A significant early-season snow system swept across the Alps overnight, delivering fresh powder to 37 of the 127 ski areas tracked by Nivosola. The biggest winner is Le Grand Massif, which picked up 16 cm in just 24 hours. From France to Italy and Austria, the mountains are waking up fast.
In short
- Fresh snow (at least 2 cm) in 37 of 127 tracked ski areas
- Top result: 16 cm in 24 hours at Le Grand Massif
- Tignes - Val d'Isère already has a 13 cm snow base
- Snow reached low-lying slopes: Mont Blanc saw 3 cm at just 1,287 m altitude
- More snow on the way: Portes du Soleil and others expect additional snowfall in the next 7 days
Where the most snow fell
France dominated the leaderboard this morning. Le Grand Massif received 16 cm of fresh snow in 24 hours, building a base of 10 cm. Nearby Grand Massif followed closely with 13 cm fresh and an 8 cm base. Tignes - Val d'Isère added 10 cm on top of an already solid 13 cm base, making it one of the best-positioned areas right now. Les Trois Vallées received 8 cm and sits on a 9 cm base.
Italy and Switzerland also joined the party. Sondrio, Monterosa, and Breuil-Cervinia each recorded 6 cm of fresh snow. In Switzerland, Saastal matched that with 6 cm and a 7 cm base. In Austria, Pitztaler Gletscher & Rifflsee also received 6 cm, giving the glacier area a 10 cm base to work with.
| Ski area | Fresh snow 24h | Snow base |
|---|---|---|
| Le Grand Massif | 16 cm | 10 cm |
| Grand Massif | 13 cm | 8 cm |
| Tignes - Val d'Isère | 10 cm | 13 cm |
| Les Trois Vallées | 8 cm | 9 cm |
| Pitztaler Gletscher & Rifflsee | 6 cm | 10 cm |
| Breuil-Cervinia | 6 cm | 10 cm |
| Saastal | 6 cm | 7 cm |
Snow is reaching low altitudes too
One of the more striking details of this snowfall event is how far down the snow reached. Mont Blanc recorded 3 cm of fresh snow on its lowest slopes at around 1,287 m, with a base of 1 cm. That is well below the 1,300 m mark, which signals a cold and broad system rather than a purely high-altitude dusting. For October, this is an encouraging sign for the season ahead.
Outlook for the coming days
Do not expect a massive follow-up storm, but snow will keep falling in select areas. Le Grand Massif leads the 7-day forecast with 4 cm expected, followed by Grand Massif and Pitztaler Gletscher & Rifflsee with 3 cm each. Portes du Soleil also expects 3 cm, while Les Trois Vallées adds another 2 cm to its growing base. Totals are modest, but every centimetre counts this early in the season.
Keep an eye on the live snow depth map for real-time updates across all tracked areas. Snow data for this update is sourced from Open-Meteo.
Frequently asked questions
How much fresh snow fell in the Alps on 24 October 2026?
A maximum of 16 cm of fresh snow was recorded in the last 24 hours, at Le Grand Massif. In total, 37 of the 127 tracked ski areas received at least 2 cm of new snow.
Which ski areas have the most snow right now?
Le Grand Massif leads with 16 cm of fresh snow and a 10 cm base. Tignes - Val d'Isère follows with 10 cm fresh and a 13 cm base, and Les Trois Vallées received 8 cm fresh snow with a 9 cm base.
When does the ski season start in the Alps?
Several high-altitude and glacier areas open as early as October or November. Glaciers such as Pitztaler Gletscher and areas like Tignes - Val d'Isère are typically among the first to welcome skiers each season.
