Lech, Austria: A Winter Wonderland Of Snow?

Lech, Austria, is known for its extensive ski area and exceptional snowfall, with a seasonal average of over 7m. The resort is located in the Vorarlberg province in the far west of the country and is often described as being in the Arlberg region, which includes the villages of St Anton, Lech, Zürs, and Warth-Schröcken. Lech's ski area is linked to both Warth-Schröcken and St Anton, offering a considerable area of mostly intermediate but varied terrain. The resort has a picturesque setting, with charming chalet-style buildings and a traditional onion-dome church. Lech's snow conditions are generally best in early to mid-winter, and the area offers a high number of powder days.

Lech, Austria: Snow and weather conditions

Lech, Austria, is known for its extensive ski area and exceptional snowfall, with a seasonal average of over 7m. Lech's ski area is linked to both Warth-Schröcken and St Anton, placing it at the epicentre of the Arlberg, one of the most impressive ski domains in the Alps.

Current Conditions:

As of January 6, 2025, Lech is reporting "packed powder" with an avalanche risk level of 51. The snow depth in the valley is 85 cm, and in the ski area, it is 95 cm. The last snowfall was recorded on January 5, 2025.

Short-Term Forecast:

For the next two days, 10-15 cm of fresh snow is expected, with the heaviest snowfall predicted for the night of January 6. Freeze-thaw conditions are expected, with a maximum temperature of 1°C and a minimum of -8°C. The wind will generally be light.

Long-Term Forecast:

From days 4-6, a moderate fall of snow is expected, especially on Thursday night. Freeze-thaw conditions will continue, with a maximum temperature of 1°C and a minimum of -15°C. The wind will remain generally light.

Snowfall History:

Lech typically experiences its snowiest week during the second week of January, with an average snowfall of 65 cm. On average, there are 3.3 snowy days during this week. Throughout the month of January, the average freezing level is 1215m, which is far below Lech's middle elevation of 1950m.

Best Snow Conditions:

The most favourable snow conditions in Lech are Bluebird Powder days, which offer sunny weather and light winds following recent snowfall.

Resort Information:

Lech is located in the Vorarlberg province in western Austria and has a resort height of 1450m. It is known for its picturesque setting, with charming chalet-style buildings and a traditional onion-dome church. Lech offers a variety of ski runs for all skill levels, from beginners to advanced skiers. The resort also provides excellent leisure facilities, including a sports centre and luxury spas.

Lech snow forecast

Lech, Austria, is a popular destination for winter sports enthusiasts. It offers a range of skiing options, from groomed pistes to off-piste adventures.

As of January 6, 2025, the snow forecast for Lech is as follows:

January 6 to January 8

A moderate fall of snow, heaviest on the night of the 6th. Freeze-thaw conditions with a maximum temperature of 1°C on the morning of the 6th and a minimum of -8°C on the afternoon of the 7th. Wind will generally be light.

January 9 to January 11

Another moderate fall of snow, heaviest on the night of the 11th. Freeze-thaw conditions continue with a maximum temperature of 1°C on the morning of the 9th and a minimum of -15°C on the night of the 11th. Winds will remain light.

Current Snow Conditions

As of January 5, 2025, Lech Zürs am Arlberg reported a 90 cm base depth with 81 of 88 lifts open. The avalanche risk level was reported as 51 on January 8, but this can change rapidly, so always check local advice.

Lech is known for its good snow conditions, with a mix of powder and packed powder. The ski area offers over 80 inclines and lifts, 276 kilometres of slopes, and 180 kilometres of deep snow runs.

When planning a ski trip to Lech, it's important to monitor the weather and snow forecasts regularly, as conditions can change quickly.

Lech snow report

Lech, Austria, is known for its extensive ski area and exceptional snowfall, with a seasonal average of over 7m. Lech's ski area is linked to both Warth-Schröcken and St Anton, placing it at the epicentre of the Arlberg, one of the most impressive ski domains in the Alps.

