the first snows return to the Alpes-Maritimes

Le Figaro Nice

As the return of swallows heralds spring each year, that of snowflakes on the peaks of the Alpes-Maritimes is a sign that winter is near. This is certainly not the promise of an abundant snow season, but it remains excellent news nonetheless. On Tuesday, at dawn, the Maralpine resorts were covered with their first powder snow of the season, three weeks before the announced opening of the ski areas, scheduled for December 7.

An hour from Nice, it fell on average around twenty centimeters on Isola 2000, Auron and La Colmiane. “Winter mode activated” the tourist office of the latter commune rejoiced on Facebook, accompanying its message with a photo of the snow-covered slopes. And the municipality of Isola 2000 is also enthusiastic: “Winter is here!”

“It’s great! We had been preparing for it for a few days, our machines were ready, our teams too to ensure the opening of the roads”comments Milène Agnelli, the mayor of Isola. “It’s the right time, the earth has cooled down these days, which will allow us to more easily keep this first snow and capitalize as much as possible,” she explains. In the early morning, temperatures varied between -2 and -5 degrees, which should prevent this first white coat from melting immediately. However, it will be reinforced shortly with artificial snow.

This first snowy episode is all the more important for the Maralpine resorts as it will soon have an impact on their economy with the next school holidays: “It’s reassuring for tourists to know that it’s snowing, obviously. We already have good reservations for New Year's Day, but it should increase further in the coming times if the snow continues to fall heavily.explains Milène Agnelli in this regard. The episode should end mid-afternoon, around 4 p.m. After which temperatures are expected to rise in the coming days. Which does not prevent the Isola 2000 station from considering “a possible pre-opening” from its ski area a week in advance, on November 30.

Closed traffic routes

The Alpes-Maritimes department is placed on yellow alert for “snow and ice” all day. Some roads were closed to traffic due to unfavorable weather conditions. This is particularly the case for the Col de la Cayolle (RD 2202 – Entraunes), closed in both directions for an indefinite period. The same goes for the Col de la Bonette (RM 2205 – St. Dalmas-le-Selvage) and Col de la Lombarde (RM97).