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Val Thorens snow reports, 2016-17 season
Val Thorens snow report: Saturday 29th April 2017
Val Thorens ski area, 29th April 2017
It was sunny at the start of the week, then it was colder with snow in the second half of the week. The sun has come out again today.
Today, the temperatures at 8am were -5C at resort level, and -8C at 3000m.
According to the official figures, the snow depth is 103cm in resort, and 160cm at 3000m. 24 lifts are open today out of the total of 27, with Pionniers, Funitel 3 Vallées, and télésiège 3 Vallées closed; 61 pistes are open out of the total of 74.
The links to Orelle are open; Les Menuires and Méribel Mottaret are closed. The avalanche risk is 3 out of 5.
Val Thorens closes at the end of Monday 1st May 2017.
Val Thorens snow report: Saturday 22nd April 2017
Stoat at Chalet des 2 Lacs, Val Thorens, April 2017
It was mainly sunny this week, but we had a couple of colder days, and otherwise, the temperatures were about right for the time of year.
Today, the temperatures at 8am were 0C at resort level, and -3C at 3000m.
According to the official figures, the snow depth is 90cm in resort, and 140cm at 3000m. 26 lifts are open today out of the total of 27, with Funitel 3 Vallées closed; 69 pistes are open out of the total of 74 (Croissant, la Chasse, Triton, and retour Sud are the closed pistes).
The links to Orelle and Méribel Mottaret are open; Les Menuires closed yesterday. The avalanche risk is 1 out of 5.
Val Thorens snow report: Saturday 15th April 2017
Off piste skiing in Orelle, Friday 14th April 2017
It was sunny and very warm for most of the week, with temperatures about right for mid-June - a worrying phenomenon.
Today, the temperatures at 8am were 0C at resort level, and -3C at 3000m.
According to the official figures, the snow depth is 100cm in resort, and 155cm at 3000m. (These snow depths should be taken with a pinch of salt, because they suggest that no snow melted at all under a hot sun in the last week). All 27 lifts are open today, with Glacier opening late, and 72 pistes out of the total of 74 (la Chasse and Triton are closed).
The links to Orelle, Les Menuires, and Méribel Mottaret are open, except for boulevard Cumin between Val Thorens and Les Menuires which is closed. The avalanche risk is 2 out of 5.
Val Thorens snow report: Saturday 8th April 2017
Top of Col chairlift, Val Thorens
There was a little snow in the first half of the week, but later in the week it was sunny and warm.
Today, the temperatures at 8am were 1C at resort level, and -2C at 3000m.
According to the official figures, the snow depth is 100cm in resort, and 150cm at 3000m. (In reality, it seems unlikely that 30cm of snow melted at 3000m during the last week, but none at all at resort level). All 27 lifts are open today, with Glacier opening late, and 73 pistes out of the total of 74 (la Chasse is closed).
The links to Orelle, Les Menuires, and Méribel Mottaret are open. The avalanche risk is 2 out of 5.
Val Thorens snow report: Saturday 1st April 2017
Slalom leg of the Alpine Combined, French National Championships, Val Thorens, Thursday 30th March 2017 (Louis Tuaire)
There was snow on Saturday night, so we started the week with fresh snow. The rest of the week was sunny and warm - very warm, in the case of Thursday and Friday, when the temperatures were about right for the middle of June (maximum of 24C at 1000m, and 15C at 2000m). Therefore it was spring snow - soft in the afternoon, freezing overnight, and hard in places in the morning. A little snow is due today and tomorrow.
Today, the temperatures at 8am were 1C at resort level, and -5C at 3000m.
According to the official figures, the snow depth is 100cm in resort, and 180cm at 3000m. All 27 lifts are open today, and 73 pistes out of the total of 74 (la Chasse is closed).
The links to Orelle, Les Menuires, and Méribel Mottaret are open. The avalanche risk is 2 out of 5.
Val Thorens snow report: Saturday 25th March 2017
Top of Grand Fond, Wednesday 22nd March 2017
It was sunny and much too warm for the time of year at the start of the week. There was a mixture of clouds and sunny intervals on Wednesday, then on Thursday and Friday, the S wind picked up, with gusts of Foehn. It's windy again today, with a bit of snow. The wind is forecast to drop tonight, with snow falling.
