Forecast today: Mainly fair
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
Tue 19 Mar | Wed 20 Mar | Thu 21 Mar | Fri 22 Mar | Sat 23 Mar | Sun 24 Mar | Mon 25 Mar | Tue 26 Mar | Wed 27 Mar | Thu 28 Mar | |||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
Generally clear | Mainly fair |
Mainly fair |
Generally clear | Mainly fair |
Generally clear |
Mainly fair | Generally clear |
Generally clear |
Mainly fair | Snow shower |
Occasional snow |
Occasional snow | Generally clear |
Generally clear |
Generally clear | Mainly fair |
Partly cloudy |
Generally clear | Occasional snow |
Snow shower |
Generally clear | Generally clear |
Generally clear |
Rather cloudy | Occasional snow |
Occasional snow |
Rather cloudy |
Wind | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Snow expected | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0.2 cm | 0.1 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 3.4 cm | 1.8 cm | 1.7 cm | 0 cm | 0.2 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0.5 cm | 2.7 cm | 5.5 cm | 1.8 cm | 0.3 cm | 0.6 cm | 0 cm | 0.8 cm | 1.6 cm | 0.2 cm |
Max temp | -0.6°c | -0.6°c | -2.7°c | -0.4°c | -0.4°c | -2.8°c | 1.2°c | 1.2°c | -2°c | 2.3°c | 2.3°c | -1.5°c | -1.6°c | -2.2°c | -6°c | -7.9°c | -7.9°c | -10.1°c | -5.5°c | -5.5°c | -7.5°c | -6.2°c | -6.2°c | -7.4°c | -4.7°c | -4.7°c | -6.2°c | -5.2°c | -5.1°c | -6°c |
Min temp | -3.5°c | -2.7°c | -4.7°c | -5.2°c | -2.8°c | -4.5°c | -3.7°c | -2°c | -3.8°c | -2.8°c | -1.5°c | -3°c | -4°c | -6°c | -10.2°c | -11.8°c | -10.1°c | -12.8°c | -12.6°c | -7.5°c | -9.4°c | -9.3°c | -7.4°c | -8.7°c | -9°c | -6.2°c | -7.8°c | -8.2°c | -6°c | -8°c |
Feels like temp | -3.5°c | -0.6°c | -2.7°c | -5.2°c | -0.4°c | -2.8°c | -3.7°c | -1.2°c | -4.9°c | -2.8°c | 2°c | -1.5°c | -7.8°c | -6°c | -10.6°c | -17.5°c | -13°c | -15.2°c | -12.6°c | -5.5°c | -7.5°c | -9.3°c | -6.2°c | -7.4°c | -9°c | -4.7°c | -6.2°c | -8.2°c | -8.6°c | -6°c |
AM | PM | Night | |
Weather | Mainly fair |
Generally clear |
Generally clear |
Wind | |||
Snow expected | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm |
Max temp | -0.6°c | -0.6°c | -2.7°c |
Min temp | -3.5°c | -2.7°c | -4.7°c |
Feels like temp | -3.5°c | -0.6°c | -2.7°c |
AM | PM | Night | |
Weather | Mainly fair |
Mainly fair |
Generally clear |
Wind | |||
Snow expected | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm |
Max temp | -0.4°c | -0.4°c | -2.8°c |
Min temp | -5.2°c | -2.8°c | -4.5°c |
Feels like temp | -5.2°c | -0.4°c | -2.8°c |
Tue 19 Mar | Wed 20 Mar | Thu 21 Mar | Fri 22 Mar | Sat 23 Mar | Sun 24 Mar | Mon 25 Mar | Tue 26 Mar | Wed 27 Mar | Thu 28 Mar | |||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
Generally clear | Generally clear |
Partly cloudy |
Ground fog | Generally clear |
Mainly fair |
Generally clear | Generally clear |
Generally clear |
Generally clear | Rain shower |
Rain/Snow shower |
Occasional snow | Mainly fair |
Mainly fair |
Clear skies | Generally clear |
