Where to Ski And Snowboard - More September snow for the Alps

More September snow for the Alps

18th September 2017, by Abi Butcher

Wintery scenes in Hintertux this morning. Pic: Facebook.com/hintertux.glacier

It’s been snowing again in the Alps, which bodes well for anyone planning a spot of autumnal glacier skiing.

For the third weekend in a row, snow has blanketed ski resorts across the Alps, delighting ski resorts who have suffered a long, hot summer. This morning Hintertux in Austria posted the above photograph on Facebook with the comment: “Autumn? It’s already winter with us”.

It’s been snowing in France, too, where the Grand Motte glacier in Tignes is preparing to open at the end of this month, 30 September. The ski resort of Avoriaz posted this video of children going to school in the resort this morning, proving that the blanket of snow is a good thick one.

Children head to school in the snow in Avoriaz this morning

Sadly, with temperatures predicted to rise again, the snow is unlikely to stick around, says Where to Ski and Snowboard’s snow guru Fraser Wilkin — but he urges caution for anyone hoping the wintery September weather means good things for the coming ski season.

“This has been one of the snowiest Septembers in the Alps for quite some time, but we must reiterate that it does not, unfortunately, have any bearing as to what might happen come the main season,” says Fraser, on his blog post this morning on weathertoski.co.uk. “Indeed, temperatures are forecast to rise again next week, especially towards next weekend, meaning a rapid thaw of any low-lying snow.’

Tignes is the first glacier to open in France, with Les 2 Alpes opening for the autumn from Saturday 21 October to Wednesday 1 November 2017. Switzerland’s Zermatt and Saas-Fee glaciers are currently open for business, as are Pitztal, Stubai, Mölltal Sölden and of course Hintertux in Austria.