Early winter has brought an uneven start to the ski season on both sides of the Atlantic. In Europe, familiar Alpine slopes turned brown well into November as unseasonable warmth kept natural snow at bay. Many resorts that traditionally launch operations by late November found themselves postponing opening day, waiting for temperatures to drop. Similar stories played out in parts of North America, where high-elevation snow fell in odd places while famous mountains stayed dry. For travelers, it’s a wake-up call: the old assumptions about guaranteed early snow no longer hold.

Why early winter conditions have been so unreliable

In the opening weeks of the 2024–2025 winter, Europe’s mountains faced an uphill battle against the weather. One culprit was temperature anomalies – simply put, it was unusually warm. In mid-December, freezing levels in the Alps soared to around 3,000 m in the western ranges , far higher than normal for that time of year.

This meant that precipitation often fell as rain on mid-altitude slopes instead of snow. A passing warm front in late November, for example, brought new precipitation but with a rain/snow line near 2,000 m in France and Switzerland. The outcome on the ground was discouraging: lower ski areas got rain or drizzle, washing away early snowmaking efforts, while only the highest pistes saw fresh snow.

Different regions have experienced these warm spells to varying degrees. The Pyrenees in particular struggled with an exceptionally mild and dry autumn – so much so that Andorra’s flagship resort, Grandvalira, announced it couldn’t start its season as planned due to the lack of cold weather for snowmaking. Ski areas across the Pyrenees delayed opening en masse, waiting for a proper frost.

Scandinavia, often thought of as a cold refuge, also ran into an unusually warm fall. Major Norwegian and Swedish resorts like Hemsedal and Åre pushed back their start dates week after week, a stark contrast to the reliable early snow they used to bank on. Even in the Alps, where high-altitude glaciers allow some early skiing, many lower valleys saw patches of green into December.

Resorts that did open on schedule often did so on a thin base, with only a fraction of their runs available. In Italy, for example, several Dolomites areas managed limited operations on 20–30 cm of snow and heavy snowmaking, while others (such as Bormio) simply postponed their late-November opening because the “accumulation wasn’t substantial enough”.

In short, early-winter conditions have become erratic. One week might bring a brief cold snap and a dusting of snow; the next sees a spike of warmth, turning lower slopes slushy or bare. This volatility is making the first part of the ski season less and less predictable.

Zooming out from any single season, a clear long-term trend emerges: Europe’s winters are warming, and the reliable snow window is gradually shrinking. As of December 2025, global average temperatures are about 1.2°C above pre-industrial levels , and mountain regions are seeing the effects amplified.

In fact, studies indicate the Alps have warmed roughly 3.5–3.6°C above 19th-century averages – a startling rate that outpaces global warming. The practical impact is that snow now tends to arrive later and melt earlier. One analysis found Europe’s ski season is about 38 days shorter on average than it was in 1970, with the first snow-worthy weeks coming 12 days later and spring closure happening 26 days sooner.

That doesn’t mean every year is uniformly worse than the last – natural variability still plays a role – but the baseline has shifted. High-frequency thawing episodes and generally milder autumns are becoming the norm, not the exception.

Crucially, climatologists draw a line between short-term weather variability and the underlying trend. Any given winter can surprise us. We might get a blockbuster snowfall in early November or an unusually cold spell that bucks the trend. However, the odds of a snow-scarce winter have increased significantly.

What used to be a once-in-a-decade bad season is happening far more often. “When it’s warmer, snow tends to be replaced by rain… and the snow melts quicker,” explains Dr. Samuel Morin of Meteo-France – a straightforward summary of why ski areas are feeling the pinch. Even if a season isn’t catastrophic, the margins for error are thinner.

A slight uptick in average temperature can mean the difference between snow and rain on a given day, or between snow that lingers and snow that vanishes in a week-long mild spell.

At the same time, climate change is making conditions more erratic. Ski industry veterans observe that it’s not just a steady slide toward less snow – it’s bigger swings. “The climate is changing, but it’s becoming more unpredictable,” notes Danielle Stynes, who has guided ski trips in the Alps for two decades. One winter might see extreme dumps of snow early, followed by an abrupt thaw; another winter might stall with no snow until January and then recover dramatically.

This rings true to anyone who has watched recent seasons: we’ve seen cases where by Christmas some lower resorts were nearly snowless even as higher-altitude areas broke snowfall records. In fact, during one peak period, snow cover in the Swiss Alps was deeper than even renowned North American resorts , thanks to a sequence of storms – illustrating that climate change doesn’t eliminate big snow events, but it can shift their timing and frequency.

