Many mountain passes in Europe have winter closures in the period between October and May – sometimes even until early June. These passes are then completely closed to all traffic. But there are also passes that are open all year round and can be passed with, for example, snow plows and studded tires or snow chains.
Especially in Norway, studded tires are common between the last weekend in October and the Easter weekend. However, the passes that are open all year round also have periodic closures, for example due to heavy snowfall. For all mountain passes it is necessary to have snow chains in the car and you must know how to use them.
Updated: January 5, 2023 9:15CET
The upcoming days remain mild and mostly dry. This will continue throughout Saturday. However, on Sunday an active depression will set course for the Alps, resulting in potential heavy precipitation and falling freezing levels per Sunday morning. The freezing level starts to fall from Saturday evening: from 2500m to 1300 meters.
The heaviest snow fall is to be expected in France and west-Switzerland. In the afternoon, the southern part (Dolomites, Carinthia) will also receive their fair share.
Some high-elevation mountain roads might be temporarily closed.
You can find the list of current openings and closures here (Note: always follow local advice, as weather conditions can change rapidly):
| Mountain pass name | Altitude (meters asl) | Country | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albulapass | 2312 | Switzerland | Closed |
| Berninapass | 2328 | Switzerland | Open |
| Col de la Croix | 1778 | Switzerland | Open |
| Col des Montets | 1461 | Switzerland | Open |
| Flüelapass | 2383 | Switzerland | Open |
| Col de la Forclaz | 1527 | Switzerland | Open |
| Furkapass | 2436 | Switzerland | Closed |
| Glaubenbergpass | 1543 | Switzerland | Open |
| Glaubenbielenpass | 1611 | Switzerland | Open |
| Gotthardpass | 2108 | Switzerland | Closed |
| Grimselpass | 2165 | Switzerland | Closed |
| Grosser Sankt Bernhardpas (Grand Saint Bernard) | 2473 | Switzerland | Closed (Tunnel is open) |
| Ibergegg | 1406 | Switzerland | Open |
| Julierpass | 2284 | Switzerland | Open |
| Klausenpass | 1940 | Switzerland | Closed |
| Livignopass | 2330 | Switzerland | Open |
| Lukmanierpass | 1941 | Switzerland | Open |
| Malojapass | 1815 | Switzerland | Open |
| Nufenenpass | 2478 | Switzerland | Closed |
| Oberalppass | 2045 | Switzerland | Closed |
| Ofenpass | 2149 | Switzerland | Open |
| Pragelpass | 1550 | Switzerland | Closed |
| San Bernardinopass | 2066 | Switzerland | Closed |
| Simplonpass | 2005 | Switzerland | Open |
| Splügenpass | 2118 | Switzerland | Open |
| Sustenpass | 2224 | Switzerland | Closed |
| Umbrailpass | 2503 | Switzerland | Closed |
| Col d'Agnel | 2746 | France | Closed |
| Col d'Aravis | 1498 | France | Open |
| Bataille | 1336 | France | Open |
| Cayolle | 2356 | France | Closed |
| Champs | 2095 | France | Open |
| Col d'Allos | 2250 | France | Closed |
| Col de la Bonette | 2802 | France | Closed |
| Col de l'Iseran | 2770 | France | Closed |
| Col du Galibier | 2645 | France | Closed |
| Colombiere | 1613 | France | Open |
| Cormet de Roselend | 1968 | France | Closed |
| Croix-de-Fer | 2068 | France | Closed |
| Echelle | 1766 | France | Open |
| Glandon | 1924 | France | Open |
| Izoard | 2360 | France | Closed |
| Joux-plane | 1713 | France | Open |
| Joux-Verte | 1760 | France | Open |
| Petit Saint Bernard | 2188 | France | Closed |
| Larche | 1991 | France | Open |
| Lautaret | 2058 | France | Open |
| Lombarde | 2350 | France | Closed |
| Madeleine | 1993 | France | Closed |
| Mont-Cenis | 2081 | France | Closed |
| Col des Montets | 1461 | France | Open |
| Restefond | 2678 | France | Closed |
| Saisies | 1633 | France | Open |
| Télégraphe | 1570 | France | Open |
| Tende | 1871 | France | Closed |
| Turini | 1607 | France | Open |
| Vars | 2109 | France | Closed |
| Campolongo | 1875 | Italy | Open |
| Falzaregopass | 2105 | Italy | Closed |
| Grödnerjoch | 2121 | Italy | Closed |
| Gampenpass / Gampenjoch | 1518 | Italy | Open |
| Jaufenpass | 2094 | Italy | Closed |
| Kreuzbergpass | 1636 | Italy | Open |
| Karerpass | 1745 | Italy | Open |
| Lavazéjoch | 1805 | Italy | Open |
| Mendelpass | 1362 | Italy | Open |
| Nigerpass | 1688 | Italy | Open |
| Penserjoch | 2211 | Italy | Closed |
| Pordoijoch | 2239 | Italy | Closed |
| Stilfserjoch / Stelvio pass | 2757 | Italy | Closed |
| Staller Sattel | 2052 | Italy | Closed |
| Sellajoch | 2240 | Italy | Closed |
| Timmelsjoch | 2474 | Italy | Closed |
| Valparolapass | 2192 | Italy | Open |
| Würzjoch | 1987 | Italy | Open |
| Arlbergpass | 1793 | Austria | Open |
| Brennerpass | 1374 | Austria | Open |
| Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse | 2506 | Austria | Closed |
| Hahntennjoch | 1894 | Austria | Closed |
| Kaunertaler Gletscherstrasse | 2052 | Austria | Closed |
| Kuhtai | 2020 | Austria | Open |
| Maltatal Hochalmstrasse | 1931 | Austria | Closed |
| Nockalmstrasse | 2040 | Austria | Closed |
| Silvretta Hochalpenstrasse | 2036 | Austria | Closed |