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
plit weather map showing rain and wind warnings across the UK and Ireland. The left side displays radar imagery with widespread rain, especially over Ireland and western Britain, and temperatures between 7°C and 14°C. The right side shows a warning map highlighting yellow wind alerts for much of western and central Britain and Ireland. A wind warning symbol appears at the centre.
Monday 10 November 2025

Stormy Tuesday

Rain and gusting winds prompt warnings
Split weather maps of the UK showing rain and temperature on the left with widespread blue rain bands and readings around 13–14°C, and wind speeds on the right with gusts up to 40 mph in Scotland, Ireland, and western England.
Monday 3 November 2025

Staying mild too

Still wet and windy to start the week
full moon in the sky
Tuesday 4 November 2025

Supermoon over bonfires

Largest full moon of the year
All weather news
This might also interest you
Sunday 24 August 2025

Your weather - Your shots

Mammatus clouds widely spotted
Weather map of the UK and Ireland showing scattered showers with cloudy patches across much of the region, especially around western and northern areas. Sunshine symbols appear over London, Cardiff, and parts of southern England, while temperatures range from 17°C to 18°C in most places. Areas of heavier rain are visible over the Atlantic to the west.
Friday 29 August 2025

Breakfast brief

Unsettled conditions into the weekend
Sunday 17 August 2025

Your weather - Your shots

Summer shots from a warm week
All articles
Weather & Radar

www.weatherandradar.ie

facebooktwitteryouTubeContact uslinkList
Privacy Policy | Legal info | Accessibility statement