The key takeaway is that long-term warming is tilting the odds. Year in and year out, the “safe” part of winter grows a bit shorter. Ski operators and holidaymakers alike must navigate a future where the only constant is greater uncertainty.

What delayed openings tell us about 2025 and beyond

The rash of delayed ski resort openings in late 2024 provides a telling snapshot of the challenges ahead. By early December, news of postponements was coming from multiple mountain ranges. In the Pyrenees, no major resort managed to open on its originally advertised date – the weather simply did not cooperate. Grandvalira, which had aimed for a late-November kickoff, admitted that warm temperatures prevented any meaningful snowmaking, forcing a wait until at least the second week of December.

It was the same story across Andorra, France and Spain’s Pyrenean resorts: an extended autumn warmth left slopes grassy and managers watching the thermometer anxiously. Many of these areas only began operations once a mid-December cold front finally brought a dusting of natural snow and allowed overnight snowmaking to crank up.

In the Alps, outcomes were mixed by altitude. High-elevation and glacier resorts – places like Tignes in France or Hintertux in Austria – pushed ahead and opened on schedule, albeit with limited terrain. But countless mid-altitude resorts quietly pushed their opening day back by a week or more, often at the last minute. For instance, at the end of November, the Dolomiti Superski region in Italy had over a dozen ski areas nominally “open”, yet many had only a couple of runs operating on a man-made base.

The resort of Bormio in Lombardy outright delayed its planned November 30 opening because of insufficient snow cover. Operators cited that while some snow had fallen, it wasn’t enough to form a sustainable base given the preceding warm, dry conditions. Similarly in Austria and Switzerland, some lower resorts that traditionally open for the Advent period had to hold off. Ski arena Kitzbühel’s lower slopes stayed closed even as its higher peaks opened, underscoring the altitude divide.

What does all this signal for 2025 and beyond? The immediate lesson is that early-season skiing is increasingly hit-or-miss. Resort managers are adapting by hedging their bets on opening dates – often advertising an optimistic early date but adding “conditions permitting” in fine print. Many now prepare contingency plans, like focusing early-season efforts on one or two key pistes with intensive snowmaking so they can at least offer a “preview” weekend if nature doesn’t cooperate. From the traveler’s perspective, these delays highlight the need for flexibility.

A ski trip booked for the first week of December, once a pretty safe proposition in the higher Alps or Pyrenees, might now coincide with bare slopes and disappointed would-be skiers. The start of the 2024–25 season suggests that what used to be the fringe case (resorts unable to open by early December) is becoming more routine, especially for areas below about 1,800 m elevation.

This pattern may well continue. Climate projections don’t foresee a sudden return to consistently cold early winters; rather, they point to more of the same volatility. If anything, 2024’s experience will likely prompt resorts to invest even more in pre-season snowmaking and to be more cautious in their promises to guests. In sum, the early winter “shakiness” we witnessed is not a one-off fluke – it’s a preview of how ski seasons are evolving, and a call for everyone to adjust expectations accordingly.

Why some resorts are still more snow sure than others

Despite the broad challenges, some ski areas manage to hold onto winter’s bounty more reliably than others. The reasons usually boil down to geography and topography. Altitude remains the trump card in the quest for snow certainty. Higher elevation resorts sit in colder air, which means snow falls more often as snow (not rain) and sticks around longer.

As one ski hotelier in the Dolomites observed, the “line of snow” has crept about 100 m higher over the past 15 years – slopes at 1,500 m now often see rain where 1,600 m would get snow. That seemingly small difference in elevation can determine whether a resort opens in early December or waits until Christmas. It’s no surprise, then, that destinations like Val Thorens in France (Europe’s highest major resort at 2,300 m village altitude) or Zermatt in Switzerland (with skiing above 3,500 m) have a strong record of early and lasting snow.

In contrast, lower-lying ski hills – those under, say, 1,200–1,500 m at base – are often at the mercy of every mild spell. Many of Europe’s smaller, low-altitude resorts have seen their seasons contract dramatically, and some can barely open at all without artificial help.

Orientation also plays a significant role. North-facing slopes and shadier aspects protect snow from the full brunt of the sun. A piste that lies in the shadow of a peak for most of the day can retain powder days or even weeks longer than a sun-exposed south-facing run at the same elevation.

