Climate
Activity and Research 6
6. Climate
Heavy Snow Fall at a Restaurant
in Morzine - French alps
As in all winter sports destinations, the amount of snowfall in the winter months is crucial to the success of the destination in attracting visitors.
As in all winter sports destinations, the amount of snowfall in the winter months is crucial to the success of the destination in attracting visitors.
Snow Covered Car
Morzine - French Alps
The winter sports season lasts from mid-December to Easter. Christmas and New Year are busy periods, as is the February half-term period.
It is important for the resort to receive lots of snow in November and early December to enable the lift system to operate. In some years there is a lot of snow and in some years there is less.
Further snowfalls throughout the winter months are needed to maintain the slopes or pistes which are used for skiing and snowboarding.
Snow Slopes
Morzine - French alps
The resort also relies on the temperature to remain cold so that the snow does not melt. Often in the winter months there are cold but clear sunny days. These conditions are ideal for skiing and snowboarding.
Because the neighbouring resort of Avoriaz is at a higher altitude, the average temperature is colder and it may be snowing in Avoriaz when it is raining in Morzine. This gives Avoriaz more snow and a longer skiing season.
In the summer months the temperature in Morzine can be very warm and provide ideal conditions for walking and other activities.
Cool abseiling down a gorge
French alps
Walking through resorts in summer
French alps
Paragliding
French alps
Motorcycling off-road
French alps
However, mountain areas tend to have higher rainfall in the summer months and the climate is less predictable than other areas of France, such as the Mediterranean coast such as the Riviera and the Spanish Costas.
Activity 6
Morzine – the tourist seasons
Add the correct term to each of the months of the year to show the pattern of tourism in Morzine.
Investigate websites to discover more about average weather conditions in Morzine. The BBC weather site has information about Geneva, which is the nearest city to Geneva and www.weatheronline.co.uk has details for the nearby town of Bourg St Maurice. Use ‘Google’ to find more sites with information about the climate in Morzine.