1 cm	Moderate rain (total 14.0mm) heaviest on Tue night, then becoming colder with a dusting of snow on Tue night
Chaillol 1600					0 cm	Heavy rain (total 20.0mm), heaviest during Tue night. Later becoming colder with a dusting of snow on Tue night
Chalmazel					0 cm	Heavy rain (total 22.0mm), heaviest during Tue afternoon
Chamonix		260 cm 0 cm	Spring snow	Spring snow	27 cm	Light rain (total 2.0mm) on Tue afternoon. Becoming colder with heavy fall of snow, heaviest during Tue night Cloudy today, rain/snow possible	5 cm on 20 Apr
Champagny					17 cm	Moderate rain (total 19.0mm), heaviest on Tue night giving way to a moderate fall of snow, heaviest on Tue night
Chamrousse					9 cm	Moderate rain (total 18.0mm), heaviest on Tue night giving way to a moderate fall of snow, heaviest on Tue night
Chastreix-Sancy					0 cm	Moderate rain (total 15.0mm), heaviest on Tue morning
Chatel					7 cm	Heavy rain (total 27.0mm), mainly falling Tue night. Becoming colder with a light covering of snow, mostly falling on Tue night
Col d' Ornon					6 cm	Heavy rain (total 27.0mm), mainly falling Tue night. Becoming colder with a light covering of snow, mostly falling on Tue night
Col de Rousset					3 cm	Heavy rain (total 33.0mm), heaviest during Tue night. Later becoming colder with a dusting of snow on Tue night
Combloux					3 cm	Heavy rain (total 47.0mm), heaviest during Tue night. Later becoming colder with a dusting of snow on Tue night
Correncon en Vercors					11 cm	Moderate rain (total 19.0mm), heaviest on Tue night giving way to a moderate fall of snow, heaviest on Tue night
Courchevel					8 cm	Heavy rain (total 33.0mm), mainly falling Tue night. Becoming colder with a light covering of snow, mostly falling on Tue night
Crevoux					0 cm	Moderate rain (total 10.0mm) heaviest on Tue night, then becoming colder with a dusting of snow on Tue night
Dévoluy					8 cm	Mild with moderate rain (total 12.0mm) on Tue night, Becoming colder with a light covering of snow, mostly falling on Tue night
Drouzin Le Mont					1 cm	Heavy rain (total 34.0mm), heaviest during Tue night. Later becoming colder with a dusting of snow on Tue night
Espace Cambre d'Aze (Eyne 2600)					3 cm	Heavy rain (total 23.0mm), heaviest during Mon night. Later becoming colder with a dusting of snow on Tue afternoon
Flaine					15 cm	Mild with heavy rain (total 21.0mm), heaviest during Tue night. Becoming colder with a moderate fall of snow heaviest on Tue night
Flumet					2 cm	Heavy rain (total 39.0mm), heaviest during Tue night. Later becoming colder with a dusting of snow on Tue night
Foncine Le Haut					0 cm	Heavy rain (total 38.0mm), heaviest during Tue night
Font Romeu					5 cm	Heavy rain (total 23.0mm), heaviest during Mon night. Later becoming colder with a dusting of snow on Tue afternoon
Formigueres					2 cm	Moderate rain (total 19.0mm) heaviest on Mon night, then becoming colder with a dusting of snow on Tue afternoon
Gavarnie/Gèdre					3 cm	Heavy rain (total 22.0mm), heaviest during Mon night. Later becoming colder with a dusting of snow on Tue morning
Gérardmer					0 cm	Heavy rain (total 39.0mm), heaviest during Tue night
Gourette					7 cm	Heavy rain (total 24.0mm), mainly falling Mon afternoon. Becoming colder with a light covering of snow, mostly falling on Tue morning
Greolieres Les Neiges					0 cm	Light rain (total 7.0mm), mostly falling on Tue night
Gresse en Vercors					5 cm	Heavy rain (total 33.0mm), heaviest during Tue night. Later becoming colder with a dusting of snow on Tue night
Guzet					1 cm	Heavy rain (total 20.0mm), heaviest during Tue afternoon. Later becoming colder with a dusting of snow on Tue afternoon
Hauteluce					0 cm	Heavy rain (total 52.0mm), heaviest during Tue night
Isola 2000					0 cm	Light rain (total 3.0mm) at first, then becoming colder with a dusting of snow on Tue night
La Bresse Hohneck					0 cm	Heavy rain (total 39.0mm), heaviest during Tue night
La Chapelle d'Abondance					2 cm	Heavy rain (total 37.0mm), heaviest during Tue night. Later becoming colder with a dusting of snow on Tue night
La Clusaz					11 cm	Moderate rain (total 17.0mm), heaviest on Tue night giving way to a moderate fall of snow, heaviest on Tue night
