Alpe d'Huez through the ski season
January's typical high at 2,208 m is -2°C / 28°F; April reaches 6°C / 43°F. April has about 14 days with rain or snow, while January has about 21 days with stronger gusts.
March has about 21 freeze-thaw days around 1,604 m. Plan for snow that can change from firm to soft during the day.
The high runs and the village do not necessarily have the same weather. If the Sarenne descent is part of your plan, use its current opening status as well as the forecast, especially near the start or end of the season. Plan your Alpe d'Huez ski trip →
Compare the months
Typical temperatures are for 2,208 m. The colder-day high is for 2,886 m: roughly one day in ten stays below it. Gust days count modeled gusts of 40 km/h (25 mph) or more and are not adjusted for height.
Swipe the table sideways to see rain, snow and gust days.
What to expect
December's afternoons at 2,208 m are close to freezing, with frequent gust days.
What to wear
Wear a warm midlayer for cold lift rides and check that your hood fits over your helmet. Tighten it before an exposed ride so you do not have to adjust it with cold hands.
Jacket and pants for December
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What to expect
January combines the lowest temperatures with the most gust days of the ski months covered here.
What to wear
Bring a warm midlayer and insulated gloves for January’s cold days. Close gaps at your neck and wrists before heading onto exposed lifts.
Jacket and pants for January
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What to expect
February has fewer wet days, but its colder days higher up are almost as cold as January's.
What to wear
Keep the winter insulation even if the forecast looks dry. Use vents to adjust while skiing instead of leaving your warm layer behind.
Jacket and pants for February
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What to expect
March afternoons rise above freezing while nights remain cold.
What to wear
A removable midlayer gives you more options as the day warms. Open vents before you become sweaty, then close them for the next lift.
Jacket and pants for March
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What to expect
April is the mildest month here and has the most frequent rain or snow.
What to wear
Choose a shell you can ventilate and carry warmth for colder runs higher up. Keep waterproof protection on milder days too, since rain or snow is frequent in April.
Jacket and pants for April
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Quick answers
How cold is Alpe d'Huez during the ski season? January afternoons around 2,208 m typically reach -2°C / 28°F, with lows near -8°C / 18°F. Bring extra warmth for the higher slopes.
What should you wear skiing in Alpe d'Huez? Use the monthly clothing advice, then adjust your layers for the current mountain forecast, your activity and how warm you run.
Do these ranges predict snow conditions? These figures combine rain and snow, so they cannot tell you how much fresh snow will be on the pistes. Check the lift operator's snow report and the mountain forecast before your trip.
About the data
The selected slope heights are 1,604 m, 2,208 m and 2,886 m. The three heights use separate 6.5 km weather-model cells.
These are historical estimates, not a trip forecast. A rain or snow day has at least 1 mm of precipitation. Temperatures are adjusted for slope height; precipitation and 10 m gusts are not. Each data cell is about 6.5 km wide, so conditions on an individual piste can differ.
Sources: Valmassoi et al. (2025), ICON-DREAM v1, DWD Climate Data Center (DOI; CC BY 4.0), downloaded September 9, 2026. Slope locations: OpenSkiMap and OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL. See how the clothing guide works.