Comparison
Alpe d'Huez vs Les Deux Alpes: which has more reliable snow?
Alpe d'Huez or Les Deux Alpes? Natural snow month by month, at the village, mid-mountain and summit, from thirty winters of weather data.
The season at a glance
Each cell is one month: the share of days with 30 cm or more of modelled natural snow at mid-mountain over the last 30 winters, from brown (often thin) to deep blue (snow-sure). Blank means almost none.
The short answer
Les Deux Alpes has had the more reliable natural snow: mid-mountain was snow-sure in 6 months of the year, against 5 at Alpe d’Huez. Month by month, Les Deux Alpes has the edge in November and May.
Month by month
November: Alpe d’Huez 11 of 30, Les Deux Alpes 16 of 30 snow-sure winters (64% and 78% of days).
December: Alpe d’Huez 30 of 30, Les Deux Alpes 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (99% and 100% of days).
January: Alpe d’Huez 30 of 30, Les Deux Alpes 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
February: Alpe d’Huez 30 of 30, Les Deux Alpes 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
March: Alpe d’Huez 30 of 30, Les Deux Alpes 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
April: Alpe d’Huez 30 of 30, Les Deux Alpes 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
May: Alpe d’Huez 20 of 30, Les Deux Alpes 25 of 30 snow-sure winters (89% and 96% of days).
A snow-sure winter is one where mid-mountain had 30 cm or more of modelled natural snow on at least 90% of that month’s days.
Height and terrain
Alpe d’Huez and Les Deux Alpes are 10 km apart as the crow flies. Alpe d’Huez first, then Les Deux Alpes: Village 1,250 m against 1,300 m; Mid-mountain 2,290 m against 2,434 m; Summit 3,330 m against 3,568 m. Mapped downhill runs: Alpe d’Huez 163 km, Les Deux Alpes 108 km (OpenStreetMap).
In February, the village had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 51% of days at Alpe d’Huez and 56% at Les Deux Alpes.
Questions
Which has more reliable snow, Alpe d’Huez or Les Deux Alpes?
Les Deux Alpes has had the more reliable natural snow: mid-mountain was snow-sure in 6 months of the year, against 5 at Alpe d’Huez. Month by month, Les Deux Alpes has the edge in November and May.
Which has better snow down to the village, Alpe d’Huez or Les Deux Alpes?
In February, Les Deux Alpes: its village had 30 cm or more of modelled natural snow on 56% of days, against 51%.
Does this include snowmaking?
No. These are modelled natural snow figures only, from ERA5 weather. Groomed pistes with snowmaking often ski better than this.