Europe Weekly Snow Roundup #315
It has been an unusually cold and snowy spell for Mid-May in the Alps, with snowfall reported as low as 1,000m altitudes in Alpine valleys, and northern Scandinavia remains cold too.
EUROPE INTRO|We’re down to seven areas operating in Europe, with two more alpine glacier resorts ending their seasons at the weekend. More are set to follow this coming weekend, but the start of the 2026 season for more summer areas in the Alps and Scandinavia should stabilise those numbers over the next few weeks.
It has been an unusually cold and snowy spell for Mid-May in the Alps, with snowfall reported as low as 1,000m altitudes in Alpine valleys, and northern Scandinavia remains cold too.
THE ALPS REPORT|Heavy snowfall and strong winds have disrupted operations across the Alps into last weekend, with several of the seven glacier areas open at that point forced into temporary closure.
Austria had five areas open, although two ended their seasons on Sunday. They were the Stubai, which reported 61 cm (24 in) of new snow up to Saturday and the Kaunertal, which reported 40 cm (16 in) of fresh snow for its closing day. Of the three still-open Austrian resorts, Hintertux (0/305cm / 0/122”) logged around 50 cm (20 in) and the Kitzsteinhorn (0/235cm / 0/94”), which closes this weekend, 46 cm (18 in). Sunny weather returned on Sunday, before lighter 5–10 cm (2–4 in) glacier snowfall returned on Monday. The Molltal (0/180cm / 0/76") also remains open at the weekend, although it was closed by the weather last weekend.
Outside Austria, France's Les 2 Alpes (0/365cm / 0/146") is currently posting Europe's deepest cover with over a metre (40") of May snowfall so far. The cross-border Zermatt-Cervinia Swiss-Italian Matterhorn Glacier Paradise (0/100cm / 0/40") is also open with about 35km (22 miles) of slopes. Italy's summer Passo Stelvio centre is expected to open in just over a week for its 2026 season.
THE ALPS FORECAST|A warm, stable pattern dominates the Alps from Thursday 21 May, with freezing levels rising to 3,200–3,800 m and no meaningful snowfall expected. High‑alpine temperatures sit around –2 to +3 °C at 3000 m, nudging +4 to +6 °C on the warmest south‑facing glaciers. Nights offer only a light refreeze, so surfaces turn soft and wet by late morning. Sunshine is widespread, and the remaining glacier terrain shifts firmly into full spring‑snow conditions.
SCANDINAVIA REPORT|There are two ski areas currently open in Scandinavia, with a third, Norway’s Stryn glacier, due to join them from this weekend. Sweden's spring skiing capital, Riksgränsen (35/55cm / 14/22"), has about half its terrain open and is moving to a Friday-Sunday opening pattern through the next month up to its finale at midsummer in late June. It reports that about half its terrain is open and that skiing under the midnight sun is possible on one evening a week. Temperatures continue to drop to around freezing overnight with daytime highs around +10C. Unfortunately, showers have tended to be rain rather than snow or sleet. Over in Norway, the highest slopes in the region are open on the Galdhøpiggen glacier (80/150 cm / 32/60"), where temperatures have been colder, in the -5 to +4 °C range mostly, with light showers falling mostly as snow still.
SCANDINAVIA FORECAST|A cool, unsettled Arctic pattern persists across Scandinavia’s remaining ski areas. At 1,500–1,800 m in Riksgränsen, temperatures hover around –2 to +3 °C, with snow‑rain showers and brief brighter spells. Stryn sees 0 to +4 °C on its upper slopes, with intermittent snowfall overnight and softening surfaces by midday. Galdhøpiggen (2,300–2,900 m) stays the coldest, –6 to –2 °C, with light snow at times and a firmer morning freeze before turning springlike later.
