Snowmageddon in the Alps: A Season to Remember

We always say we pray for snow. Every season, without fail, we're watching forecasts, checking snow reports, willing those white clouds to dump their precious cargo across our beloved French Alps.

This February, the mountains answered. Generously. Perhaps a little too generously.

Picture the scene: February half-term arrivals stepping off coaches into what can only be described as a winter wonderland on steroids. Lifts paused on day one - not due to lack of snow, but rather an overwhelming abundance of it. Snowploughs working overtime, Ski Patrol opening the lifts one by one once they had carried out avalanche control work to make ski areas safe. Chalets glowing warmly inside whilst outside, snow piled higher and higher and higher still.

Between 10th and 20th February, La Plagne recorded an extraordinary 231cm of snowfall. Val d'Isère saw 180cm. Some resorts across the Alps reported nearly 3 metres during this period. Three separate storm systems rolled through, each more generous than the last, transforming our resorts into the postcard-perfect alpine scenes that exist in skiers' dreams.

The sheer volume was breathtaking. The beauty, undeniable. The operational chaos? Well, that's another story entirely.

Here's what this exceptional snowfall demonstrated perfectly: altitude isn't just a number. It's insurance.

Whilst lower resorts struggled with rain-snow lines and variable conditions, our high-altitude resorts - La Plagne, Les Arcs, Val d'Isère, Avoriaz - transformed into powder paradises. The snow fell as proper, dry, alpine powder. The kind that squeaks underfoot. The kind that creates those iconic powder turns skiers dream about.

Snow depth consistency: At altitude, snow arrives as snow and stays as snow. No rain-freeze cycles degrading quality. Just consistent, reliable winter conditions.

Quality that lasts: Powder that falls at 2,000m+ compacts beautifully under piste bashers, creating that perfect corduroy everyone loves.

Late-season confidence: This abundance in February doesn't just benefit February guests. It sets up the base for exceptional March and April skiing - those glorious spring days of sunshine and snow that many (including the VIP SKI team!) consider the season's best-kept secret.

When we position ourselves as snow-sure destinations, this is exactly what we mean. Not hoping for snow. Reliably receiving it, maintaining it and skiing it properly throughout the season.

Let's talk about the unsung heroes of Snowmageddon 2026: our resort staff, armed with nothing but shovels, determination and presumably several extra coffees.

Clearing paths to chalets became an ongoing task rather than a one-off job. Balconies needed proper excavation. Snow walls grew along pathways. Areas cleared in the morning frequently needed re-clearing by afternoon as snow continued falling.

The workload was substantial. Paths maintained, access preserved, safety ensured - all whilst the snowstorms continued. Guests enjoying afternoon tea inside were largely unaware of the constant snow management happening outside.

Our staff handled it without fuss, keeping everything functioning throughout the storms. Their efforts made the difference between manageable conditions and genuine chaos.

Then, as suddenly as it arrived, the snow stopped. Clouds parted. Blue skies emerged. What followed were the kind of snow conditions that skiers discuss for years afterwards. The transformation once lifts reopened was spectacular - all that overnight chaos converted into glorious skiing conditions.

And speaking of overnight transformations: if you've ever wondered what happens between the last lift closing and first lift opening to create those perfect piste conditions, Henry captured it beautifully in the behind-the-scenes piste basher film below. Watching these enormous machines methodically grooming runs under starlight gives you whole new appreciation for that satisfying first-run-of-the-day sensation.

Whilst some guests were champing at the bit for lifts to reopen, others discovered the pleasure of enforced relaxation.

At our Bear Lodge ski hotel in Les Arcs, we laid on soup, fresh bread, cheese and charcuterie boards for guests who preferred staying cosy rather than venturing out in the ongoing snowstorm. With some lifts temporarily closed, the hotel's facilities suddenly became the main attraction: the pool, sauna, steam room and cinema room saw more action than usual. Some guests took the opportunity to book relaxing massages with our friends at Massage Me - because if you can't ski, you might as well be thoroughly pampered instead.

There's something to be said for forced downtime on a ski holiday. How often do we actually use those lovely hotel facilities we've paid for? Storm days create permission to simply relax, to read that book to let children splash in the pool for hours, to enjoy a second (or third) coffee or cocktail without feeling you should be on the mountain.

Sometimes the mountains give you skiing. Sometimes they give you something else entirely.

Let's be honest about something: whilst we're talking about champagne powder days and praising snow-clearing heroes, there were genuine challenges.

Temporary lift closures weren't just inconvenient - they were necessary. Avalanche control teams worked around the clock assessing slopes, triggering controlled avalanches where needed, ensuring every run that opened was safe. Mountain safety teams made difficult decisions about which terrain could open and when during one of the busiest weeks of the ski season.

Off-piste conditions were particularly dangerous. With such rapid, heavy snowfall, avalanche risk escalated significantly - at times reaching 4/5 and even 5/5 on the European avalanche risk scale (where 1/5 is low and 5/5 is very high). These aren't just numbers; they represent life-threatening danger.

Some guests experienced frustration. Plans changed. That black run you'd been building up courage for remained closed. But the mountains demand respect. Storms like these remind us that we're guests in an environment that operates by its own rules. The patience required, waiting for lifts to reopen, trusting safety teams' decisions, accepting that nature occasionally says "not today", is part of mountain life.

The payoff? When runs did open, they opened safely. When that black run finally got the green light, it was properly assessed and ready.

There are ordinary ski seasons. Then there are seasons that become stories. February 2026 falls firmly in the latter category.

Guests experienced what many described as "proper alpine winter", the kind older skiers reminisce about, the kind newer skiers didn't quite believe still existed. Children saw snow like this for their first time, eyes wide with wonder at snowfall that buried cars and created landscapes from fairy tales.

Chalets felt especially cosy. There's something about watching snow fall heavily outside whilst you're warm inside with hot chocolate (or something stronger, depending on age and inclination) that creates true contentment. The contrast between wild weather and comfortable refuge intensifies appreciation for both.

Families reported genuine excitement each morning, wondering how much had fallen overnight, debating whether to build snowmen before skiing or after (answer: both, obviously). Teenagers who'd initially claimed to be "bored" found themselves genuinely engaged with conditions they'd never experienced, building kickers outside the chalet or sledging with friends and family.

Seasons like this remind us why we love the mountains - we can appreciate them in all their magnificent, occasionally inconvenient, always spectacular glory.

And the season isn't finished yet. With snow depth like this, our high-altitude resorts are set up beautifully for exceptional late-season skiing. March and April promise those perfect combinations: long sunny ski days, excellent snow conditions, and the confidence that comes from knowing there's substantial base depth beneath you.

If you've been watching this season from afar, wondering what proper alpine winter looks like: this is it. And there's still time to experience what remains.

Browse our luxury catered chalets in Val d'Isère, La Plagne, Les Arcs and Avoriaz.