Alps ranges

The areas that are not arid and receive high precipitation experience periodic flooding from rapid snowmelt and runoff.[58] The mean

precipitation in the Alps ranges from a low of 2,600 mm (100 in) per year to 3,600 mm (140 in) per year, with the higher levels occurring at high

altitudes. At altitudes between 1,000 and 3,000 m (3,300 and 9,800 ft), snowfall begins in November and accumulates through to April or May when the melt begins.

Snow lines vary from 2,400 to 3,000 m (7,900 to 9,800 ft), above which the snow is permanent and the temperatures hover around the freezing point even during July and August.

High-water levels in streams and rivers peak in June and July when the snow is still melting at the higher altitudes.[64]