Comparison
Alpe d'Huez vs Serre Chevalier: which has more reliable snow?
Alpe d'Huez or Serre Chevalier? 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
Alpe d’Huez has had the more reliable natural snow: mid-mountain was snow-sure in 5 months of the year, against 3 at Serre Chevalier. Month by month, Alpe d’Huez has the edge in November, December, April and May.
Month by month
November: Alpe d’Huez 11 of 30, Serre Chevalier 2 of 30 snow-sure winters (64% and 31% of days).
December: Alpe d’Huez 30 of 30, Serre Chevalier 21 of 30 snow-sure winters (99% and 87% of days).
January: Alpe d’Huez 30 of 30, Serre Chevalier 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
February: Alpe d’Huez 30 of 30, Serre Chevalier 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
March: Alpe d’Huez 30 of 30, Serre Chevalier 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
April: Alpe d’Huez 30 of 30, Serre Chevalier 23 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 92% of days).
May: Alpe d’Huez 20 of 30, Serre Chevalier 0 of 30 snow-sure winters (89% and 23% 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 Serre Chevalier are 42 km apart as the crow flies. Alpe d’Huez first, then Serre Chevalier: Village 1,250 m against 1,200 m; Mid-mountain 2,290 m against 2,000 m; Summit 3,330 m against 2,800 m. Mapped downhill runs: Alpe d’Huez 163 km, Serre Chevalier 157 km (OpenStreetMap).
In February, the village had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 51% of days at Alpe d’Huez and 34% at Serre Chevalier.
Questions
Which has more reliable snow, Alpe d’Huez or Serre Chevalier?
Alpe d’Huez has had the more reliable natural snow: mid-mountain was snow-sure in 5 months of the year, against 3 at Serre Chevalier. Month by month, Alpe d’Huez has the edge in November, December, April and May.
Which has better snow down to the village, Alpe d’Huez or Serre Chevalier?
In February, Alpe d’Huez: its village had 30 cm or more of modelled natural snow on 51% of days, against 34%.
Does this include snowmaking?
No. These are modelled natural snow figures only, from ERA5 weather. Groomed pistes with snowmaking often ski better than this.