Ski areas known for “cold” orientation – for example, slopes on the northerly side of a mountain or in narrow high valleys – tend to be more snow-sure. That’s part of the reason glacier ski areas (besides their altitude) often boast decent snow well into spring: they’re essentially fields of ice and snow tucked into high, cold microclimates, often sheltered from direct sun by surrounding peaks.

Regional climate patterns make a difference, too. The northern Alps (think areas in France, Switzerland, Austria facing the Atlantic weather systems) often benefit from frequent winter storms. During the 2024 Christmas period, for instance, resorts in the north-western Alps like Avoriaz and Mürren were buried in over a meter of new snow , whereas some far-southern Alpine resorts received only a light covering.

Year after year, the northwest tends to get generous early-season snowfall from Atlantic fronts, while the southern Alps (Italy’s Dolomites, parts of the southern French Alps) rely on more fickle Mediterranean storms. That means a place like Verbier (Switzerland, 1,500 m base but in a high-snowfall zone) can actually be more snow-sure in December than a higher resort in the Italian Dolomites if the latter misses out on storms.

Proximity to moisture sources (Atlantic Ocean, North Sea, Mediterranean) and prevailing wind directions create microclimates: the Arlberg region of Austria, for example, is famous for its snow abundance due to a perfect confluence of moist air and mountain terrain, whereas the Slovenian Alps might struggle unless specific weather patterns align.

Lastly, glacier areas deserve a mention. These are the few places where one can ski on actual glacier ice and snow year-round or nearly so – like Austria’s Hintertux or Italy’s small summer ski area on Matterhorn (Plateau Rosa). Glaciers guarantee some skiing even in poor natural snow years (since the glacier itself is old compacted snow), making them a refuge for early-season training and die-hards.

However, even glaciers are feeling the heat: many have scaled back summer skiing due to melting, and a bad autumn can leave them with crevasses and icier surfaces until fresh snow accumulates. So while altitude and aspect give an edge, “snow-sure” is always relative. In today’s climate, no resort is completely safe from the whims of weather. But if you’re looking for the closest thing to a sure bet, go high, go north-facing, and pay attention to a mountain’s track record in marginal conditions.

Snowmaking and its limits

Technology has become the crutch that props up many ski seasons. When Mother Nature under-delivers, snowmaking steps in – at least if temperatures allow. Modern ski resorts are blanketed with snow cannons (also called snow guns) along key runs, ready to blast out man-made snow whenever conditions turn cold enough. But there is a hard truth: snowmaking is not a miracle solution, especially as winters warm.

The process requires a particular combination of cold and dry air. In practice, resorts usually need the wet-bulb temperature (which accounts for humidity) to be around –2.5°C or lower to fire up the guns. In very dry air, they might squeak by slightly above 0°C, but if humidity is high, they may need well below freezing.

Put simply, you can’t just make snow in any weather – a lesson starkly illustrated last season in Italy’s Apennines, where a ski area sat completely idle because it never got cold enough to run the snow cannons at all. “Transforming water into snow needs a temperature at least close to zero degrees. Last week we had +12°C,” the frustrated operator of Mount Terminillo resort said in February. No machine can overcome that kind of warmth.

Even when it is cold enough, snowmaking comes with constraints. It’s resource-intensive, guzzling water and electricity. In Europe, countries have heavily built out snowmaking infrastructure over recent decades – Italy, for example, now has about 90% of its ski pistes covered by artificial snow systems. That massive network requires drawing water from rivers or reservoirs and pumping it uphill, then spraying it out as fine droplets to freeze into snow.

This can only be done strategically, focusing on priority slopes (typically main arterials and lower resort runs that are prone to melting). Financial and environmental costs mean resorts won’t blanket every off-piste area or every last corner; they concentrate on making sure there’s a skiable path to the valley and enough groomed runs open to keep customers happy.

The output of snow guns also isn’t the light, fluffy powder dreams are made of – it’s often denser and forms a hard-pack base. That’s great for sustaining traffic and resisting melt, but it can feel icy underfoot and certainly can’t replicate the magic of a natural 50 cm snowfall.

Crucially, snowmaking’s effectiveness is limited by the same trends affecting natural snow. When winters are borderline cold, the windows for making snow narrow. Resorts increasingly rely on short overnight cold snaps to refresh slopes, as daytime temperatures climb above freezing even in mid-winter at lower elevations. If a week-long warm rain hits, even the best artificial base can be washed away – and the snowmakers must start over when it cools.

We’re also seeing practical limits in water availability; in some Alpine valleys, drought concerns and water usage regulations constrain how much water can be pulled for snowmaking in a given season. This has led to innovations like “snow farming,” where excess snow is stored under tarps through summer to reuse in autumn, and more efficient, temperature-sensitive snow guns that maximize output in marginal conditions.