Generally clear |
Generally clear | Occasional snow |
Occasional snow |
Mainly fair | Generally clear |
Generally clear |
Rather cloudy | Snow grains |
Snow grains |
Broken clouds |
Wind | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Snow expected | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0.2 cm | 1.5 cm | 0 cm | 0.1 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0.3 cm | 0.9 cm | 1.7 cm | 1.2 cm | 0 cm | 0.1 cm | 0.2 cm | 0.1 cm | 0.3 cm | 0.1 cm |
Max temp | 6°c | 6°c | 2.9°c | 6.4°c | 6.4°c | 3.4°c | 7.9°c | 7.9°c | 4°c | 8.5°c | 8.5°c | 4.7°c | 4.2°c | 4.2°c | -0.3°c | -0.7°c | -0.7°c | -4°c | 1.5°c | 1.5°c | -1.3°c | 1.1°c | 1.1°c | -1.5°c | 2.4°c | 2.4°c | -0.3°c | 2.4°c | 2.4°c | -0.1°c |
Min temp | 0.1°c | 2.9°c | -0.3°c | -0.6°c | 3.4°c | 0.4°c | 0°c | 4°c | 0.8°c | 0.9°c | 4.7°c | 1.9°c | 0.5°c | -0.3°c | -4.5°c | -6.4°c | -4°c | -7°c | -7.5°c | -1.3°c | -4°c | -4.2°c | -1.5°c | -4.3°c | -4.4°c | -0.3°c | -2.6°c | -3.2°c | -0.1°c | -2.4°c |
Feels like temp | 0.1°c | 5.5°c | 2.7°c | -0.6°c | 4.7°c | 3.2°c | 0°c | 7.3°c | 3.7°c | 0.8°c | 7.7°c | 4.3°c | 0.5°c | 1.6°c | -2.9°c | -6.4°c | -3.9°c | -4°c | -7.5°c | 1.3°c | -1.3°c | -4.2°c | 1°c | -1.5°c | -4.4°c | 2.1°c | -0.3°c | -3.2°c | -0.1°c | -0.1°c |
AM | PM | Night | |
Weather | |||
Wind | |||
Snow expected | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm |
Max temp | 6°c | 6°c | 2.9°c |
Min temp | 0.1°c | 2.9°c | -0.3°c |
Feels like temp | 0.1°c | 5.5°c | 2.7°c |
AM | PM | Night | |
Weather | |||
Wind | |||
Snow expected | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm |
Max temp | 6.4°c | 6.4°c | 3.4°c |
Min temp | -0.6°c | 3.4°c | 0.4°c |
Feels like temp | -0.6°c | 4.7°c | 3.2°c |
Snowfall | Last Snowfall | 10/03/2024 |
---|---|---|
Next 3 days | 0.3 cm | |
Depths | Upper piste depth | 136 cm |
Lower piste depth | 80 cm | |
Snow conditions | Snow quality | Hard packed |
Lifts | Lifts open | 31 out of 35 |
Resort opening date | Fri 15 Dec 2023 | |
Resort closing date | Sun 07 Apr 2024 |
France gets off to a slow start over the weekend with cold temperatures and minimal snow and a freezing line sitting around the 2000m mark. High pressure dominates the weekend until Monday meaning lovely blue bird days for a great weekend of skiing. This then turns to low pressure which results in a return of snow.
As we move into the next week, there is an early flurry of snow, most notably in Chamonix and for most of the northern French Alps getting 30-40 cm’s of snow early next week. Temperatures seem to stay around the -3 degrees mark and the creeping up to -6/-7 overnight.
The most up-to-date avalanche forecasting for the French Alps can be found on Meteo France’s website
Choose from thousands of independent instructors across the Alps with Maison Sport…
Find out more about how you can save money on Maison Sport’s discount page.
10-20% off group and private course, rentals and packages for all Ski Club Members