The summer of 2026 was so hot that not a single snowflake fell high up in the Swiss Alps, something never recorded before. Does that mean a poor winter is on the way? The Swiss Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF in Davos looked into it and on 6 November published an analysis of what it means for the winter (in German). The short answer: the snow will probably arrive later, but that doesn't have to mean less of it.
These are the SLF's key findings for skiers and snowboarders.
The SLF has been taking measurements on the Weissfluhjoch, at 2,536 metres above Davos, for 90 years. Even in earlier hot summers, such as 2003, 2018 and 2022, there were brief snowfalls there. In 2026, July, August and September stayed completely snow-free, the SLF reports. According to Christoph Marty, snow climatologist at the institute, this fits a clear trend: in the first half of the record there were typically 26 days with snow each summer, in the last 45 years only 16.
Not necessarily. The SLF finds no fixed link between a hot summer and the winter that follows. After the hot summers of 2015 and 2022 came snow-poor winters, while the winters after 2003 and 2018 were mixed. The hot summer of 1947 was even followed by a snowy winter. What this winter brings depends mostly on the weather over the coming months. Read more in our winter 2026/27 forecast and in How will the winter be?
What the SLF's records do show is that after a hot summer, the lasting winter snowpack often arrives later. In Davos it normally builds from around 17 November, in Mürren from 19 November. After previous hot summers it came 2 to 19 days later in Mürren and 1 to 47 days later in Davos. With the longest delay, Davos would not be fully snow-covered until the new year. The ground is still warm, so the first snow melts faster.
Snow cannons are struggling too. According to Fabian Wolfsperger, technical snow expert at the SLF, they work best below -5 °C, and around a hundred cold hours are enough to build a good base on a piste. After a dry summer, the water in the reservoirs is also warmer and supplies are lower. Ski areas above roughly 2,500 metres are therefore the most optimistic.
Heading out early in the season, in November or December? Then choose altitude. Ski areas with plenty of pistes above 2,000 metres or a glacier give you the best chance of good conditions. Davos Klosters itself is a good example, with pistes up to 2,844 metres. Find more ideas in our guide to snow-sure ski resorts.
According to Alec van Herwijnen, who leads avalanche formation research at the SLF, early snow on warm ground brings a particular risk: glide-snow avalanches. The entire snowpack slides down over the ground. After this summer, that can happen even on north-facing slopes, where it is normally rare. The SLF warns of cracks in the snow that look like a gaping fish mouth. Never stop beneath them.
On open, groomed pistes you'll notice little of this in practice, as ski areas check the terrain every day. If you're going off-piste or ski touring, always follow the avalanche bulletin. Read our avalanche safety tips too.
The frozen ground high in the mountains is feeling the heat as well. Permafrost expert Jeannette Nötzli of the SLF explains that the warmth has already reached the upper layers, but won't be measurable ten metres down until 2027. If a lot of snow falls early, it acts like a blanket and keeps the ground warm. Late snow can soften the effects a little. Warming also increases the risk of rockfall.
Want to know how things look right now? Check the latest snow report, have a look at the webcams or see the weather for each ski area. Sign up for Snow Alert and we'll email you as soon as fresh snow is forecast for your favourite ski area.
Meet Mike, Editor-in-Chief and co-owner of Snowplaza. As a seasoned winter sports expert and former ski instructor, he shares his unique knowledge of ski resorts, technique, and gear.
