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Weather & Lifts

Conditions can all change at any time in Chamonix! This info will help you make your plans for the day.
Always check the lifts you plan to visit are opening as expected. High winds, heavy snow, technical issues, and avalanche control can all cause delays or closures. The lift company has a very useful overview here

Weather

The forecast can change very quickly so I recommend checking every day. There is a lot to be said for looking out of the window and seeing where the clouds are hanging around! 

Chamonix.com – a useful graphical format, with links to road conditions, snow conditions and avalanche report.

Chamonix-meteo.com – detailed text forecast with trends for the next few days (currently French only but auto-translate works fine)

For even more detail (EG for walking, mountaineering, climbing, ski touring) you can check the Office Haute Montagne or the latest mountain conditions (or call them).

Altitudes

If there has been snow, or it’s forecast, check the rain/snow limit. 
The chalet is at 1050m altitude and the majority of the lifts start around 1800m altitude, going up to around 2500m. Grands Montets is a bit higher, Les Houches is much lower (mostly 1000-1800m). For more specific info on the altitude of individual areas, check the maps in the chalet. (General info on the ski areas is here)

Inversions & Webcams

Remember inversions are common here – it is often cloudy in the valley but beautiful high up! Check the webcams if in any doubt.

Inversion in the valley seen from Le Tour

Weather tips for specific areas: 

Flegere / Brevent is usually a good place to start. It is only 600 metres from the chalet,has a couple of nice easy greens to warm up on with a very scenic lift, working your way over to Brevent. Lunch at the Panoramique at Brevent and then return. More detail here: Flegere.

Le Tour’s wide open spaces are paradise in the sun but very difficult to navigate in a white out. If conditions turn difficult while you’re there, the back side around Vallorcine has some trees and can be very nice in the snow. The Tete de Balme lift can be freezing and windy in tempestuous conditions. Sit on the left if you want to be more sheltered. 

Warm spring conditions can make things very slushy at Flegere / Brevent , especially in the afternoons.

Les Houches is lower than the others, and can have thin snow cover sometimes. However on a heavy snow day it is usually a great option – it has a lot of trees that give good visibility, and it’s sheltered. Always check the rain/snow limit is below 1000m, if thinking of Les Houches.

Grands Montets is all north facing and high so it can have the best snow. However it is steep and can be icy too. In general it’s better to choose somewhere easier for your first day or so. The lower runs do have some trees so it can be a surprisingly good option in heavy snow if Les Houches is below the rain/snow line.

Courmayeur in Italy is always worth checking, especially if nothing stands out in Chamonix for that day. Or Verbier – access via the Col de Forclaz to the Chable – Verbier cable car is quicker than driving all the way up.