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Forecast today: Mainly fair
- Max temp: 5 °c
- Min temp: -2.9 °c
- Last snowed: Sat 10 Jan
Two chondola lifts and a fast six-seater rise out of the main base village, accessing a wide bowl filled with blues to skiers left and reds to skiers right.
Many of these are equipped with snowmaking to counterbalance the sunny, south-facing aspect. The high-altitude slopes off Le Drouvet reach higher than 2700m and in good conditions offer up some great, underrated off piste terrain.
Unfortunately, none of the slopes are located within the tree-line, so the resort can be a little bleak in bad weather. The village of Orcières itself is located at 1450m and has some limited accommodation. Instead, basing yourself up in the purpose-built village at Merlette will ensure reliable snow, maximum convenience and access to the resort’s best bars and restaurants.
Here, there’s good value apartment accommodation and many are slopeside, enabling you to ski in and out of your door each day. The small airport in Grenoble is around two hours away, or Lyon is a three hour drive.
Resort website: www.orcieres.com
Top (2351m)
| Wed 14 Jan | Thu 15 Jan | Fri 16 Jan | Sat 17 Jan | Sun 18 Jan | Mon 19 Jan | Tue 20 Jan | Wed 21 Jan | Thu 22 Jan | Fri 23 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 | Generally clear |
Generally clear |
 Mainly cloudy | Mainly fair |
Mainly fair |
Generally clear |  Occasional snow |
Occasional snow |
Light snow | Occasional snow |
Occasional snow |
Occasional snow | Occasional snow |
Occasional snow |
Light snow shwr | Occasional snow |
Mainly cloudy |
Mainly cloudy | Occasional snow |
Occasional snow |
Partly cloudy | Partly cloudy |
Partly cloudy |
Generally clear | Mainly fair |
Partly cloudy |
Generally clear | Occasional snow |
Occasional snow |
Occasional snow |
| Wind |  |
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| Snow expected | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 1 cm | 1.2 cm | 4.1 cm | 2.6 cm | 1.9 cm | 1 cm | 0.8 cm | 1.3 cm | 1 cm | 0.4 cm | 0.5 cm | 0.5 cm | 0.5 cm | 0.3 cm | 0.3 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0.1 cm | 1 cm | 0.8 cm | 0.6 cm |
| Max temp | -1.1°c | -1°c | -3.5°c | -2°c | -1.9°c | -4.5°c | -3.1°c | -3.1°c | -3.5°c | -3.2°c | -3.4°c | -3°c | -2.8°c | -3.2°c | -3.2°c | -3°c | -3.5°c | -3.5°c | -3.3°c | -3.9°c | -4.9°c | -3.1°c | -3.1°c | -5.3°c | -3.6°c | -3.6°c | -5.7°c | -4.1°c | -4°c | -5.2°c |
| Min temp | -4.6°c | -3.9°c | -4°c | -5.1°c | -4.5°c | -5.3°c | -5.7°c | -4.2°c | -4°c | -3.7°c | -3.9°c | -3.5°c | -3.4°c | -3.9°c | -3.6°c | -3.7°c | -4°c | -3.9°c | -4°c | -4.9°c | -5.8°c | -6.1°c | -5.3°c | -6.3°c | -6.8°c | -5.7°c | -6.3°c | -6.4°c | -5.3°c | -5.9°c |
| Feels like temp | -3.9°c | -4.4°c | -3.9°c | -5.1°c | -5.6°c | -9.1°c | -10°c | -6.8°c | -7.8°c | -7.3°c | -7.3°c | -7.9°c | -8.5°c | -8.5°c | -8.2°c | -8.4°c | -8.7°c | -9.1°c | -9.3°c | -9.3°c | -9.7°c | -6.1°c | -3.1°c | -5.3°c | -6.8°c | -3.6°c | -5.7°c | -6.4°c | -4.1°c | -5.2°c |
| AM | PM | Night | |
| Weather | Generally clear |
Generally clear |
Mainly cloudy |
| Wind | |
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| Snow expected | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm |
| Max temp | -1.1°c | -1°c | -3.5°c |
| Min temp | -4.6°c | -3.9°c | -4°c |
| Feels like temp | -3.9°c | -4.4°c | -3.9°c |
| AM | PM | Night | |
| Weather | Mainly fair |
Mainly fair |
Generally clear |
| Wind | |
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| Snow expected | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm |
| Max temp | -2°c | -1.9°c | -4.5°c |
| Min temp | -5.1°c | -4.5°c | -5.3°c |
| Feels like temp | -5.1°c | -5.6°c | -9.1°c |
