It’s another fine, relatively mild day across most of the Alps with just some patchy cloud here and there, mostly at low altitude. The next chance of any significant snow is around 4 to 5 November.

There are currently 16 ski areas open in the Alps. In Austria the most extensive slopes are in Hintertux and Sölden but you can also ski in on the glaciers at Stubai, Mölltal, Kaunertal, Pitztal and Kaprun. The Dachstein glacier near Schladming will re-open at the weekend.

In Switzerland the best of the action is in Zermatt and Saas-Fee, but you can also ski in Engelberg, Diavolezza (near St Moritz) and Glacier 3000 (near Les Diablerets). The Vorab glacier above Laax will also open this weekend.

In Italy you can ski on the glaciers at Val Senales and Passo Stelvio though the latter is due to close on Sunday 2 November. By contrast, Cervinia will open daily as of this weekend (with most of the skiing on the Zermatt side, at least for now).

In France you can ski on the Grande Motte glacier above Tignes and in Les 2 Alpes, with the latter closing again this weekend before reopening for the winter in late November.

The weather is set fair (give or take) for the next few days but there have been indications for some time now that it will turn much more unsettled around 4 November with the chance of some snow in places. As per usual the different weather models are struggling with the detail this far out but it looks like the southern Alps might be most favoured this time around. Whatever the case, this is something we will be keeping a close eye on over the next few days.