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Forecast today: Mainly fair
- Max temp: 2.1 °c
- Min temp: -11.5 °c
- Last snowed: Sat 10 Jan
The combined Vars/Risoul ski area has 185km of pistes which offer skiing and boarding for all abilities.
Beginners have plenty of areas to learn their skills around the bases of Vars and Risoul. Intermediates need to head further up the mountain to find the majority of the blue runs – the Col Des Saluces in particular has a great range of blues. There are also plenty of red runs; the steepest of these drop from the summit of the mountain. Whilst there are a few black pistes, advanced skiers will have to head off piste for a real challenge – the Eyssina and Chabrières areas have a over a hundred skiable couloirs.
Vars has a lot of purpose-built apartments from the 1970s and, despite recent improvements, is still not the prettiest resort. Most of the accommodation is in self-catering apartments, making the resort perfect for families. Turin is the closest airport to Vars and is just under a three hour drive away.
Resort website: www.vars.com
Pros and cons
- Attractive, family-friendly resorts
- Reasonably snow-sure and with lots of treelined runs
- Among the cheapest resorts in the French Alps
- Still mainly draglifts and slow old chairs, though a few fast ones
- Few on-piste challenges for experts
- Little to do off the slopes
Top (2683m)
| Wed 21 Jan | Thu 22 Jan | Fri 23 Jan | Sat 24 Jan | Sun 25 Jan | Mon 26 Jan | Tue 27 Jan | Wed 28 Jan | Thu 29 Jan | Fri 30 Jan | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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 | Mainly fair |
Generally clear |
 Broken clouds |  Occasional snow |
Occasional snow |
Occasional snow | Occasional snow |
Light snow |
Light snow | Occasional snow |
Occasional snow |
Occasional snow | Occasional snow |
Rather cloudy |
Occasional snow | Generally clear |
Mainly fair |
Mainly fair | Light snow |
Light snow |
Light snow | Light snow |
Light snow |
Light snow | Occasional snow |
Light snow |
Light snow shwr | Occasional snow |
Occasional snow |
Occasional snow |
| Wind |  |
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| Snow expected | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 1.2 cm | 1.1 cm | 0.6 cm | 1.9 cm | 5.2 cm | 4.7 cm | 2.2 cm | 3.5 cm | 2.8 cm | 0.7 cm | 0.6 cm | 1.3 cm | 0 cm | 0.1 cm | 0.7 cm | 8.4 cm | 7 cm | 5.2 cm | 5.8 cm | 7 cm | 7.5 cm | 3.6 cm | 6 cm | 4.1 cm | 2.2 cm | 2.2 cm | 1.9 cm |
| Max temp | -2.7°c | -2.7°c | -7°c | -4.9°c | -4.5°c | -4.8°c | -5.2°c | -5.7°c | -6.9°c | -8.3°c | -8.3°c | -8.8°c | -8.2°c | -8°c | -9.8°c | -7.3°c | -7.1°c | -9.8°c | -5.1°c | -4.8°c | -5°c | -6°c | -6°c | -6.4°c | -4.7°c | -4.8°c | -6.1°c | -5.5°c | -5.4°c | -6.2°c |
| Min temp | -13.9°c | -7°c | -7.9°c | -6.9°c | -5.1°c | -5.3°c | -6.2°c | -7.2°c | -7.6°c | -10.3°c | -9.4°c | -9°c | -10.5°c | -10.1°c | -10.1°c | -11.2°c | -10.2°c | -10.2°c | -7.8°c | -5.6°c | -5.9°c | -6.8°c | -7.1°c | -6.8°c | -6.5°c | -6.6°c | -6.5°c | -7°c | -6.6°c | -6.6°c |
| Feels like temp | -13.9°c | -7.2°c | -10.7°c | -6.9°c | -8.3°c | -4.8°c | -10.7°c | -10.9°c | -12.7°c | -15.6°c | -14°c | -16.4°c | -15.1°c | -8.2°c | -15.4°c | -18°c | -12.1°c | -14.8°c | -12.9°c | -10.3°c | -10.3°c | -13°c | -12°c | -12.2°c | -10.7°c | -9.5°c | -11.6°c | -13.4°c | -11.8°c | -11.9°c |
| AM | PM | Night | |
| Weather | Mainly fair |
Generally clear |
Broken clouds |
| Wind | |
|
|
| Snow expected | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm |
| Max temp | -2.7°c | -2.7°c | -7°c |
| Min temp | -13.9°c | -7°c | -7.9°c |
| Feels like temp | -13.9°c | -7.2°c | -10.7°c |
| AM | PM | Night | |
| Weather | Occasional snow |
Occasional snow |
Occasional snow |
| Wind | |
|
|
| Snow expected | 1.2 cm | 1.1 cm | 0.6 cm |
| Max temp | -4.9°c | -4.5°c | -4.8°c |
| Min temp | -6.9°c | -5.1°c | -5.3°c |
| Feels like temp | -6.9°c | -8.3°c | -4.8°c |
| AM | PM | Night | |
| Weather | Occasional snow |
Light snow |
Light snow |
| Wind | |
|
|
| Snow expected | 1.9 cm | 5.2 cm | 4.7 cm |
| Max temp | -5.2°c | -5.7°c | -6.9°c |
