After weeks of unsettled weather, the Alps have delivered what many are calling a spectacular turnaround. After what started as a below-average ski season, in less than three weeks, very significant snow accumulations have transformed large swaths of the northern French Alps into a winter wonderland with massive snow depth.
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Leading the pack are resorts in the Isère, northern Savoie, and Haute-Savoie region, which boast snow depth of between 3.5-4.1 meters (11-13 feet). Current snow depths are at levels Thomas Banchard from Meteo Alpes describes as “exceptional for the 21st century.”
| Resort | Peak Snow Depth (cm) | Peak Snow Depth (in) |
|---|---|---|
| Vaujany | 410 | 161.4 |
| Alpe d’Huez | 410 | 161.4 |
| La Rosière | 400 | 157.5 |
| Chamonix Mont-Blanc | 390 | 153.5 |
| Les Carroz | 370 | 145.7 |
| Avoriaz | 364 | 143.3 |
Images on social media show snowed-in cars, mountains of marshmallow powder, and landscapes buried under deep midwinter snow. In many of these areas, one would need to look back to 1999 to find thicker snow cover in February. In other words, this is an unprecedented post-2000 snow situation in most of France. However in 2018, the historic “Beast from the East” storm cycle delivered extraordinary totals to resorts in the south of France. Still, for much of northern Savoie and Haute-Savoie, February 2026 stands out as one of the most impressive snow periods in nearly three decades.
Looking further back, Banchard elaborates that such depths may well have occurred during the notably snowy decades between 1965 and 1985, although detailed elevation-specific data from that period are limited. What is clear, however, is that snowpacks of this magnitude were not the norm even then for the 1,400–2,100 meter range. However, for lower elevations, the situation is far less remarkable. Warmer temperatures have frequently pushed precipitation into rain or very wet snow, preventing truly exceptional accumulations. The result is a sharp contrast between mid-mountain elevations, where conditions are outstanding, and valley floors, where snow cover remains more typical of recent winters.
The current snowpack also highlights the complex relationship between extreme snowfall events and long-term climate trends. Banchard points out that snow depths now observed at 1,800 or 2,000 meters might have been seen 200 to 300 meters lower 30 to 50 years ago under similar meteorological setups. As temperatures continue to rise, the elevation at which reliable snow accumulates steadily shifts upward. In the coming decades, that same threshold could climb another 200 meters higher.
The broader trend is clear: the climate has been warming for decades, and the data show that warming is accelerating. These facts are not in dispute. But a warming climate does not eliminate cold spells or major snowstorms. Instead, it makes them less frequent and pushes the snow line higher. What the melting poles also bring about are polar vortex systems moving across more frequently than in the past.
For now, however, skiers and mountain communities in parts of Haute-Savoie and northern Savoie are experiencing a February that will likely be remembered—a rare, post-2000 snow cycle that has restored a deep winter feel to elevations where such scenes have become increasingly uncommon.