Resorts are using these tools to stretch their seasons, but everyone acknowledges snowmaking is a stop-gap, not a cure-all. As one environmental report bluntly noted, almost all Italian resorts depend on artificial snow now, but this “vast, unwieldy and expensive system” cannot indefinitely cope as temperatures keep rising.

Snowmaking has become indispensable for most ski areas – it’s the reason you still see a strip of white down an otherwise brown slope in poor winters – yet it has very real limits. When cold nights vanish, so do the efforts of even an army of snow cannons.

How to plan a stable ski trip now

Planning a ski trip in this era of uncertain winters calls for a bit more savvy and flexibility than it did a decade ago. The good news is that skiing can still be wonderfully enjoyable – provided you strategize around the weather’s curveballs. First, consider timing.

Early December trips are tempting (quiet slopes, festive vibes), but they’re no longer a sure bet for good snow unless you choose your destination carefully. For more consistent conditions, many skiers are rediscovering the wisdom of going in mid to late winter.

By January and February, colder temperatures are more entrenched and even lower resorts usually have their base established (especially after the New Year storms that often hit the Alps ). If your schedule allows, March can also be a delight – longer days and a deep snowpack up high – though stick to high-altitude resorts for spring to avoid slush.

Whenever you go, altitude is your ally. Aim for resorts known for lofty elevations and cold microclimates if you’re booking far in advance. Places like Val d’Isère, Val Thorens, Hintertux, or Scandinavia’s Riksgränsen aren’t immune to bad luck, but historically they hold snow better when the weather is volatile. If you prefer smaller or lower resorts (perhaps for charm or convenience), then be prepared to be nimble.

One increasingly popular strategy is to book last-minute or keep plans changeable. Instead of locking in one resort months ahead, some skiers now wait until a week or two out, watch the snow forecasts, and then go where conditions are best. This might mean following the storms – if the Western Alps get a dump, head to Chamonix; if the pattern shifts south, maybe Italy’s Via Lattea becomes the target. Itinerant skiers even plan road-trip style vacations, ready to drive to different ski areas at the drop of a hat to chase fresh snow.

Of course, not everyone can be that freeform, but even families or those bound to fixed vacation dates can build in some flexibility: consider booking accommodation with free cancellation options, or purchasing travel insurance that covers weather issues. In fact, “cancel for any reason” travel insurance policies have grown in popularity among ski travelers, despite the extra cost. These allow you to call off a trip if the snow outlook is grim and recoup most of your expenses – essentially a safety net for a bad winter.

Another tip is to stay informed in real time. Long gone are the days of relying solely on glossy brochure pictures or historical snow depths. Before you go, check live web cameras, social media updates from people on the slopes, and official resort snow reports (keeping in mind they can be a touch optimistic). If a resort’s lower runs are brown on camera and only one upper lift is spinning, you might pivot to a higher alternative nearby.

Also, temper your expectations and have a backup plan for fun if nature doesn’t cooperate. Many alpine towns offer winter hiking, spas, or other activities. That way, if you arrive and find only a few runs open, the trip isn’t a total bust – you can enjoy the mountain atmosphere in other ways. And finally, embrace the possibility of mixing destinations or seasons.

Some avid skiers are adjusting by doing a brief early-winter trip to a snow-sure glacier (to scratch the itch), and scheduling the main family ski holiday for late winter when odds of full operation are higher. There’s also a gentle shift toward spring skiing – late March or April – in high resorts, which can be more reliable now than early December in low ones.

The overarching theme is flexibility. By staying aware of conditions and being ready to adapt, you can outsmart the whims of weather. The era of blindly booking a ski trip six months ahead and assuming all will be fine might be ending, but a more adaptable approach will keep the magic of skiing very much alive.

The Takeaway

Europe’s ski season may be shakier than before, but it’s far from over – it’s simply changing. Skiing remains a beloved pastime, and plenty of snow will still fall in the mountains, just not always on the schedule we grew accustomed to. The key for skiers and snowboarders is to evolve with the climate.

That means being realistic that a mid-mountain village might have green grass in December even if the top lifts are open, or accepting that you might pivot your destination if winter misbehaves.

The upside is that with a little flexibility and knowledge, you can still chase fantastic ski days and avoid the disappointments. High-altitude and snow-sure resorts are investing in making sure they can deliver good conditions whenever possible, and savvy travelers are responding by planning smarter – checking conditions, not overcommitting too early, and having backup plans.