| Min temp | -6.2°c | -7.2°c | -7.6°c |
| Feels like temp | -10.7°c | -10.9°c | -12.7°c |
| AM | PM | Night | |
| Weather | Occasional snow |
Occasional snow |
Occasional snow |
| Wind | |
|
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| Snow expected | 2.2 cm | 3.5 cm | 2.8 cm |
| Max temp | -8.3°c | -8.3°c | -8.8°c |
| Min temp | -10.3°c | -9.4°c | -9°c |
| Feels like temp | -15.6°c | -14°c | -16.4°c |
| AM | PM | Night | |
| Weather | Occasional snow |
Rather cloudy |
Occasional snow |
| Wind | |
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| Snow expected | 0.7 cm | 0.6 cm | 1.3 cm |
| Max temp | -8.2°c | -8°c | -9.8°c |
| Min temp | -10.5°c | -10.1°c | -10.1°c |
| Feels like temp | -15.1°c | -8.2°c | -15.4°c |
| AM | PM | Night | |
| Weather | Generally clear |
Mainly fair |
Mainly fair |
| Wind | |
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| Snow expected | 0 cm | 0.1 cm | 0.7 cm |
| Max temp | -7.3°c | -7.1°c | -9.8°c |
| Min temp | -11.2°c | -10.2°c | -10.2°c |
| Feels like temp | -18°c | -12.1°c | -14.8°c |
| AM | PM | Night | |
| Weather | Light snow |
Light snow |
Light snow |
| Wind | |
|
|
| Snow expected | 8.4 cm | 7 cm | 5.2 cm |
| Max temp | -5.1°c | -4.8°c | -5°c |
| Min temp | -7.8°c | -5.6°c | -5.9°c |
| Feels like temp | -12.9°c | -10.3°c | -10.3°c |
| AM | PM | Night | |
| Weather | Light snow |
Light snow |
Light snow |
| Wind | |
|
|
| Snow expected | 5.8 cm | 7 cm | 7.5 cm |
| Max temp | -6°c | -6°c | -6.4°c |
| Min temp | -6.8°c | -7.1°c | -6.8°c |
| Feels like temp | -13°c | -12°c | -12.2°c |
| AM | PM | Night | |
| Weather | Occasional snow |
Light snow |
Light snow shwr |
| Wind | |
|
|
| Snow expected | 3.6 cm | 6 cm | 4.1 cm |
| Max temp | -4.7°c | -4.8°c | -6.1°c |
| Min temp | -6.5°c | -6.6°c | -6.5°c |
| Feels like temp | -10.7°c | -9.5°c | -11.6°c |
Resort (1853m)
| Wed 21 Jan | Thu 22 Jan | Fri 23 Jan | Sat 24 Jan | Sun 25 Jan | Mon 26 Jan | Tue 27 Jan | Wed 28 Jan | Thu 29 Jan | Fri 30 Jan | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Mainly fair |
Generally clear |
Broken clouds | Occasional snow |
Occasional snow |
Occasional snow | Occasional snow |
Snow shower |
Snow shower | Occasional snow |
Occasional snow |
Light snow shwr | Occasional snow |
Occasional snow |
Occasional snow | Mainly fair |
Generally clear |
Generally clear |  Snow |
Snow |
Light snow | Light snow |
Light snow |
Light snow | Light snow |
Light snow |
Snow shower | Occasional snow |
Occasional snow |
Occasional snow |
| Wind |  |
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| Snow expected | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 1.4 cm | 1.2 cm | 0.5 cm | 1.5 cm | 4.4 cm | 4.6 cm | 1.7 cm | 2.3 cm | 2 cm | 0.8 cm | 0.6 cm | 1.4 cm | 0 cm | 0.1 cm | 0.8 cm | 7.3 cm | 5.2 cm | 4.9 cm | 4.4 cm | 5.9 cm | 7.2 cm | 2.8 cm | 4.8 cm | 4.6 cm | 2.3 cm | 1.9 cm | 1.8 cm |
| Max temp | 2.1°c | 2.1°c | -5.2°c | 0.2°c | 0.6°c | -1.4°c | 0°c | 0.3°c | -2.6°c | -2.3°c | -2°c | -5.2°c | -2.5°c | -2.3°c | -6.6°c | -2.3°c | -2.1°c | -7.5°c | -0.2°c | 0.1°c | -2.1°c | -0.8°c | -0.6°c | -3.8°c | 0°c | 0°c | -3.3°c | -0.6°c | -0.4°c | -3.3°c |
| Min temp | -11.5°c | -5.4°c | -6.1°c | -3.6°c | -1.5°c | -2°c | -3.1°c | -2.6°c | -4.3°c | -7.8°c | -5.2°c | -6.6°c | -8.2°c | -6.6°c | -8.1°c | -9.5°c | -7.5°c | -8.8°c | -6.2°c | -2.1°c | -3.4°c | -4.7°c | -3.8°c | -4.4°c | -4.5°c | -3.3°c | -4.5°c | -5.2°c | -3.3°c | -4.7°c |
| Feels like temp | -11.5°c | 1.8°c | -5.4°c | -3.4°c | 0.2°c | -1.4°c | -2.8°c | 0°c | -2.6°c | -7.8°c | -5.4°c | -8.6°c | -8.2°c | -2.5°c | -6.6°c | -13.7°c | -2.3°c | -7.5°c | -6.2°c | -0.2°c | -2.1°c | -4.4°c | -0.8°c | -3.8°c | -4.5°c | -2.8°c | -3.3°c | -5.2°c | -3.4°c | -3.3°c |
| AM | PM | Night | |
| Weather | |
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| Wind | |
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| Snow expected | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm |
| Max temp | 2.1°c | 2.1°c | -5.2°c |
| Min temp | -11.5°c | -5.4°c | -6.1°c |
| Feels like temp | -11.5°c | 1.8°c | -5.4°c |
| AM | PM | Night | |
