Forecast today: Broken clouds
Booking late for a quick weekend trip here is a good option as it is not the highest resort – although recent snowmaking investment has helped ensure reliable conditions – so try and get here after fresh snow to experience the resort at its best. On the hill there is some great variety, with something for everyone, including the great Balme area made famous by La Clusaz’s best known resident, Candide Thovex.
The town of La Clusaz is a genuine mountain village, littered with old buildings, tastefully built new chalets and with a rustic and charming centre.
Although there is a decent learner area in the village, beginners should head up the gondola to the Massif de Beauregard, which is home to a very neat area of greens and gentle drags. Much of the rest of the ski area is an excellent, interlinked area for intermediate skiers and snowboarders. Quieter runs are on offer in the Manigod sector – but you will have to put up with some slow lifts.
The Col de Balme is the best area for more advanced skiers and snowboarders. In fresh powder this is where to head to and find fresh tracks, but this quickly turns into a big, bumpy playground, which can be equally as fun. Long and fairly steep runs drop off form the neighbouring Torcère draglift – just be careful riding this lift up if you are not competent on steep and fast drags.
There is a lot of good value accommodation to choose from in the La Clusaz valley, but if you want the best access to the slopes then stick close to the rustic town centre. This will also give you the best access to some lively bars and numerous restaurants specialising in local French food.
Off the slopes there is a lot to do, including dog sledding, cross country skiing, tobogganing and ice skating. There is also an excellent outdoor pool and leisure centre with stunning views up over the mountain.
Wed 18 Dec | Thu 19 Dec | Fri 20 Dec | Sat 21 Dec | Sun 22 Dec | Mon 23 Dec | Tue 24 Dec | Wed 25 Dec | Thu 26 Dec | Fri 27 Dec | |||||||||||||||||||||
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AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Weather | Partly cloudy |
Partly cloudy |
Generally clear | Snow |
Snow |
Snow | Occasional snow |
Generally clear |
Generally clear | Broken clouds |
Partly cloudy |
Light snow | Snow |
Snow |
Snow | Light snow |
Snow shower |
Snow shower | Generally clear |
Partly cloudy |
Generally clear | Mainly fair |
Generally clear |
Generally clear | Clear skies |
Clear skies |
Clear skies | Clear skies |
Clear skies |
Clear skies |
Wind | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Snow expected | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 7 cm | 10.3 cm | 8.9 cm | 0.6 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0.3 cm | 0.1 cm | 4.3 cm | 17.3 cm | 15.8 cm | 19.7 cm | 5.4 cm | 9.6 cm | 8.1 cm | 0.4 cm | 0.1 cm | 0.3 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm |
Max temp | 2.3°c | 2.3°c | 0.5°c | -0.5°c | -2°c | -3.8°c | -11.7°c | -11.6°c | -12°c | -7.2°c | -7.1°c | -4.6°c | -2.5°c | -4.8°c | -6.5°c | -10.4°c | -10.7°c | -10.4°c | -7.5°c | -5.3°c | -3.5°c | -0.4°c | -0.4°c | -1.6°c | 0.8°c | 0.8°c | -2.4°c | 0.1°c | 0.1°c | -3.5°c |
Min temp | 0.2°c | 0.5°c | -1.2°c | -2°c | -3.8°c | -9.9°c | -12.6°c | -12.4°c | -12.7°c | -11.1°c | -7.7°c | -7.3°c | -4.8°c | -6.5°c | -9.7°c | -11.4°c | -11.4°c | -10.8°c | -9.8°c | -7.5°c | -5.3°c | -2.5°c | -2°c | -2.4°c | -2.8°c | -2.7°c | -3.2°c | -3.5°c | -3.6°c | -4.4°c |
Feels like temp | 0.5°c | 2°c | 0.4°c | -3.9°c | -5.6°c | -9.6°c | -19.8°c | -19.7°c | -17.7°c | -11.1°c | -12.1°c | -11.7°c | -6.8°c | -11.2°c | -13.2°c | -17.2°c | -18.9°c | -17.6°c | -16.1°c | -13.5°c | -9.8°c | -5.6°c | -3.4°c | -2°c | -2.8°c | 0.7°c | -2.7°c | -3.5°c | 0.1°c | -3.6°c |
AM | PM | Night | |
Weather | Partly cloudy |
Partly cloudy |
Generally clear |
Wind | |||
Snow expected | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm |
Max temp | 2.3°c | 2.3°c | 0.5°c |
Min temp | 0.2°c | 0.5°c | -1.2°c |
Feels like temp | 0.5°c | 2°c | 0.4°c |
AM | PM | Night | |
