Mountains: freezing level around 3,500 m, snow possible on the summits next Thursday

At the start of October it is still mild at altitude. The models put the freezing level (0 °C isotherm) around 3,550 to 3,600 m this Friday and Saturday above Chamonix. Météo-Alpes was already forecasting a rain-snow line around 3,200–3,300 m for Thursday and a freezing level close to 3,700 m.

Monday: a cooler spell

A change in the weather is expected on Monday 5 October. The freezing level drops to around 3,000 m: precipitation will mostly fall as rain, and snow will be limited to the highest summits.

Thursday 8 October: snow on the ski areas?

This is the date to watch. The models bring the freezing level down to around 2,300 m on Thursday afternoon, and our resort-by-resort forecasts show the first centimetres on the summits:

• Chamonix, Grands Montets (2,767 m): 13 cm
• Les Contamines-Montjoie, Aiguille Croche (2,487 m): 13 cm
• Courchevel, Saulire (2,738 m): 10 cm
• Val Thorens, Cime Caron (3,200 m): 10 cm
• Tignes, Grande Motte (3,456 m): 10 cm
• La Plagne, Glaciers (3,080 m) and Les Arcs, Aiguille Rouge (3,226 m): 10 cm
• Avoriaz, Pointe des Mossettes (2,260 m): 8 cm
• La Clusaz, Col de Balme (2,477 m): 1 cm

Six days ahead, these figures remain very uncertain: they may change a lot by then. We update them every hour on the resort map.