Sierra Nevada turns white early: First autumn snow hits peaks above Borreguiles

First proper snow of the autumn has arrived on Sierra Nevada’s high ground this weekend, turning upper slopes white just as the resort looks forward to the 2026/27 season. Snow started falling on Saturday above roughly 3,000 metres and increased significantly on Sunday, with the snow line dropping enough for flakes to reach Borreguiles at 2,700 metres at times.

Early flakes arrive on the high peaks

Local observers and the resort operator Cetursa confirmed the first autumn snow of the season began on the highest summits on Saturday and intensified today. Higher zones have picked up more than five centimetres in places, while snow has been falling steadily from around 2,600 metres upward. Granada city, by contrast, has seen temperatures drop into the mid-teens after a warmer spell earlier in the week, with the province under a yellow alert for rain at lower levels.

AEMET’s mountain forecast for the Sierra Nevada area points to cloudy skies and intermittent precipitation through Sunday and into Monday, with the snow line expected to hold or drop a little further. The same system has brought heavier rain farther down the slopes and across parts of Andalucia, while the peaks collect the white stuff that winter-sports fans have been waiting for.

Feliz domingo #SierraNevada
📹 18/10/2026 https://t.co/7iFaUWJloC

— Sierra Nevada (@websierranevada) October 18, 2026

What Cetursa and forecasts say

Cetursa, the public company that runs the station, has shared images and video of the fresh cover on the upper mountain. Staff note that the snow coincides with the final stretch of preparations for the coming season, including the recent close of early forfait sales. The resort is not yet open for skiing, and lifts stay closed until the planned start around 28 November, but the early arrival of natural snow is a welcome boost while teams ready snow-making equipment and piste work.

Forecasts suggest the intermittent snow will continue into Monday before conditions ease. For anyone planning a drive up the A-395 from Granada or Monachil, chains are still worth packing even this early, as higher sections can turn slick quickly once the temperature falls.

Good news for the upcoming ski season

Cayendo con ganas en este momento en Sierra Nevada. La cota de nieve ronda los 2600 m. Video de una de las webcams de Sierra Nevada. https://t.co/9N4zYA8FRb

— Rubén Pardo Martínez (@RubenPardoGeo) October 18, 2026

This early dusting sits nicely with the broader timeline for southern Spain’s main ski area. Last season the resort opened among the first in Spain in late November with solid cover in the Borreguiles sector; this year’s first autumn flakes arrive a few weeks earlier and give ground crews a head start. Readers looking for practical tips on getting there, where to stay in Granada or nearby villages, or what the pistes offer once the lifts turn can check our complete guide to Sierra Nevada. Anyone tracking how early snow has shaped previous openings will find last November’s update on the first major fall of that season useful background.

Official updates, webcams and the latest snow report are on the Sierra Nevada site, while AEMET’s dedicated mountain forecast gives the most reliable snow-line guidance for the next day or two. For many regulars who know the mountain, seeing the peaks white in mid-October is the usual signal that the long wait for the lifts is nearly over. For the rest of us, it’s a signal to get the duvet out!