Home / Editor's Pick /

Skiing this half-term? Lack of snow in Swiss Alps

08:00
12 February 2023

Skiing this half-term?
Lack of snow in Swiss Alps

The Swiss Alps is currently experiencing very little snow cover, creating difficulty for skiiers.

Swiss ski resorts are lacking in snow owing to the very dry conditions recently, in coordination with a mild weather pattern for winter so far.

In some areas, such as Simplon Pass, there is even less snow than last season, which was also exceptionally dry. The above video was also taken in Saas Valley.

The highest Alpine glaciers 4000m above sea level were already suffering from a lack of snow, with this worsening the risk of crevasses.

crevasses

Average temperatures across the Swiss Alps have been hovering around 6-7C, far too high for the chance of snow. Gstaad even brought in helicopters to dump snow in the resorts of Zweisimmen and Saanenmöser to connect the two, though it didn't work.

According to researchers, the ski season in Europe has been reduced by 38 days since 1970. Switzerland in particular, is warming twice as fast as the global average.

However ski resorts do still remain open, and you can check the status of them if you're heading out there on our brand new and improved Mountain and Skiing conditions, inside our app.

You can find out information by searching for your chosen mountain location. The feature will then appear as a ski icon on the top right of the page, which, once tapped, will take you to all the details you need.

It will show whether a ski resort is open, the current snow depth, current conditions, and plenty more useful information right at your fingertips! More information is available right here.

Weather & Radar editorial team
More on the topic
Monday 4 August 2025

Hurricane strength winds

Peak gust of 108 mph from Floris
Monday 4 August 2025

Gusts of 80 mph+

Storm Floris arrives
Image of a field surrounded by trees. All in full leaf as sunlight shines down from the sky.
Thursday 7 August 2025

Daylight decreases

Up to 2 hour shift in sunset for some
All weather news
This might also interest you
Man sits with telescope looking up at the Milky Way.
Friday 1 August 2025

August astronomy outlook

Return of the Perseid meteor shower
Wind map of the UK and Ireland, framed to show the Atlantic Ocean where an icon indicates the location of a low-pressure system west of the UK.
Wednesday 6 August 2025

Breakfast brief

Calm day, fresh pressure area tonight
Wind map showing the UK and Ireland showing an area of low pressure to the north-west which brings stronger winds to northern areas of the UK.
Wednesday 6 August 2025

After a brief pause

Fresh low brings renewed winds
All articles
Weather & Radar

www.weatherandradar.ie

facebooktwitteryouTubeContact uslinkList
Privacy Policy | Legal info | Accessibility statement