Zermatt through the ski season
January's typical high is -7°C / 19°F at 2,744 m, compared with 0°C / 32°F in April. November has about 10 wet days; December has about 5 stronger-gust days.
March has about 16 freeze-thaw days around 2,112 m. Lower-slope softening doesn't remove the need for warmth farther up.
Zermatt’s three ski sectors have different routes up from the village. Pick the day’s sector before reading the forecast, and check the border lifts separately if you plan to ski to Cervinia. Plan your Zermatt ski trip →
Compare the months
Typical temperatures are for 2,744 m. The colder-day high is for 3,094 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.
| Month | Typical high | Colder day higher up | Rain/snow days | Gust days ≥40 km/h (25 mph) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov | -2°C / 28°F | -10°C / 14°F | 10 | 3 |
| Dec | -5°C / 23°F | -13°C / 9°F | 10 | 5 |
| Jan | -7°C / 19°F | -15°C / 5°F | 10 | 5 |
| Feb | -6°C / 21°F | -14°C / 7°F | 8 | 4 |
| Mar | -3°C / 27°F | -11°C / 12°F | 9 | 4 |
| Apr | 0°C / 32°F | -8°C / 18°F | 8 | 2 |
What to expect
November already has below-freezing afternoons and cold nights at 2,744 m.
What to wear
Pack winter insulation even for an early-season trip. A light autumn layer alone leaves little warmth for colder lifts and stops.
Jacket and pants for November
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What to expect
December temperatures drop substantially from November.
What to wear
Choose a warmer combination for lifts and stops. Make sure your shell still closes properly when that extra layer is underneath.
Jacket and pants for December
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What to expect
January brings the lowest typical high and low.
What to wear
Keep warmth as the first packing priority. Bring the gloves and midlayer you need while sitting still, not only while skiing.
Jacket and pants for January
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What to expect
February has fewer wet days but only modest temperature relief from January.
What to wear
Stay with winter layers for the upper mountain. Use ventilation during exertion rather than leaving insulation behind.
Jacket and pants for February
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What to expect
March afternoons remain below freezing even as lower slopes have more freeze-thaw.
What to wear
Carry a warm layer that can come off for a milder descent. Put it back on before returning to the colder elevations.
Jacket and pants for March
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What to expect
April afternoons approach freezing while nights and higher cold days remain well below it.
What to wear
Make the outfit adjustable rather than simply light. A shell and removable warmth can cover more of that range than dressing only for the afternoon high.
Jacket and pants for April
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Quick answers
How cold is Zermatt during the ski season? January highs around 2,744 m average -7°C / 19°F, with lows near -12°C / 10°F. Even the mildest month has cold nights, with daytime temperatures below freezing on colder days higher up.
What should you wear skiing in Zermatt? 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 2,112 m, 2,744 m and 3,094 m. All three heights share a 6.5 km weather-model cell. Precipitation and gust figures are shared.
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.