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.