Weather | Snow |
Snow |
Snow |
Wind | |||
Snow expected | 7 cm | 10.3 cm | 8.9 cm |
Max temp | -0.5°c | -2°c | -3.8°c |
Min temp | -2°c | -3.8°c | -9.9°c |
Feels like temp | -3.9°c | -5.6°c | -9.6°c |
Wed 18 Dec | Thu 19 Dec | Fri 20 Dec | Sat 21 Dec | Sun 22 Dec | Mon 23 Dec | Tue 24 Dec | Wed 25 Dec | Thu 26 Dec | Fri 27 Dec | |||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Weather | Broken clouds |
Partly cloudy |
Mainly fair | Rain |
Heavy rain/snow |
Snow shower | Occasional snow |
Generally clear |
Generally clear | Occasional snow |
Rather cloudy |
Snow | Heavy rain/snow |
Snow shower |
Snow shower | Light snow |
Light snow |
Light snow | Generally clear |
Generally clear |
Partly cloudy | Generally clear |
Generally clear |
Generally clear | Clear skies |
Clear skies |
Clear skies | Clear skies |
Clear skies |
Clear skies |
Wind | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Snow expected | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 7 cm | 9.7 cm | 0.7 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0.5 cm | 0.6 cm | 3.8 cm | 1.3 cm | 7.6 cm | 11.5 cm | 5.5 cm | 5.7 cm | 4.1 cm | 0.1 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm |
Max temp | 8.5°c | 8.8°c | 6.7°c | 6.3°c | 3.9°c | 0.1°c | -3.6°c | -3.2°c | -7°c | -0.8°c | 0.2°c | 0.6°c | 2.2°c | 1.3°c | -0.3°c | -3°c | -2.9°c | -3.4°c | -1.3°c | -0.7°c | -1.6°c | 2.5°c | 2.9°c | 0.7°c | 3.5°c | 4°c | 1.2°c | 4°c | 4.4°c | 0.8°c |
Min temp | 5.1°c | 6.3°c | 5.5°c | 3°c | 0.1°c | -3.1°c | -4.9°c | -7°c | -8.3°c | -4.9°c | -0.8°c | -0.6°c | 0.8°c | -0.3°c | -2.5°c | -3.8°c | -3.8°c | -3.9°c | -4.3°c | -2.5°c | -2.5°c | -0.5°c | 0.7°c | -0.9°c | -1.1°c | 1.2°c | 0.3°c | -0.2°c | 0.8°c | -0.7°c |
Feels like temp | 4.4°c | 7.2°c | 6.1°c | 5.9°c | 2.8°c | 0.1°c | -4.4°c | -4°c | -7°c | -4.9°c | -0.8°c | -0.6°c | 0°c | -2°c | -3.5°c | -3°c | -3.8°c | -3.6°c | -4.3°c | -1.5°c | -2.5°c | -0.5°c | 2°c | 0.6°c | -1.1°c | 3.2°c | 1.1°c | -0.2°c | 3.6°c | 0.7°c |
AM | PM | Night | |
Weather | |||
Wind | |||
Snow expected | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm |
Max temp | 8.5°c | 8.8°c | 6.7°c |
Min temp | 5.1°c | 6.3°c | 5.5°c |
Feels like temp | 4.4°c | 7.2°c | 6.1°c |
AM | PM | Night | |
Weather | |||
Wind | |||
Snow expected | 0 cm | 7 cm | 9.7 cm |
Max temp | 6.3°c | 3.9°c | 0.1°c |
Min temp | 3°c | 0.1°c | -3.1°c |
Feels like temp | 5.9°c | 2.8°c | 0.1°c |
Snowfall | Last Snowfall | 12/12/2024 |
---|---|---|
Next 3 days | 37.9 cm | |
Depths | Upper piste depth | 100 cm |
Lower piste depth | 10 cm | |
Snow conditions | Snow quality | Hard packed |
Lifts | Lifts open | 16 out of 49 |
Resort opening date | Sat 14 Dec 2024 | |
Resort closing date | Sun 27 Apr 2025 |
Updated 17/12
Another really mixed week of weather is in store for the French Alps. Wednesday starts fine, dry and bright, with high pressure bringing mild temperatures high – positive temperatures at 2,000m can easily be expected.
As another area of strong low pressure moves over the UK and Ireland before heading into Northern Europe and Scandinavia, this will bring good snowfall even as far south as the French Alps. Conditions will change quickly on Thursday, with over a foot of snowfall expected down over the course of the day. This will start on higher slopes only as the freezing line remains high, brushing 2,500m at midday. However, this will fall as the day goes on, bringing snow all the way to lower elevations as the evening wears on. Friday will then start and stay cold, with -10°C expected around 2,000m – a mix of sun and cloud will be in store for Friday as the last few floccons move in over the course of the morning.
High pressure will then return on the weekend, with fine, dry and bright conditions dominating as temperatures remain cold. Even more unsettled weather will then move in again as the weekend concludes, bringing a few flurries of snow and possibly setting up for new snow for Christmas week – expect temperatures to rise again as the freezing line climbs back over 2,000m in this period.
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