Today, the temperatures at 8am were 2C at resort level, and -2C at 3000m.
According to the official figures, the snow depth is 110cm in resort, and 205cm at 3000m. Most of the lifts were closed first thing this morning, due to the wind, but they are gradually opening as it eases.
The links to Orelle, Les Menuires, and Méribel Mottaret are closed today. The avalanche risk is 2 out of 5.
Val Thorens snow report: Saturday 18th March 2017
Golden eagle near the Pointe du Borgne, 17th March 2017
It was warm and sunny all week. It's spring snow in most places now, although the snow on the north-facing slopes higher up in the ski area remains fresh and cold. A little wet snow is falling today.
Today, the temperatures at 8am were 0C at resort level, and -3C at 3000m.
According to the official figures, the snow depth is 120cm in resort, and 220cm at 3000m. All 27 lifts are open today, and 73 pistes out of the total of 74. Piste de la Chasse is the closed piste.
The links to Orelle, Les Menuires, and Méribel Mottaret are open today. The avalanche risk is 2 out of 5.
Val Thorens snow report: Saturday 11th March 2017
Pluviomètre piste, Val Thorens, perfectly groomed on the morning of Saturday 11th March 2017
It snowed a good deal at the start of the week (1m20, according to the tourist office), then it was sunny and very warm on Thursday and Friday.
Today, the temperatures at 8am were -1C at resort level, and -3C at 3000m.
According to the official figures, the snow depth is 180cm in resort, and 260cm at 3000m. All 27 lifts are open today, and 73 pistes out of the total of 74. Piste de la Chasse is the closed piste, and it has hardly been open at all this season. It is a recent creation, but not a success.
The links to Orelle, Les Menuires, and Méribel Mottaret are open today. The avalanche risk is 3 out of 5.
Val Thorens snow report: Saturday 4th March 2017
A sea of cloud in the Belleville Valley, the evening of Thursday 2nd March 2017
It was sunny and warm on Sunday and Monday, then it snowed on Tuesday and Wednesday. The clouds cleared by the end of Thursday afternoon. On Friday, the Foehn wind picked up, and it became stronger on Friday night.
Today, the temperatures at 8am were -2C at resort level, and -5C at 3000m.
According to the official figures, the snow depth is 111cm in resort, and 222cm at 3000m; there are a few centimetres of fresh snow this morning. Due to the high winds last night and the snow this morning, all the lifts were closed first this morning. Cascades has since opened, but many others remain closed.
The links to Orelle, Les Menuires, and Méribel Mottaret are closed today. The avalanche risk is 3 out of 5.
Val Thorens snow report: Saturday 25th February 2017
View of Monte Viso & Pic de Rochebrune, from the Cime de Caron, Saturday 25th February 2017
It was mainly sunny during the last week, but there were clouds and a little snow on Friday.
Today, the temperatures at 8am were -6C at resort level, and -9C at 3000m.
According to the official figures, the snow depth is 97cm in resort, and 207cm at 3000m; there were a few centimetres of fresh snow this morning. All 27 lifts are open today; 72 pistes are open out of 74 - Arolle and la Chasse are the closed pistes.
The links to Orelle, Les Menuires, and Méribel Mottaret are open today. The avalanche risk is 1 out of 5.
Val Thorens snow report: Saturday 18th February 2017
Hut at the top of Glacier chair & Mont Blanc behind
The Foehn wind blew on Sunday and Monday, then it was sunny and calm for the rest of the week.
Today, the temperatures at 8am were -5C at resort level, and -10C at 3000m.
According to the official figures, the snow depth is 95cm in resort, and 205cm at 3000m. All 27 lifts are open today; 72 pistes are open out of 74 - Arolle and la Chasse are the closed pistes.
The links to Orelle, Les Menuires, and Méribel Mottaret are open today. The avalanche risk is 2 out of 5.
Val Thorens snow report: Saturday 11th February 2017
Val Thorens & Mont Blanc from Cime de Caron
It snowed at the start of the week, then it was better weather on Thursday and Friday. There's sunshine and blue skies today.