| AM | PM | Night | |
| Weather | Occasional snow |
Occasional snow |
Light snow |
| Wind | |
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| Snow expected | 1 cm | 1.2 cm | 4.1 cm |
| Max temp | -3.1°c | -3.1°c | -3.5°c |
| Min temp | -5.7°c | -4.2°c | -4°c |
| Feels like temp | -10°c | -6.8°c | -7.8°c |
| AM | PM | Night | |
| Weather | Occasional snow |
Occasional snow |
Occasional snow |
| Wind | |
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| Snow expected | 2.6 cm | 1.9 cm | 1 cm |
| Max temp | -3.2°c | -3.4°c | -3°c |
| Min temp | -3.7°c | -3.9°c | -3.5°c |
| Feels like temp | -7.3°c | -7.3°c | -7.9°c |
| AM | PM | Night | |
| Weather | Occasional snow |
Occasional snow |
Light snow shwr |
| Wind | |
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| Snow expected | 0.8 cm | 1.3 cm | 1 cm |
| Max temp | -2.8°c | -3.2°c | -3.2°c |
| Min temp | -3.4°c | -3.9°c | -3.6°c |
| Feels like temp | -8.5°c | -8.5°c | -8.2°c |
| AM | PM | Night | |
| Weather | Occasional snow |
Mainly cloudy |
Mainly cloudy |
| Wind | |
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| Snow expected | 0.4 cm | 0.5 cm | 0.5 cm |
| Max temp | -3°c | -3.5°c | -3.5°c |
| Min temp | -3.7°c | -4°c | -3.9°c |
| Feels like temp | -8.4°c | -8.7°c | -9.1°c |
| AM | PM | Night | |
| Weather | Occasional snow |
Occasional snow |
Partly cloudy |
| Wind | |
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| Snow expected | 0.5 cm | 0.3 cm | 0.3 cm |
| Max temp | -3.3°c | -3.9°c | -4.9°c |
| Min temp | -4°c | -4.9°c | -5.8°c |
| Feels like temp | -9.3°c | -9.3°c | -9.7°c |
| AM | PM | Night | |
| Weather | Partly cloudy |
Partly cloudy |
Generally clear |
| Wind | |
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| Snow expected | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm |
| Max temp | -3.1°c | -3.1°c | -5.3°c |
| Min temp | -6.1°c | -5.3°c | -6.3°c |
| Feels like temp | -6.1°c | -3.1°c | -5.3°c |
| AM | PM | Night | |
| Weather | Mainly fair |
Partly cloudy |
Generally clear |
| Wind | |
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| Snow expected | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0.1 cm |
| Max temp | -3.6°c | -3.6°c | -5.7°c |
| Min temp | -6.8°c | -5.7°c | -6.3°c |
| Feels like temp | -6.8°c | -3.6°c | -5.7°c |
Resort (1823m)
| Wed 14 Jan | Thu 15 Jan | Fri 16 Jan | Sat 17 Jan | Sun 18 Jan | Mon 19 Jan | Tue 20 Jan | Wed 21 Jan | Thu 22 Jan | Fri 23 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 |
Mainly fair |
 Broken clouds | Mainly fair |
Generally clear |
Broken clouds | Mainly cloudy |
Occasional snow |
Occasional snow | Occasional snow |
Occasional snow |
Occasional snow | Occasional snow |
Occasional snow |
Occasional snow | Occasional snow |
Occasional snow |
Occasional snow | Occasional snow |
Occasional snow |
Occasional snow | Snow grains |
Broken clouds |
Partly cloudy | Generally clear |
Partly cloudy |
Partly cloudy | Snow grains |
Snow grains |
Occasional snow |
| Wind |  |
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| Snow expected | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0.1 cm | 0.4 cm | 1.5 cm | 0.9 cm | 0.5 cm | 0.9 cm | 0.8 cm | 0.6 cm | 1.3 cm | 1 cm | 1.2 cm | 2.3 cm | 2.2 cm | 1.5 cm | 1.3 cm | 0.3 cm | 0.2 cm | 0.2 cm | 0.2 cm | 0.2 cm | 0.3 cm | 0.4 cm | 0.3 cm | 0.5 cm |
| Max temp | 4.9°c | 5°c | -0.7°c | 3.6°c | 3.8°c | -1.3°c | 2.1°c | 2.4°c | 0.4°c | 2.1°c | 2.3°c | 0.8°c | 2.5°c | 2.5°c | 0.6°c | 1.8°c | 1.9°c | 0.1°c | 1.3°c | 1.2°c | -1.6°c | 2.2°c | 2.2°c | -1.8°c | 2.1°c | 2.1°c | -2.1°c | 1.5°c | 1.5°c | -2.1°c |
| Min temp | -2.9°c | -0.7°c | -1.7°c | -4°c | -1.3°c | -2.7°c | -3.4°c | 0.4°c | 0.1°c | -1°c | 0.6°c | 0.4°c | -0.4°c | 0.6°c | 0.1°c | -1.1°c | 0°c | -0.2°c | -1.4°c | -1.6°c | -2.6°c | -4°c | -1.8°c | -3.7°c | -4.8°c | -2.1°c | -4°c | -4.9°c | -2.1°c | -3.8°c |