Ultimately, the joy of skiing – carving down a quiet slope under blue skies, or floating through fresh powder on a January morning – is very much alive. The mountains are still there to be enjoyed, even if we have to adapt our expectations of when the snow comes.

So, as Europe’s ski resorts navigate this new climate reality, the message to skiers is one of adjustment, not despair. Winter in the Alps (and Pyrenees, and Dolomites) is still a beautiful adventure – you might just need to pack an extra dose of flexibility along with your ski boots. By doing so, you’ll find that the magic of a ski holiday – the crisp air, the mountain panoramas, the thrill of the descent – remains as rewarding as ever, even in these changing times.

FAQ

Q1. Is early December still reliable for skiing in Europe?
Early December is now less predictable. High-altitude resorts above about 2,000 meters usually manage to open some runs, often supported by glaciers or snowmaking. Mid- and low-altitude resorts can struggle and may delay opening. Choose snow-sure destinations such as Val Thorens, Obergurgl, or Scandinavian resorts, and keep expectations flexible.

Q2. Are high-altitude resorts always safe bets for snow?
Higher altitude greatly improves reliability, but nothing is guaranteed. Resorts above 2,000 meters benefit from colder temperatures and longer-lasting snow, yet warm spells or strong winds can still affect conditions. High resorts offer the best odds, but recent snowfall and weather patterns still matter.

Q3. Will snowmaking guarantee slopes are open if natural snow fails?
Snowmaking helps significantly but cannot guarantee full operations. It only works when temperatures drop low enough. Resorts prioritize core pistes, so you may have limited ribbons of man-made snow rather than full terrain. Warm weather or rain can also damage artificial bases.

Q4. How is climate change actually affecting ski holidays?
Ski seasons are starting later and ending earlier. Snowfall has become more erratic, with more frequent thaws and dry spells. Travelers increasingly choose higher resorts or flexible dates. Lower-altitude destinations are diversifying into year-round tourism to adapt.

Q5. Is it worth switching to late-season skiing instead of early winter?
Often yes. Late March and April can offer excellent coverage at high resorts due to accumulated snowpack, longer days, and sunnier conditions. Choose altitude carefully, since lower areas may be slushy or closed. Late-season skiing can provide better reliability than early December.

Q6. Are some regions more predictable than others for snow?
Yes. The Northern and Western Alps are generally more consistent, while the Southern Alps, Pyrenees, and lower Eastern European areas can vary widely. Scandinavia benefits from cold temperatures and reliable snow preservation, though snowfall amounts may be lighter.

Q7. Are ski resorts opening later than before?
In many regions, yes. Warmer autumns have caused several resorts to delay openings. High-altitude and glacier resorts still tend to open on schedule, but lower areas often push their start dates closer to mid-December or later.

Q8. Is it still possible to book a December ski holiday safely?
Yes, but choose location carefully. Prioritize high-altitude, snow-sure resorts and book accommodation with flexible cancellation. Monitor snow reports closely in the weeks before departure.

Q9. Are there good alternatives if skiing conditions are poor?
Yes. Spa days, winter hiking, mountain villages, Christmas markets, and cultural trips can fill in gaps on low-snow days. Many modern resorts invest in non-ski attractions to make early-season trips worthwhile.

Q10. Should I rely on long-term snow forecasts when planning?
Use them as rough guidance only. Seasonal forecasts can indicate trends, but local snow conditions depend heavily on short-term weather. Checking updates one to two weeks before your trip is far more accurate.

Research Notes

To understand why early-season skiing has become so unpredictable across Europe and the western US, I started with reporting from the San Francisco Chronicle, which captured how unusually warm temperatures and a lack of natural snowfall disrupted major resorts from Colorado to Utah and Idaho. That helped set the broader pattern of delayed openings and reliance on artificial snow.

I then compared those conditions with updates from Weather to Ski and PlanetSKI, which regularly track alpine snow cycles. Their December reports showed a stark contrast: while lower and mid-altitude resorts were struggling, many higher areas in the Alps were receiving heavy early-season snow and preparing for one of their strongest Christmas periods in years.

To better understand the long-term pressures shaping ski tourism, I reviewed climate-focused pieces from Air Mail and the Guardian. Both outlets highlighted how warming trends are pushing the snow line higher, forcing lower resorts to depend more heavily on snowmaking and short-term weather windows. These articles also included insight from industry experts noting that, despite the challenges, higher-altitude destinations continue to perform well when storms do arrive.