| Weather | |
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| Wind | |
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| Snow expected | 1.4 cm | 1.2 cm | 0.5 cm |
| Max temp | 0.2°c | 0.6°c | -1.4°c |
| Min temp | -3.6°c | -1.5°c | -2°c |
| Feels like temp | -3.4°c | 0.2°c | -1.4°c |
| AM | PM | Night | |
| Weather | |
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| Wind | |
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| Snow expected | 1.5 cm | 4.4 cm | 4.6 cm |
| Max temp | 0°c | 0.3°c | -2.6°c |
| Min temp | -3.1°c | -2.6°c | -4.3°c |
| Feels like temp | -2.8°c | 0°c | -2.6°c |
| AM | PM | Night | |
| Weather | |
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| Wind | |
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| Snow expected | 1.7 cm | 2.3 cm | 2 cm |
| Max temp | -2.3°c | -2°c | -5.2°c |
| Min temp | -7.8°c | -5.2°c | -6.6°c |
| Feels like temp | -7.8°c | -5.4°c | -8.6°c |
| AM | PM | Night | |
| Weather | |
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| Wind | |
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| Snow expected | 0.8 cm | 0.6 cm | 1.4 cm |
| Max temp | -2.5°c | -2.3°c | -6.6°c |
| Min temp | -8.2°c | -6.6°c | -8.1°c |
| Feels like temp | -8.2°c | -2.5°c | -6.6°c |
| AM | PM | Night | |
| Weather | |
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| Wind | |
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| Snow expected | 0 cm | 0.1 cm | 0.8 cm |
| Max temp | -2.3°c | -2.1°c | -7.5°c |
| Min temp | -9.5°c | -7.5°c | -8.8°c |
| Feels like temp | -13.7°c | -2.3°c | -7.5°c |
| AM | PM | Night | |
| Weather | |
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| Wind | |
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| Snow expected | 7.3 cm | 5.2 cm | 4.9 cm |
| Max temp | -0.2°c | 0.1°c | -2.1°c |
| Min temp | -6.2°c | -2.1°c | -3.4°c |
| Feels like temp | -6.2°c | -0.2°c | -2.1°c |
| AM | PM | Night | |
| Weather | |
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| Wind | |
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| Snow expected | 4.4 cm | 5.9 cm | 7.2 cm |
| Max temp | -0.8°c | -0.6°c | -3.8°c |
| Min temp | -4.7°c | -3.8°c | -4.4°c |
| Feels like temp | -4.4°c | -0.8°c | -3.8°c |
| AM | PM | Night | |
| Weather | |
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| Wind | |
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| Snow expected | 2.8 cm | 4.8 cm | 4.6 cm |
| Max temp | 0°c | 0°c | -3.3°c |
| Min temp | -4.5°c | -3.3°c | -4.5°c |
| Feels like temp | -4.5°c | -2.8°c | -3.3°c |
Resort Conditions
| Snowfall | Last Snowfall | 10/01/2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Next 3 days | 23.8 cm | |
| Depths | Upper piste depth | 65 cm |
| Lower piste depth | 30 cm | |
| Snow conditions | Snow quality | Hard packed |
| Lifts | Lifts open | 34 out of 34 |
| Resort opening date | Sat 06 Dec 2025 | |
| Resort closing date | Sun 12 Apr 2026 |
France
Updated 30/12
The New Year dawns bright, dry and sunny as high pressure remains over much of Europe during this time. This changes rapidly as the weekend begins, with large flows of low pressure and cold air moving in from the East. This will bring excellent snow totals to much of the French Alps.
Snow will begin on Friday with around 20cm down. This will then increase to up to 1m down over higher ground, snow continuing into Sunday with another 15cm forecast. The freezing line will rise to around 2,000m throughout this period however snowfall is expected to reach lower down the hill too.
This snow will fall on a persistent weak layer and layers of facets within the snowpack that have already triggered avalanches over the festive period. Expect the avalanche warning to rise greatly in the coming days, and the snowpack to take a long time to settle – plan all back country travel and check your local avalanche forecast before heading out.
Snowfall is expected to continue in the new week after a brief flurry of sunshine on Monday, with temperatures plummeting as the freezing line hits below sea level.
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