"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."
After weeks of unsettled weather, the Alps shifted from a below-average ski season to heavy snow in less than three weeks, transforming large areas of the northern French Alps. Resorts in Isère, northern Savoie, and Haute‑Savoie report snow depths between 3.5 and 4.1 meters, described as exceptional for the 21st century. Social media images show snowed‑in cars and buried landscapes. Many locations have not seen thicker February cover since 1999, making this an unprecedented post‑2000 event for much of France. Historical comparisons suggest similar depths may have occurred 1965–1985, but such snowpacks were not typical at 1,400–2,100 m. Lower elevations experienced rain or very wet snow, creating stark contrasts between outstanding mid‑mountain conditions and ordinary valley floors.
Read at SnowBrains
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