| Feels like temp | -2.2°c | 4.4°c | -0.7°c | -3.7°c | 3.2°c | -1.3°c | -3.2°c | 1.9°c | 0.4°c | -0.5°c | 1.9°c | 0.5°c | 0.2°c | 2.2°c | 0.5°c | -0.7°c | -0.6°c | 0°c | -0.9°c | -1.3°c | -1.6°c | -4°c | 1.9°c | -1.8°c | -4.8°c | 1.8°c | -2.1°c | -4.9°c | 1.3°c | -2.1°c |
| AM | PM | Night | |
| Weather | |
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| Wind | |
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| Snow expected | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm |
| Max temp | 4.9°c | 5°c | -0.7°c |
| Min temp | -2.9°c | -0.7°c | -1.7°c |
| Feels like temp | -2.2°c | 4.4°c | -0.7°c |
| AM | PM | Night | |
| Weather | |
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| Wind | |
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| Snow expected | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm |
| Max temp | 3.6°c | 3.8°c | -1.3°c |
| Min temp | -4°c | -1.3°c | -2.7°c |
| Feels like temp | -3.7°c | 3.2°c | -1.3°c |
| AM | PM | Night | |
| Weather | |
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| Wind | |
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| Snow expected | 0.1 cm | 0.4 cm | 1.5 cm |
| Max temp | 2.1°c | 2.4°c | 0.4°c |
| Min temp | -3.4°c | 0.4°c | 0.1°c |
| Feels like temp | -3.2°c | 1.9°c | 0.4°c |
| AM | PM | Night | |
| Weather | |
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| Wind | |
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| Snow expected | 0.9 cm | 0.5 cm | 0.9 cm |
| Max temp | 2.1°c | 2.3°c | 0.8°c |
| Min temp | -1°c | 0.6°c | 0.4°c |
| Feels like temp | -0.5°c | 1.9°c | 0.5°c |
| AM | PM | Night | |
| Weather | |
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| Wind | |
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| Snow expected | 0.8 cm | 0.6 cm | 1.3 cm |
| Max temp | 2.5°c | 2.5°c | 0.6°c |
| Min temp | -0.4°c | 0.6°c | 0.1°c |
| Feels like temp | 0.2°c | 2.2°c | 0.5°c |
| AM | PM | Night | |
| Weather | |
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| Wind | |
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| Snow expected | 1 cm | 1.2 cm | 2.3 cm |
| Max temp | 1.8°c | 1.9°c | 0.1°c |
| Min temp | -1.1°c | 0°c | -0.2°c |
| Feels like temp | -0.7°c | -0.6°c | 0°c |
| AM | PM | Night | |
| Weather | |
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| Wind | |
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| Snow expected | 2.2 cm | 1.5 cm | 1.3 cm |
| Max temp | 1.3°c | 1.2°c | -1.6°c |
| Min temp | -1.4°c | -1.6°c | -2.6°c |
| Feels like temp | -0.9°c | -1.3°c | -1.6°c |
| AM | PM | Night | |
| Weather | |
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| Wind | |
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| Snow expected | 0.3 cm | 0.2 cm | 0.2 cm |
| Max temp | 2.2°c | 2.2°c | -1.8°c |
| Min temp | -4°c | -1.8°c | -3.7°c |
| Feels like temp | -4°c | 1.9°c | -1.8°c |
| AM | PM | Night | |
| Weather | |
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| Wind | |
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| Snow expected | 0.2 cm | 0.2 cm | 0.3 cm |
| Max temp | 2.1°c | 2.1°c | -2.1°c |
| Min temp | -4.8°c | -2.1°c | -4°c |
| Feels like temp | -4.8°c | 1.8°c | -2.1°c |
Resort Conditions
| Snowfall | Last Snowfall | 10/01/2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Next 3 days | 11.9 cm | |
| Depths | Upper piste depth | 90 cm |
| Lower piste depth | 30 cm | |
| Snow conditions | Snow quality | New snow |
| Lifts | Lifts open | 16 out of 26 |
| Resort opening date | Sat 13 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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