When does it snow in Serra da Estrela? How to know before you go
It is the question we get asked most between November and March: is there snow yet? The answer changes from week to week. It only snows a few times a year and the snow does not always last. But there are ways to know a few days ahead and to check on the day, so you do not make the trip for nothing.
Key takeaways
- It snows mostly between December and March, sometimes as early as November or as late as April
- Check the snow level in the forecast: below 1,500 m, the upper mountain gets snow
- The Torre road closes with snow or ice: check the roads before you set off
- The best day is the first sunny day after the snowfall
Which months it snows
The snow season runs on average from December to March. In cold years the first snow arrives in November and it can still snow in April. But every winter is different: some years it snows almost every week, others just two or three times.
Snow lasts longer on the upper mountain, above 1,600 metres, around the Torre and Penhas da Saúde. Down in the towns it melts in a few days. So even if there is no snow in Manteigas or Covilhã, there may be snow up top.
How to read the forecast
Start with the IPMA (Portuguese weather service) forecast for Serra da Estrela and Guarda, and check the weather warnings. The key number is the snow level: the altitude above which precipitation falls as snow. The Torre is almost at 2,000 metres and Guarda at 1,056. If the snow level is below 1,500, the upper mountain will turn white. If it drops to 1,000, even Guarda may see snow.
Signs that snow is coming: a cold northerly or north-westerly air mass, sub-zero night temperatures and precipitation forecast for the same day. Rain followed by cold air often brings the best snowfalls.
The roads: what closes and where to check
With snow or ice, the road up to the Torre closes, sometimes for hours, sometimes for days. Snow chains can also become compulsory. Before you set off, check the road conditions with the authorities and the local tourist offices, which update the information throughout the day.
Rental cars rarely come with chains or winter tyres. In our article on going to the snow by car or by 4x4 we explain when a properly equipped jeep makes sense.
On the day: how to check
On the morning of your trip, look at the live webcams around the Torre, which show whether there is snow and whether the road is clear. Ask at your accommodation: locals always know. And if in doubt, message us on WhatsApp: we are on the mountain every day and will tell you how it is.
The best day is usually the first sunny day after a snowfall. The snow is fresh, the sky is clear and the roads are open again. If you can, avoid the Saturday after a snowfall: that is when the queues are worst.
Get an alert when it snows
The days after a snowfall sell out fast. That is why we set up a snow alert: leave your email and we will send you a heads-up as soon as the mountain turns white, usually the day before or that same morning. The sign-up box is further down this page.
For everything else, where there is most snow, what to bring and what to do, see our Serra da Estrela snow guide. And for snow and stars on the same trip, there is the Snow & Stars package.
What if there is no snow?
The mountain is not only about snow. In winter the clear days are some of the most beautiful of the year, the sea of clouds often appears at sunrise and the cold nights have the darkest skies for stargazing. Snow or no snow, the Sunrise 4x4 tour and Stargazing are worth the trip.
Snow alert
We'll tell you when it snows
It only snows a few times a year and the following days sell out fast. Leave your email and we'll send you a heads-up as soon as the mountain turns white: usually the day before or that same morning.