Current Conditions:

As of January 6, 2025, Lech is reporting "packed powder" with an avalanche risk level of 51. The snow depth in the valley is 85 cm, and in the ski area, it's 95 cm. The last snowfall was on January 5, 2025.

Forecast:

• January 6, 2025: Cloudy, clear sky, cloudy later. Powder possible: 15cm/6in of fresh snow expected over the next 2 days.
• January 7, 2025: Heavy snow showers, light snow, fair later. Snowfall expected: 10-14cm/4-6in.
• January 8, 2025: Clear spells first, snow showers, then light rain, cloudy later. Snowfall expected: 1-2cm/up to 1in.
• January 9, 2025: Light snow at altitude first, fair, then cloudy, heavy snow showers later. Snowfall expected: 4-8cm/2-3in.
• January 10, 2025: Light snow first, clear spells, then cloudy, light snow later. Snowfall expected: 4-5cm/2in.
• January 11, 2025: Snow showers first, light snow, then clear spells, fair later. Snowfall expected: 6-7cm/2-3in.
• January 12, 2025: Cloudy, clear spells, freezing fog later.

Best Places for Snow in Lech:

Locally, the best snow in Lech is often found on the north-facing slopes between the Kriegerhorn and the bottom of the Steinmähder chair. The shadier slopes between Trittkopf and Zürs are also good bets, as are the north-facing runs above Warth.

Ski Conditions:

Lech offers a high number of powder days and is a paradise for intermediate skiers. It also has excellent beginner slopes and easy runs for progression. For those seeking challenges, Lech and Zürs offer few on-piste but plenty of off-piste options.

Avalanche Warning:

As of January 6, 2025, the avalanche warning level in Lech is 3. Always check local advice and take necessary precautions before leaving marked runs.

Lech ski area

Lech is a small village and popular ski resort in the Vorarlberg region of Austria. It is one of the country's main attractions for the rich and famous, but also has family-run hotels that won't break the budget. Lech is part of the Arlberg ski area, which extends over more than 300 kilometres of ski runs, with 85 lifts and slopes designed for both beginners and advanced skiers. The area is known for its breathtaking mountain panoramas, surrounded by snow-covered peaks.

The Lech-Zürs ski area is deceptively large, with links to the sunny bowls above Zürs and a cable car up to the peaks above St Christoph. Lech also has a direct connection to the Warth-Schröcken area. The ski area is underrated, with a great snow record and plenty of variety. There is something for all types of skiers, no matter their level.

The village's relative isolation is one reason for its popularity, although it can make the journey to the resort difficult in bad weather and heavy snowfall. The summer route via the Lech valley closes in the winter, and there is no nearby rail connection. The new connection via Warth means access from the north is now available, but only on skis.

The ski season in Lech is planned to open on 4 December 2024 and close on 22 April 2025.

Lech snow record

Lech, Austria, is a popular destination for winter sports enthusiasts. As of the 5th of January 2025, the snow report for Lech Zürs am Arlberg states a base depth of 90cm, with 81 out of 88 lifts open. The report also mentions that ski conditions and snowfall are only recorded during the official ski season.

On the same day, the snow depth in the valley was recorded as 85cm, while the ski area had a depth of 95cm. The last snowfall in Lech was on the 5th of January 2025, and the avalanche warning level was at 3.

The snow forecast for the week of the 6th of January 2025 predicts a moderate fall of snow, with the heaviest snowfall expected on Monday night. Freeze-thaw conditions are anticipated, with a maximum temperature of 1°C on Monday morning and a minimum of -8°C on Tuesday afternoon. The wind is expected to be generally light throughout this period.

For the latter half of the week, from Thursday to Saturday, the forecast predicts another round of moderate snowfall, especially on Thursday night. The maximum temperature is expected to be 1°C on Thursday morning, while the minimum will dip to -15°C on Saturday night. Similar to the previous days, the wind is expected to remain light.

Lech is situated in the Arlberg region, which is renowned as one of the best ski areas in the world. The Arlberg ski pass provides access to over 80 inclines and lifts, 276 kilometres of slopes, and 180 kilometres of deep snow runs.

Frequently asked questions