Rain soaks central Switzerland today while Ticino and Italy stay dry

Saturday brings a wet band across central and northern Switzerland, the northern French Alps and western Austria, with the heaviest totals around Zug and Schwyz. South of the main ridge it stays dry, and almost everything is in hero dirt this morning. Sunday clears nearly everywhere, though the German uplands stay wet.

Ticino, Italy and the southern French Alps stay dry

The best riding this weekend sits south of the main ridge. Airolo Bikepark is the driest park in Ticino at 72, just into dry, with only a trace of rain. Monte Bar and Ascona - Corona dei Pinci are prime hero dirt, see no rain, and drain faster than most of our parks.

In Italy, Breuil-Cervinia leads at 71, with Val di Sole Bikepark, Bormio and Bikepark Paganella not far behind and well under a millimetre forecast. Finale Ligure stays rain-free with highs around 19°C.

In the southern French Alps, Les Orres Bikepark, Serre Chevalier and Les 2 Alpes stay essentially dry on sunny, quick-draining slopes.

Saturday: heavy rain across central Switzerland, the northern French Alps and western Austria, dry in Ticino and Italy.

Graubünden and high Valais: showers, then clear

Graubünden gets a few millimetres today and a dry Sunday. Disentis Sedrun leads at 69 with around 2 mm. Chur Alpenbikepark takes around 4 mm but drains faster than nearly all our parks, so it should ride well tomorrow. Poschiavo sees barely a trace.

In upper Valais, Zermatt Bikepark, Saas-Grund and Aletsch Arena get a millimetre or two at most, and Sunday is dry. Expect cold mornings near freezing at the higher parks.

Central Switzerland takes the heaviest rain

The wettest corner today is around Zug and Schwyz. Höhoren Wildspitz expects around 26 mm with gusts to 65 km/h, Zug around 23 mm and Hoch Ybrig around 20 mm. Zug drains quickly, so it should come back faster than the others.

In the Bernese Oberland, Grindelwald-Wengen, Mürren-Schilthorn and Engelberg-Titlis take 10 to 12 mm and hold water longer than most of our parks, so expect soft trails well into Sunday. Zürich Uetliberg and Biel Bikepark drain fast and should recover by tomorrow.

Wet Saturday from Haute-Savoie to Tyrol

The northern French Alps take 7 to 10 mm today at Morzine, Les Gets, Châtel and La Clusaz. Lac Blanc gets around 6 mm with gusts above 70 km/h. Sunday is dry, but Morzine and La Clusaz hold water, so expect damp sections.

In western Austria, Brandnertal is the wet spot with around 16 mm on ground that stays wet. Bike Republic Sölden and Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis get around 5 to 6 mm and dry out tomorrow. Bikepark Verbier sees around 7 mm, then a dry Sunday.

Sunday: dry across most of the Alps, with rain lingering in the German uplands and reaching Maribor.

Eastern Austria and Slovenia: mixed both days

Saalbach Hinterglemm takes around 10 mm today, and Leogang and Schladming around 6 mm, with Leogang holding water longer. In Carinthia, Gerlitzen and Ossiacher See see a millimetre or two each day.

Maribor Pohorje is dry and mild today at 17°C, then gets around 5 mm Sunday. It drains fast, so ride it today.

The German uplands stay wet

Willingen and Winterberg are already wet and get more: around 5 to 7 mm today and around 8 mm Sunday, with gusts near 60 km/h. Geißkopf is still hero dirt but takes around 8 mm today in strong wind.

Further afield

La Palma South is dry at 76 with highs around 26°C and little chance of rain. Whistler Mountain remains wet at 20, though both days are dry and Sunday warms to around 14°C.

Our call

For Saturday, head south to Ticino, the Italian Alps or the southern French Alps. On Sunday, the fast-draining parks in Graubünden and Valais are worth the trip; the German uplands are best avoided.