Snowfall of 5 November 2026 in the Piedmont Alps
Date of the event:
On 5 November 2026 a weather disturbance originating from a low-pressure system over western France brought the season's first significant snowfall to the Piedmont Alps, affecting in particular the Ligurian, Maritime, Cottian and Graian Alps. The event affected both the Cuneo and Turin areas, with some of the heaviest accumulations and lowest snow levels of the autumn.
Accumulations and snow levels
In the mountains of the Cuneo area, 30-40 centimetres of fresh snow fell above 2,000 metres, with the season's first snow cover reaching down to 900-1,000 metres in the Stura di Demonte, Gesso, Casotto and Vermenagna valleys [1]. In the other alpine areas of Piedmont, snow generally settled above 1,200-1,400 metres [1]. According to surveys for the Cottian and Graian Alps in the Turin area, this was the season's first significant snowfall, after the few centimetres that fell on 8-9 October 2026, with snow cover around 1,200 metres and accumulations of more than 20-30 centimetres above 1,800 metres [2]. In Sestriere, up to 20-30 centimetres of snow were expected in the town itself, with more than 20 centimetres already recorded on the slopes of the Banchetta area, while in Claviere the first centimetres fell overnight [2].
Weather developments
On the morning of 5 November, the phenomena were expected to gradually ease, with a dry spell from mid-morning through much of the afternoon, although scattered precipitation over the mountain areas of the Cuneo and Turin provinces could not be ruled out [1]. In the evening, rain and showers were expected to return to lower Piedmont, before extending northwards, with new precipitation expected across the whole region between the night and the morning of 6 November [1]. On the plains and hills of Piedmont, maximum temperatures were expected between 8 and 13 degrees, with locally lower values in the Cuneo area [1].
Seasonal context
The snowfall helped consolidate the season's first snow cover, especially in the southern alpine areas [1]. In the Turin area, in the preceding weeks the companies running the Vialattea ski resorts, between Sestriere, Sauze d'Oulx, Cesana-Sansicario, Claviere and Bardonecchia, had continued testing snow-making cannons ahead of the ski season due to open on 5 December in Sestriere [2].
Related articles: First snowfalls of the season on the Piedmont Alps (5 November 2026)
Sources
- Quotidiano Piemontese — 5 November 2026
- La Stampa — 5 November 2026