La Colmiane					0 cm	Light rain (total 6.0mm), mostly falling on Tue night
La Giettaz					2 cm	Heavy rain (total 39.0mm), heaviest during Tue night. Later becoming colder with a dusting of snow on Tue night
La Grave-La Meije					16 cm	Drizzle on Tue afternoon followed by colder weather and a moderate fall of snow, heaviest on Tue night
La Norma					8 cm	Heavy rain (total 27.0mm), mainly falling Tue night. Becoming colder with a light covering of snow, mostly falling on Tue night
La Pierre Saint Martin					9 cm	Heavy rain (total 21.0mm), mainly falling Mon afternoon. Becoming colder with a light covering of snow, mostly falling on Tue morning
La Plagne					18 cm	Mild with heavy rain (total 20.0mm), heaviest during Tue night. Becoming colder with a moderate fall of snow heaviest on Tue night
La Rosière					18 cm	Mild with heavy rain (total 27.0mm), heaviest during Tue night. Becoming colder with a moderate fall of snow heaviest on Tue night
La Tania					8 cm	Heavy rain (total 31.0mm), mainly falling Tue night. Becoming colder with a light covering of snow, mostly falling on Tue night
La Toussuire (Les Sybelles)					9 cm	Mild with moderate rain (total 17.0mm) on Tue night, Becoming colder with a light covering of snow, mostly falling on Tue night
Lac Blanc/Kaysersberg					0 cm	Heavy rain (total 36.0mm), heaviest during Tue night
Lamoura					2 cm	Heavy rain (total 30.0mm), heaviest during Tue night. Later becoming colder with a dusting of snow on Tue night
Le Collet d'Allevard					8 cm	Mild with moderate rain (total 15.0mm) on Tue night, Becoming colder with a light covering of snow, mostly falling on Tue night
Le Corbier (Les Sybelles)					6 cm	Heavy rain (total 24.0mm), mainly falling Tue night. Becoming colder with a light covering of snow, mostly falling on Tue night
Le Grand Bornand					6 cm	Heavy rain (total 32.0mm), mainly falling Tue night. Becoming colder with a light covering of snow, mostly falling on Tue night
Le Lac Blanc					0 cm	Heavy rain (total 37.0mm), heaviest during Tue night
Le Lioran					0 cm	Moderate rain (total 17.0mm) heaviest on Tue afternoon, then becoming colder with a dusting of snow on Tue night
Le Mont Revard					3 cm	Heavy rain (total 21.0mm), heaviest during Tue night. Later becoming colder with a dusting of snow on Tue night
Le Mont-Dore					0 cm	Moderate rain (total 14.0mm), heaviest on Tue morning
Le Sappey					2 cm	Heavy rain (total 31.0mm), heaviest during Tue night. Later becoming colder with a dusting of snow on Tue night
Le Tour					9 cm	Mild with heavy rain (total 41.0mm), heaviest during Tue night. Becoming colder with a moderate fall of snow heaviest on Tue night
Les 7 Laux					9 cm	Mild with moderate rain (total 17.0mm) on Tue night, Becoming colder with a light covering of snow, mostly falling on Tue night
Les Angles					2 cm	Heavy rain (total 22.0mm), heaviest during Mon night. Later becoming colder with a dusting of snow on Tue afternoon
Les Arcs					27 cm	Light rain (total 8.0mm) on Tue afternoon. Becoming colder with heavy fall of snow, heaviest during Tue night
Les Avanchers					7 cm	Heavy rain (total 24.0mm), mainly falling Tue night. Becoming colder with a light covering of snow, mostly falling on Tue night
Les Brasses					0 cm	Heavy rain (total 41.0mm), heaviest during Tue night
Les Carroz					8 cm	Heavy rain (total 37.0mm), mainly falling Tue night. Becoming colder with a light covering of snow, mostly falling on Tue night
Les Coches					18 cm	Mild with heavy rain (total 20.0mm), heaviest during Tue night. Becoming colder with a moderate fall of snow heaviest on Tue night
Les Contamines					8 cm	Heavy rain (total 39.0mm), mainly falling Tue night. Becoming colder with a light covering of snow, mostly falling on Tue night
Les Deux Alpes					15 cm	Mild at first with light rain (total 6.0mm) on Tue afternoon followed by colder weather and light fall of snow, heaviest on Tue night
Les Fourgs					0 cm	Heavy rain (total 37.0mm), heaviest during Tue night
Les Gets					7 cm	Heavy rain (total 31.0mm), mainly falling Tue night. Becoming colder with a light covering of snow, mostly falling on Tue night