A record-breaking snowfall is sweeping across the Alps in these hours. Snow was expected yesterday, but the long-awaited White Christmas did not arrive on Christmas Day.
A few centimeters of snow fell at high altitude, accompanied by heavy rain in the valleys (even up to 1,700 m)—rain that not only spoiled the Christmas atmosphere, but also washed away part of the scarce snow already on the slopes.
Santa Claus was merely running late, however: around midnight temperatures slowly dropped toward freezing and the dreaded rain turned into pure white snow!
This morning the main ski resorts found under the tree the gift they had been waiting for: a thick, heavy Snowfall!
Overnight snow began falling heavily, and throughout the morning (December 26, Boxing Day) the snowpack grew before our very eyes.
Right now it continues to snow across much of the Alpine Arc, and the snow line is dropping even further.
December 26 snowfall in Santa Caterina Valfurva
Super Snowfall, up to 150 cm
A record-breaking snowfall that in just a few hours dumped a full 1 meter of snow across many ski resorts; standing out above all is Gressoney in the Aosta Valley (150 cm) along with many other resorts around Monte Rosa, while heavy snowfalls were also recorded in the Dolomites with 1 meter of snow at Passo San Pellegrino and Madonna di Campiglio.
Snow fell in Friuli as well, with over 1 meter of snow at high altitude in Sella Nevea.
Super Snowfall in Gressoney - photo by Paolo Viganò
Madonna di Campiglio under the snow - photo by Corrado Panziera
Snow is abundant across the entire Alpine arc, especially above 1,500 meters where temperatures dropped overnight; in Alto Adige snow even reached down to 1,000 meters of altitude, though only as a light dusting.
Snowcats are already in action in Livigno, where 60 cm of snow fell in town and much more at high altitude, with everyone hard at work grooming slopes “buried” under huge amounts of snow.
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- December 26 snowfall Santa Caterina Valfurva
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- val di fassa snow boxing day
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- plan de corones
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- san martino di castrozza tognola
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- Andalo
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- solda ortles
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- Asiago
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- arabba
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- livigno roof snow
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- Limone Piemonte
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- Adamello vermiglio
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- prato nevoso
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- Heavy snowfall in Gressoney – photo by Paolo Viganò
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- Madonna di Campiglio under the snow – photo by Corrado Panziera
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- Boxing Day snowfall in Ovindoli – Apennines
Snow in the Apennines as well
Not just the Alps, but the Apennines too: Abetone (Tuscany) enjoyed a white Christmas with around 10/20 cm of snow, while today it is snowing in the central Apennines as well, with snow falling on Ovindoli, Roccaraso, Campo Imperatore, and all the main ski resorts of Abruzzo.
Boxing Day snowfall in Ovindoli - Apennines
Sun, then More Snow!
By evening the snowfalls will give way to clear skies and sub-zero temperatures, consolidating this precious snowfall. The sunshine forecast for tomorrow is only brief, as on Friday night snow will return to the border areas before spreading across the entire Alpine arc starting Saturday morning, December 28.
Recommended links:
> Snow Report
> Snow Forecast
> Live Webcams
> more record snow Photos
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