Today, the temperatures at 8am were -5.5C at resort level, and -9C at 3000m.
According to the official figures, the snow depth is 125cm in resort, and 210cm at 3000m. All 27 lifts are open today, but Glacier opened late; 72 pistes are open out of 74 - Asters and la Chasse are the closed pistes.
The links to Orelle, Les Menuires, and Méribel Mottaret are open today. The avalanche risk is 3 out of 5.
Val Thorens snow report: Friday 3rd February 2017
Val Thorens & Mont Blanc from Cime de Caron
It was sunny at the start of the week, then it snowed on Tuesday. Wednesday was a nice day, Thursday was windy, and it snowed on Thursday night, and again at the end of Friday afternoon.
Today, the temperatures at 8am were -1.5C at resort level, and -5C at 3000m.
According to the official figures, the snow depth is 85cm in resort, with 10cm of fresh snow this morning, and 170cm at 3000m, also with 10cm of fresh snow. All 27 lifts were open today, but some opened late; 69 pistes were open out of 74 - Funslope, Hermine, Arolle, la Chasse, and Plan de l'Eau are the closed pistes.
The links to Orelle, Les Menuires, and Méribel Mottaret were open today. The avalanche risk is 3 out of 5.
Val Thorens snow report: Saturday 28th January 2017
Snow finch, Mont de la Chambre
The week was divided between calm, sunny days, and days when the SE Foehn wind blew (Sunday, Thursday, and Friday). The Foehn stripped some exposed ridges of their snow.
Today, the temperatures at 8am were -0.5C at resort level, and -5C at 3000m.
According to the official figures, the snow depth is 90cm in resort, and 170cm at 3000m. All 27 lifts are open today, but some opened late; 61 pistes are open out of 74.
The links to Orelle, Les Menuires, and Méribel Mottaret are open. The avalanche risk is 3 out of 5.
Val Thorens snow report: Saturday 21st January 2017
Ski patrol hut, Mont de la Chambre 17th January 2017
It was sunny and very cold at the start of this week, with the board at the bottom of Plein Sud chairlift showing -19C at 9am on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. The temperatures went up a bit later in the week.
Today, the temperatures at 8am were -9C at resort level, and -12C at 3000m.
According to the official figures, the snow depth is 103cm in resort, and 180cm at 3000m. All 27 lifts are open today, and 70 pistes out of 74. The pistes not open are Arolle, Hermine, the Funslope, and la Chasse.
The links to Orelle, Les Menuires, and Méribel Mottaret are open. The avalanche risk is 3 out of 5.
Val Thorens snow report: Saturday 14th January 2017
Clouds and snow in Val Thorens, 14th January 2017
There was about 20cm of snow on Tuesday night, followed by a nice, sunny day on Wednesday. More snow fell on Thursday night and Friday, and there are snow showers today. There should be sunshine and very cold temperatures next week.
Today, the temperatures at 8am were -9C at resort level, and -12C at 3000m.
According to the official figures, the snow depth is 90cm in resort (with 25cm of fresh snow in the 24 hours to 8am), and 170cm at 3000m (with 35cm of fresh snow in the last 24h). All 27 lifts are open today, but most of them opened late as the ski patrol made the pistes safe from avalanches, and 62 pistes out of 74.
The links to Orelle, Les Menuires, and Méribel Mottaret opened late today.
The avalanche risk is 3 out of 5.
Val Thorens snow report: Saturday 7th January 2017
Chalets des 2 Lacs, Friday 6th January 2017
There was a little snow this week - a dusting on Monday night, and up to 10cm on Wednesday night. The rest of the week was cold and sunny.
Today, the temperatures at 8am were -9C at resort level, and -12C at 3000m.
According to the official figures, the snow depth is 60cm in resort, and 135cm at 3000m. All 27 lifts are open today, and 63 pistes out of 74. Amongst the pistes yet to open are Arolle, the Funslope, les Cristaux (a black on the Cime de Caron), and Plan de l'Eau plus the two red runs in the Boismint sector.
The links to Orelle, Les Menuires, and Méribel Mottaret are open.
