For France:

After a wet and frequently cold summer predictions are for the first skiable snow at altitude in September (think Aiguille du Midi) with skiable snow at lower altitudes during October. A bit like the 2010 autumn then.

November will be cold but dry, so the initial layers of snow will set up a layer of depth hoar for the winter season above the 2200-2400m mark. Whether this proves troublesome will depend on the Dec/Jan storm cycle. A few big dumps will bury this layer, a dry period will be ok. 50-100cm on top will be explosive.

We did warn you of cold weather this summer, here’s the proof, snow at 2200m on the Belledonne

it’s the same here, the snow is around 2200-2400m. I was out with an 8 year old weather forecaster today who was telling me it was cold enough and wet enough to fall as snow and she was right, it was about 200m higher

TV Mountain have their latest 6 months prediction

Start of August will be warm but stormy but then turning cold and rainiy with north-westerlies from mid month. Expect some snow on the summits. September will be sunny but cold in the mornings with the first frosts with the first snows arriving mid-October to low altitudes! November will be very cold but with little snow. December the air stream will switch to the south-west bringing moisture: snow and rain. January the airstream switches back to a weak north-westerly with little snow but lots of sun.

http://www.tvmountain.com/article/m-t-o-6-mois/8477-meteo-bulletin-6-mois-alpes-du-nord.html

TV Mountain got August badly wrong.

They are predicting a very cold, dry start to winter with the first major snowfall arriving in January with a dry second half of February.

Latest weather from TV Mountain, winter just looks worse and worse for skiing

http://www.tvmountain.com/article/m-t-o-6-mois/8557-meteo-alpes-du-nord-6-mois.html

October 2011
A high pressure stretches from Morocco to France, the weather in the northern Alps is delightfully sunny and mild, probably hot for the season.

November 2011
Current from west to southwest, a little rain, some snow at altitude but it adds nothing in terms of snowpack. Temperatures will barely cold.

December 2011
Anticyclone from Lisbon to Moscow: Stable weather, sun in the mountains, a little cold but nothing unusual, clouds in the valleys (inversion layer).

January 2012
Average january. Some snow but sunny periods later in the month, not very cold.

February 2012
Southwest air stream, usually mild and sunny. Spring has sprung without having a winter.

March 2012
Undoubtedly under the influence of the anticyclone, warm and sunny spring over the Alps.

Latest French Meteo Winter 2012 forecast - somewhat at odds with TV Mountain

http://actualite.lachainemeteo.com/actualite-meteo/2011-09-28-18h46/previsions-saisonnieres---refroidissement-en-octobre-et-hiver-long-13915.php

Yes lets hope this is more accurate.

Here is a picture of the Grande Sure on the western side of the Chartreuse yesterday afternoon.

Latest from TV Mountain, some change towards more snow in the spring which looks better than in previous forecasts. So we’ll have spring in winter, winter in spring.

Take these predictions as you want, they will be more reliable than the stock market.

November 2011
Depressions in the Mediterranean will bring a lot of snow on southern slopes of the Alps and Italy for the first two weeks. Then, a westerly flow will bring a little snow in middle and high mountains. The cold will be temporary.

December 2011
The high pressure will extend over the whole of southern Europe to western Russia (the Urals) bringing dry mild weather. The warmth is remarkable along the southern slopes, while in the north and the valley floor, it will just cold. It is the lack of rain or snow that marks and nice conditions in the valleys that mark the end of 2011.

January 2012
Changes a bit with the arrival of a weather systems and northwest airflows, enough to bring snow to all levels of the mountains of the Northern Alps. The cold will be present during periods of sunny weather.

February 2012
In most cases the time is dry, sunny and mild despite the possibility of a weather system. It will be cold in the valley but mild and sunny on southern aspects where you will feel the arrival of an early spring.

March 2012
The cold and snow will affect the plains and mountains. In the mountains snow will be heavy-current. The month will be the coldest of winter.

April 2012
Sunny but cold spring: snow will fall to valley level. The snow fell in March will remain throughout the month.

http://www.tvmountain.com/articles/148-m-t-o-6-mois.html