After a frequently cold and unsettled January, France’s mountain ranges are generally well snow-covered, according to the latest observations from Météo-France. While snow conditions remain excellent at higher elevations, snow-pack at mid-altitude has been affected in some areas by milder temperatures toward the end of the month.
Alps
Several falls occurred throughout January in the Northern Alps. Precipitation levels were slightly below average in the Savoie and Haute-Savoie, but above normal in the Isère. With temperatures largely in line with seasonal norms, snowfall reached mid to low elevations, leaving the massifs well snow-covered.
The standout event of the month was the intense snowfall between 7 and 10 January, which alone delivered more than one metre of snow in some areas. Currently, snow depths range from 20 to 50 centimeters above 1,500 metres, and exceed one meter above 2,000 metres across all aspects.
Thanks to a succession of winter disturbances and the absence of significant thaws, snow cover has returned to normal levels across all Alpine massifs, and is often above average at higher altitudes. Southern Alpine areas, including the Haut-Var, Haut-Verdon and Mercantour, also benefited from heavy snowfall in late January and early February, resulting in very good snow conditions from mid-mountain upwards. Snow depths vary from 10 to 80 centimeters in valleys and resort bases, while higher elevations around 2,500 metres typically hold between 1.5 and 2 meters of snow.
Pyrenees
Snow conditions across the Pyrenees are described as good along the entire range. Snow cover begins around 1,100 to 1,300 metres on north-facing slopes. At 1,800 metres, snow depths commonly reach one metre, with more than two meters recorded at the upper sections of ski resorts.
Snowfall has been particularly remarkable in the Eastern Pyrenees, where two metres of snow were measured at the Canigou and Puigmal Nivôse stations. In the western border massifs, up to 1.8 meters of snow has been recorded at the Gavarnie ski area around 1,850 meters.
Corsica
Corsica’s mountain ranges are experiencing exceptionally high snow levels. January 2026 has been confirmed as the wettest January on record since 1959. Intense precipitation on 18 and 19 January led to extraordinary snow accumulation for the season, with depths exceeding two meters reported in some high-altitude areas.
Mid-Mountain Ranges
In the Massif Central, snow conditions vary considerably by area. In the Cantal, snow cover begins around 1,100 meters, with wet, crusted snow across all aspects and depths of 20 to 40 centimeters at 1,300 to 1,400 meters. Strong winds have already formed significant cornices on the summits. In the Sancy massif, snow starts around 1,200 meters, with 10 centimeters of heavy snow at 1,300 meters and up to 50 centimeters at 1,500 metres. The Forez range shows more contrast, with lower slopes largely snow-free on the eastern side, while around 10 centimeters remain at the highest elevations in the west.
In the Jura Mountains, snow is present above 800 meters on north-facing slopes and 1,000 meters on south-facing slopes. Snow depths range from 5 to 15 centimeters between 1,000 and 1,200 meters, increasing to 15 to 30 centimeters at 1,200 meters, and up to 50 centimeters along the ridgelines.
In the Vosges, recent sunshine has led to significant disparities, with south-facing slopes heavily stripped of snow. Continuous snow cover is found from 800 metres on the Lorraine side and 900 meters on the Alsace side. Snow depths reach 10 to 20 centimeters at 1,000 meters and up to 30 centimeters above 1,200 meters. While conditions have remained stable over the past week, forecasters warn that melting is likely within the next 24 hours due to an incoming wet and windy weather system.