The avalanche risk today is 1 out of 5.
Val Thorens snow report: Saturday 31st December 2016
Torchlit descent, Saturday 31st December 2016
There has been no snow yet again this week. It has been high pressure and sunshine every day. The only positive is that it's quite cold at night, allowing the snow cannons to work.
Today, the temperatures at 8am were -2.5C at resort level, and -6C at 3000m.
According to the official figures, the snow depth is 55cm in resort, and 130cm at 3000m. There were 26 lifts open out of the total of 27 today (with the 27th, Glacier, opening late), and 63 pistes out of 74.
The links to Orelle, Les Menuires, and Méribel Mottaret are open.
The avalanche risk today was 1 out of 5.
Val Thorens snow report: Friday 23rd December 2016
View of Mont Blanc from top of Funitel 3 Vallées, Friday 23rd December 2016
There has been no snow this week. It has been high pressure and sunshine, except for two days of awful SE Foehn wind on Monday and Tuesday. Naturally, this hasn't been good for the snow conditions. There's still natural snow cover higher up. The runs into Méribel Mottaret, Méribel, and Courchevel are all made from snow cannon snow, but they were amazingly good today, with no stones. It was fairly quiet, which may not be the case for the next couple of weeks.
Today, the temperatures at 8am were -1.5C at resort level, and -7C at 3000m.
According to the official figures, the snow depth is 60cm in resort, and 135cm at 3000m - which means no snow has melted or been blown away during the week, something that seems highly unlikely. There were 26 lifts open out of the total of 27 today (with the 27th, Glacier, opening later), and 60 pistes out of 74. For example, from the Cime de Caron, Col de l'Audzin and Combe de Caron are open, but Combe Rosaël and Les Cristaux are not.
The links to Orelle, Les Menuires, and Méribel Mottaret are open.
The avalanche risk today was 2 out of 5.
Val Thorens snow report: Saturday 17th December 2016
Evening view of Val Thorens from Cascades, Tuesday 13th December 2016
There has been high pressure and sunny weather all week. The temperatures have been reasonable, and cold at night, meaning that the snow cannons can work. The condition of the pistes is more than reasonable, but some of the snow off the piste on the south facing slopes has melted.
Today, the temperatures at 8am were -1.5C at resort level, and -6C at 3000m.
According to the official figures, the snow depth is 60cm in resort, and 135cm at 3000m. There are 25 lifts open out of the total of 27 (all except the new Club des Sports draglift on the Stade, and the 3 Vallées chair), and 61 pistes out of 74. The links to Orelle, Les Menuires, and Méribel Mottaret are open, except for boulevard Cumin link to Les Menuires.
The avalanche risk today is 1 out of 5.
Val Thorens snow report: Saturday 10th December 2016
There has been high pressure and sunny weather since the last snow report at the end of November. Today, the temperatures at 8am were +1C at resort level, and -3C at 3000m.
According to the official figures, the snow depth is 60cm in resort, and 135cm at 3000m. There are 26 lifts open out of the total of 27 (all except the new Club des Sports draglift on the Stade), and 61 pistes out of 74. The links to Orelle are open, and the links to 3 Valleys opened today, except for boulevard Cumin.
The avalanche risk today is 2 out of 5.
Val Thorens snow report: Saturday 26th November 2016
Val Thorens has been open for a week. This weekend, it's the grand opening, with free ski and snowboard tests.
The temperatures at 8am today were -3C in resort, and -7C at 3000m.
The snow depths are 85cm at resort level, and 150cm at the top of the ski area. (As there was quite a lot of wind last week, there's considerable variability in snow coverage, according to which aspects of slope were most exposed).
Today, 18 lifts were open out of the total of 27, and 33 pistes out of 74. The links to the 3 Valleys are closed, but the link to Orelle is open. The avalanche risk today was 4 out of 5.
Guide to the Val Thorens ski area
We have a detailed guide to the Val Thorens ski area, including the beginners' area, an overview of the ski area, the snowpark, skiercross, and slalom stadium, and some of the off piste itineraries. It's based on personal knowledge and experience over many seasons, and it has useful advice and tips.
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