Europe Weekly Snow Roundup #284

• Austria surges to seven early openings across multiple provinces
• Glacier miles growing: Tirol leads; Switzerland adds Schilthorn park
• Wintry shift ahead with 30–40cm (12–16") in the Alps
• Scandinavia’s Levi and Ruka open; Sweden joins this weekend

Alps Snow Report and Ski Conditions

The Alps are starting to dominate the choice of ski destinations in October, with most southern hemisphere ski areas now closed for 2025 and North America's 25-26 season yet to kick off. We're now open in a dozen places across three countries, with Austria leading, as more than half of those locations are there.

Within Austria itself, it's the Tirol that has led the way with the first five ski areas to open located there. Still, other provinces have now joined them, the season beginning last weekend at Carinthia's Molltal glacier (0/50cm / 0/20") and at Salzburgerland's Kitzsteinhorn glacier (0/60cm / 0/12") above Kaprun has 10km (6 miles) of runs available initially. Molltal has opened with about 3km (2 miles) of slopes open initially, helped by a big summer snow farming operation.

In Tirol, Hintertux (0.25cm / 0/10") leads the way in terms of open terrain, reporting 25km (16 miles) of runs available despite its relatively thin base. Sölden (0/40cm / 0/16”), where the 25-26 FIS World Cup tour kicks off in a fortnight, is just behind on 22km (14 miles) of runs. The rest, including Kaunertal (0/10cm / 0/4”), Stubai (0/10cm / 0/4”), and Pitztal (30.60cm / 12/24”), are reporting 8km (5 miles) or less of open slopes and, in some cases, relatively thin bases.

Switzerland has now moved into second place in terms of numbers of centres open with Saas-Fee (0/140cm / 0/56”) and Zermatt (0/120cm / 0/48”) both still offering a healthy 15km (9 miles) or so of glacier slopes to enjoy, with a third option, a terrain park made from snow saved from last spring up on the Schilthorn above Murren available by prior reservation. A fourth Swiss centre, the Diavolezza glacier in the Engadin near St Moritz, opens for the 2025/2026 season this weekend.

With nowhere open in the French Alps yet, the other two options are in Italy, where Passo dello Stelvio (5/90cm / 2/36”) is nearing the final weeks of its long 2025 summer ski season. Val Senales (0/40cm / 0/16"), meanwhile, is just getting started on its 25-26 season. Both have about 5km (3 miles) of slopes open each, divided between racing training slopes and recreational skiing.

The past few days have seen mostly settled conditions above 2000m in the Alps, with sunshine dominating. There have been crisp mornings and mild afternoons, with summit temperatures hovering between 2–6°C. The freezing level fluctuates around 2300–2900m, so early ice and afternoon softening have been the norm on glaciers. Winds have remained light with mostly stable weather and some stunning visibility across the peaks.

Forecast
The Alps above 2000m are set for a wintry spell with periods of heavy snowfall and cold temperatures. Areas like Chamonix and Les Deux Alpes will see frequent snow showers, especially midweek, with accumulations reaching 30–40cm (12-16”) in some regions. Winds will be moderate to strong, with gusts up to 34 km/h, and temperatures ranging from -5°C to -1°C at elevation. Snow levels will fluctuate between 2700m and 3100m, ensuring consistent coverage across high-altitude terrain. Conditions will ease slightly by Saturday, but light snowfall remains likely across exposed slopes.

Scandinavia Snow Report and Ski Conditions

Scandinavia's early season is quietly gaining momentum, with cold temperatures and intermittent snow showers helping maintain high-altitude conditions. Sweden's 25-26 season is set to kick off on Saturday. Norway's Galdhøpiggen glacier (20/50cm / 8/20"), on the country's highest peak, continues to offer around 1.4km (a mile) of groomed terrain, supported by recent snowfall and machine grooming. The resort has seen 10cm (4") of fresh snowfall in the past week, a promising boost for the final month of its 2025 season.

In Finland, Levi (0/20cm / 0/8") and Ruka (0/20cm / 0/8") are both open with 3–5km (2-3 miles) of slopes and terrain park features. Snow cover from last season forms the bulk of the base. Conditions have been mostly dry recently, but cold overnight temperatures have helped preserve coverage.

Sweden's Kåbdalis will be next to join the action, aiming to open this Saturday. The resort has spent the past week redistributing stockpiled snow stored from last spring across its slopes, preparing to unveil a few kilometres of terrain for the 25/26 season. The weather has remained cold, with sub-zero nights aiding snow preservation.

Forecast
Light to moderate snowfall is expected across Scandinavia’s ski regions this week, with Levi and Ruka in Finland seeing intermittent flurries and cold temperatures. Galdhøpiggen in Norway will experience chilly, unsettled conditions, with snow showers likely midweek and clearer skies by Saturday. More widely, Scandinavia’s higher elevations will remain cold and mostly cloudy, with temperatures ranging from -6°C to -2°C, gusty winds up to 26 km/h, and snow levels dipping below 1000m. While no major snowstorms are expected, light accumulations and wintry conditions are likely.