Comparison
Alta vs Jackson Hole: which has more reliable snow?
Alta or Jackson Hole? Natural snow month by month, at the village, mid-mountain and summit, from eleven winters of weather data.
Month by month
Each cell is one month: the share of days with 30 cm or more of modelled natural snow at mid-mountain over the last 11 winters, from brown (often thin) to deep blue (snow-sure). Blank means almost none.
The short answer
Both have been snow-sure at mid-mountain in 4 months of the year, but Jackson Hole has had the edge more often. Month by month, Jackson Hole has the edge in November, December, January and May.
Month by month
November: Alta 0 of 11, Jackson Hole 0 of 11 snow-sure winters (7% and 23% of days).
December: Alta 3 of 11, Jackson Hole 7 of 11 snow-sure winters (49% and 89% of days).
January: Alta 9 of 11, Jackson Hole 11 of 11 snow-sure winters (87% and 100% of days).
February: Alta 11 of 11, Jackson Hole 11 of 11 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
March: Alta 11 of 11, Jackson Hole 11 of 11 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
April: Alta 11 of 11, Jackson Hole 11 of 11 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
May: Alta 4 of 11, Jackson Hole 7 of 11 snow-sure winters (59% and 92% 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
Alta and Jackson Hole are 340 km apart as the crow flies. Alta first, then Jackson Hole: Village 2,600 m against 1,924 m; Mid-mountain 2,908 m against 2,554 m; Summit 3,216 m against 3,185 m. Mapped downhill runs: Alta 76 km, Jackson Hole 79 km (OpenStreetMap).
In February, the village had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 94% of days at Alta and 100% at Jackson Hole.
Questions
Which has more reliable snow, Alta or Jackson Hole?
Both have been snow-sure at mid-mountain in 4 months of the year, but Jackson Hole has had the edge more often. Month by month, Jackson Hole has the edge in November, December, January and May.
Which has better snow down to the village, Alta or Jackson Hole?
In February, Jackson Hole: its village had 30 cm or more of modelled natural snow on 100% of days, against 94%.
Does this include snowmaking?
No. These are modelled natural snow figures only, from ERA5 weather. Groomed pistes with snowmaking often ski better than this.