Andorra Ski Resorts Thrive with Abundant Early Snowfall

Andorra's ski resorts have enjoyed a strong start to the season thanks to abundant snowfall reminiscent of 2018-2019, though experts describe it as prosperous rather than extraordinary.

The opening months have brought regular snowfalls, enabling Grandvalira Resorts to launch skiing on schedule and guarantee operations over the Puríssima holiday—a feat not always achieved in recent years. Resort officials note that snow accumulation in these early weeks already surpasses the full totals from last season as well as the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 winters. Visitor numbers have climbed above levels from the past three years, marking the best campaign since the stations unified, as of 6 February.

Anna Albalat, a researcher with the AR+I Mountain Axis, characterises the conditions as "profitable yes, exceptional no". Data from Sorteny aligns the season with 2018-2019 patterns. Meteorologists report 106 cm of snow at Ransol in January—well above the 60 cm average and the highest since 2019. While January 2013, 2016, 2017 and 2019 saw even heavier falls, mid-January's Storm Goretti delivered Ransol's tenth-largest 24-hour accumulation in 30 years.

A standout feature is snow at lower elevations, absent last winter. Two major storms produced lifted weather patterns, depositing more snow in southern and eastern Andorra. Albalat notes this has been exceptional for the eastern Pyrenees but typical for Andorra's more westerly position.

Grandvalira warns that forecasts could shift due to the closure of the RN20 road. Albalat stresses these snowfalls do not alter broader climate trends: 2025 ranks as Andorra's fourth-warmest year since 1950, per FEDA data. She predicts global warming will drive increasingly mild winters, despite occasional cold snaps.