Comparison
Alta vs Snowbird: which has more reliable snow?
Alta or Snowbird? 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
Both have been snow-sure at mid-mountain in 5 months of the year, but Alta has had the edge more often. Month by month, Alta has the edge in May.
Month by month
November: Alta 15 of 30, Snowbird 14 of 30 snow-sure winters (75% and 71% of days).
December: Alta 30 of 30, Snowbird 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
January: Alta 30 of 30, Snowbird 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
February: Alta 30 of 30, Snowbird 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
March: Alta 30 of 30, Snowbird 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
April: Alta 30 of 30, Snowbird 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
May: Alta 16 of 30, Snowbird 14 of 30 snow-sure winters (83% and 79% 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 Snowbird are 2 km apart as the crow flies. Alta first, then Snowbird: Village 2,600 m against 2,365 m; Mid-mountain 2,908 m against 2,859 m; Summit 3,216 m against 3,353 m. Mapped downhill runs: Alta 76 km, Snowbird 97 km (OpenStreetMap).
In February, the village had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days at Alta and 100% at Snowbird.
Questions
Which has more reliable snow, Alta or Snowbird?
Both have been snow-sure at mid-mountain in 5 months of the year, but Alta has had the edge more often. Month by month, