Diavolezza Delays Season Opening by a Week as Warm Autumn Weather Stalls Snowmaking

Diavolezza, the high-altitude Swiss ski area above the Engadin valley near St. Moritz, has postponed its public season opening from Saturday, October 17 to Saturday, October 24, 2026, after persistent warmth made it too difficult to prepare the slopes.

A familiar early-season challenge

The resort, whose mountain station sits at nearly 3,000 metres, traditionally offers one of Switzerland’s earliest non-glacier ski openings. But sunny, mild conditions in early October repeatedly pushed temperatures above seasonal norms in the Upper Engadin, limiting the production of technical snow.

At midday, temperatures at the Diavolezza summit station were still reported at 7.5°C—far too warm for snowmaking crews to build and groom the Firnpiste to its usual width and quality.

What is open—and what is not

The delay affects recreational skiing only. The Firnpiste, the run normally used for Diavolezza’s early-season skiing, remains reserved for training groups, including Switzerland’s national ski team.

If conditions allow, public skiing is expected to begin on October 24 and initially run on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays; other days will remain reserved for training.

Meanwhile, visitors can still reach the mountain: the Diavolezza gondola and Berghaus remain open daily through November 15.

Why water matters as much as cold

Snowmaking depends on a narrow combination of cold air and available water. Diavolezza has used a reservoir lake since 2007 specifically to support technical snow production, but this season’s warm nights have reduced the usable snowmaking window.

Resort marketing chief Nicolà Michael told Keystone-ATS that the slopes could not yet be prepared “with the usual width and quality.” He added that, over the past decade, Diavolezza’s public opening has generally been planned for mid- to late October, with weather sometimes forcing a delay of roughly a week.

What it signals

The postponement is a reminder that even high-altitude Alpine resorts are increasingly exposed to warm autumn spells. Still, Diavolezza says its October opening tradition is not currently at risk, and the new date remains provisional pending colder weather.

For now, the mountain’s dramatic views and hiking access remain available—but skiers hoping to make early-season turns will need to wait one more week.