Northern Alps: up to 12 °C cooler and the first snow at altitude this week

After a summery start to October, the weather turns this week in the Northern Alps. According to forecasts reported by France 3 Régions on 5 October, temperatures could fall by up to 12 °C by Wednesday and Thursday, with the first snowflakes at altitude.

A sharp cool-down on Wednesday and Thursday

According to France 3 Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, quoting Météo-France Alpes du Nord, temperatures go from about 27 °C at the start of the week to close to 15 °C on Wednesday and Thursday. Météo-France Alpes du Nord announces “a clear contrast” and “a good drop in temperatures” (our translation).

Thursday would be the coldest day of the spell. On Friday and Saturday the weather would settle and temperatures would rise gradually, without an immediate return to the values of the start of the week.

A week in three stages

• Tuesday 6 October: changeable weather, a sunny morning then clouds in the afternoon, with a few showers possible mainly towards the south, according to the model tracking published by Météo Paris. The rain-snow line stays very high, around 3,100 m.
• Wednesday 7 October: clouds clearly increasing, with rain in the morning. A Mediterranean episode is mentioned but remains uncertain.
• Thursday 8 October: a classic Atlantic weather system, with rain in the valleys and snow at altitude.

Where the snow could fall

The first snow first affects the high summits, above 3,000 m on Wednesday, then around 2,000 m on Thursday according to France 3. Météo Paris, which relies on the European ECMWF model, mentions a flow of cold air from northern Europe between Thursday 8 and Friday 9 October. The rain-snow line could temporarily drop to around 1,600 to 1,800 m, with more than 10 cm above 2,000 m. High-altitude resorts such as Tignes, Val-d’Isère, Les Arcs, La Plagne or Avoriaz are named as potentially affected.

These figures remain forecasts: the exact position of the low-pressure systems may still change, and this is not an official weather warning. It is above all a short cold snap, not the start of winter.

And in the valley?

The Météo-France forecast for Albertville consulted this morning shows sunshine on Tuesday, then changeable weather with scattered showers on Wednesday and Thursday, with totals of around 7 mm on Wednesday and 10 to 15 mm on Thursday. Maximum temperatures would drop below 25 °C. These values are indicative and may be revised.

Key points

• A drop in temperature is expected on Wednesday and Thursday, by up to 12 °C.
• Snow possible around 2,000 m on Thursday, locally lower (1,600 to 1,800 m) according to one model, with uncertainty.
• Improving, drier weather at the end of the week.
• For the mountains, check Météo-France’s official bulletins before any outing, as fresh snow can make high-altitude paths slippery.

Also follow snow in the Northern Alps, the mountain weather and our measurements.