Fresh Snowfall in The Alps & Mountains Across Europe

There’s been snowfall across the Alps over the past 24 hours with ski areas in Austria, France, Italy and Switzerland all reporting their mountain peaks turning  white down to about 1600m altitudes.

Only seven glacier ski areas are currently open including Hintertux, Pitztal, Solden and the Stubai near Innsbruck in Austria (Solden and Stubai started their seasons this morning), Saas-Fee in Switzerland and Passo Stelvio and Val Senales, pictured below this morning, both in Italy. A fifth Austrian glaciers, the Kitzsteinhorn above Kaprun in Salzburgerland is due to open this weekend.

There’s been snowfall reported elsewhere Across Europe too.  Including in Scandinavia where some ski areas have already opened. This is Trysil in Norway this morning.

There’s also been snowfall in Spain, this is Astun.

And close to home in Scotland too, here’s the top station at Cairngorm Mountain above Aviemore.

What Early Snowfall in the Alps Means for the 2026/27 Season

Autumn snowfall in the Alps is always a welcome sight for skiers and snowboarders counting down to winter. Snow at this time of year does not always stay for the season, but early cold spells help build a base on the higher slopes and give resort snowmaking teams the low temperatures they need to get to work.

For now the glacier ski areas remain the place to be for anyone wanting to get on the snow in October. Hintertux in the Zillertal is Austria’s only ski area open every day of the year, while Sölden will soon host the traditional opening races of the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup on its Rettenbach glacier, the moment many in the snowsports world see as the real start of winter.

Most of the major Alpine resorts are scheduled to open from late November into early December, with a handful of the highest resorts usually the first to welcome skiers back in November, conditions permitting.

Snow Beyond the Alps

It is not just the Alps enjoying an early taste of winter. Ski areas in Norway are among the first in Europe to open each season, and Trysil, the country’s largest ski resort, is looking wintry already. In the Spanish Pyrenees, Astun has had its first dusting, and in Scotland the snow on Cairngorm Mountain is a reminder that the UK ski season is not far away.

Keep Up With the Latest Snow Conditions

If the fresh snow has you thinking about your first trip of the winter, follow our snow reports for the latest conditions, resort openings and snowfall news from across Europe and beyond as the 2026/27 ski season gets under way.

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