Weather
A modest, colder early-week storm in Europe will bring the best snow chances to the high western and southern Alps from Monday through Thursday, with the deepest totals around Val Thorens, France; Cervinia, Italy; and other nearby high terrain. Sunday looks mostly quiet, then snow levels fluctuate near 2,300-2,400 meters early in the storm before lowering closer to 1,800-2,100 meters as the main push arrives Wednesday into early Thursday. Confidence is strongest from Monday, May 4 through Thursday, May 7, when the models converge on timing and a modest storm, while the Sunday-to-Tuesday period next week is more uncertain.
- Related: Where in Europe Can You Ski in May?
Sunday should be mostly dry across the Alps, with only isolated flurries showing up near the higher border terrain late in the day. Temperatures are generally mild for May at lower and mid elevations, while the highest terrain stays colder overnight, and winds look light to moderate for most areas. The early storm signal begins Monday, and the individual models are fairly aligned on a gradual start rather than a sharp frontal surge. Snow levels during the first phase cluster around 2,300-2,400 meters, so the best early accumulations should stay on the upper mountain, with dense snow where it is falling.
The main wave is favored Wednesday into early Thursday, and that is where the model signal is most consistent for both timing and the western tilt of the snowfall. Intensity still varies by model, but most guidance places the better rates from the French Alps across the high Swiss/Italian border terrain, while Kitzbühel, St. Anton, Ischgl, and Cortina stay mostly outside the core. Snow levels trend down toward 1,800-2,100 meters during the steadier snow, and SLRs mostly sit from 8-10, pointing to dense to moderate spring snow rather than especially light powder. Wind guidance is not showing a major widespread wind event, with stronger early-week gusts looking localized rather than storm-defining.
Friday and Saturday look like a relative break, then the guidance diverges for Sunday through Tuesday, May 10-12, with a conservative extended signal of spotty 5-15 cm for favored high western terrain. The common theme is another unsettled window for the high western Alps, but timing and intensity spread increases sharply, with one wetter extended solution driving much higher outcomes near Cervinia and Zermatt while other guidance is much lighter. Snow levels are less tightly clustered than earlier but generally favor upper elevations during precipitation, and wind impacts remain secondary in the extended signal.
Resort Forecast Totals (Mon May 04 – Thu May 07)
- Val Thorens – 20-32 cm
- Cervinia – 20-31 cm
- Val d’Isère – 13-20 cm
- Zermatt – 11-18 cm
- Verbier – 10-17 cm
- Chamonix – 9-16 cm
- Tignes – 9-15 cm
- Les 3 Vallées – 9-14 cm
- St. Moritz – 7-12 cm
- Samnaun – 7-12 cm
- Sölden – 4-7 cm
- Wengen (Jungfrau) – 3-6 cm
- Kitzbühel – 0 cm
- Cortina d’Ampezzo – 0 cm
- Ischgl – 0 cm
- St. Anton – 0 cm
