Mont Blanc in late April

[JoannaLesley]

We are planning a longer trip to Europe next Spring, probably leaving the UK just after Easter. We have to be back in the UK by the beginning of July. We would quite like to revisit the Italian Lakes and would probably do this near the beginning of our trip, which would also take in much of southern France and include visiting relatives in Murcia, Spain. What are the conditions like for getting across the Alps? Are there any restrictions we should know about? We are thinking of using the Mont Blanc tunnel, but this isn't essential. Would we need winter tyres and/or snow chains at this point of the year?
What is the weather like in the Italian Lakes in late April?

 

[JonnyG]

predicting the weather in late april/may!... have been to Aosta in the middle of may when both gran st bernards and petit san barnards were still clossed into june.. mont blanc and gran st bernards tunnels were as always open. so the main roads if indeed you get to that part in may will be fine and no need for snow chains, but as i said predicting the weather will alway be a problem. Aosta north and west lombardia and piemont will normally hold on to the colder weather longer so you have a better change of warmer weather across at lake garda in late April/may and then perhaps head west towards the other lakes and france late may early june......so i suspect travelling to the lakes would be better going through germany austria at that time of year brennar pass being a major route and lower altitude than some should be fine. but again predicting the weather in late April! when snow showers can and still do happen is something you could only plan for nearer the date.my suggestion to get the best out of Italy at that time of year is garda first.....good luck

 

[JoannaLesley]

Thank you Jonny - helpful stuff. Do you know whether we would be obliged to carry snow chains at that time of year?
Jo

 

[JonnyG]

good old Italy. there are many by laws in different regions of Italy but if you are going late April and are sticking to m/ways and main A roads signed [ss] you should be fine regonal roads and lesser roads there always is the possibility of needing them as late as the end of
April but highly unlikely..If in doubt do some weather checks a couple of weeks proir to going that way you should get a good Idea of what type of winter there has been in the Alps and if you should purchase snow chains.... personally i have never bought any the main rds have always been OK... As for the fench side of mont blanc, if you were taking that route to Italy in April i'd hope someone might come back with info as i tend to avoid that route it tends to stay colder that side of the Alps.