Photos: snow returns to French Alps in July
Temperatures have dropped 5 - 10°C below seasonal norms in the east of the country
Up to 30cm of snow has been recorded at high altitude in the Mont-Blanc massif (Image for illustration only)
JL. Lago/Shutterstock
A summer cold snap brings snow to the French Alps, with impressive off-season images being shared via webcams and on social media.
Rain and snow fell overnight (July 7-8), covering mountain tops at an altitude of 2,300m and higher, in the Grand Est and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes regions, where temperatures are “close to early October levels”, says La Chaîne Météo.
Today (July 8) is to be the coolest day of the week after temperatures dropped 5 - 10°C below seasonal norms on Monday.
Temperatures will gradually rise again from tomorrow, expected to bring the third heatwave of the summer over the July 14 long weekend.
Not unusual for the season
“This is, of course, not unusual… it can snow every month of the year [at altitudes] above 1800/2000m,” stated Meteo-Alpes in a Facebook post.
The weather channel also says that 2-5cm of snow has been recorded at around 2700m, 10-20cm around 3200m, and up to 30cm at high altitude in the Mont-Blanc massif.
Read also: The French resort where you can ski until July
Regional media and mountain tourism site, Mon Séjour en Montagne, also highlights that snow in the middle of summer is “not an uncommon phenomenon,” reminding that a slalom was organised on July 14, 2024 in La Clusaz (Haute-Savoie).
Snow photos and videos
The Connexion looks at some of the snowy images that appeared across social media platforms overnight.
Read also: Photos: Surprise snowfall of up to 20 cm in eastern France
Snow also fell across the border in the Italian Alps.
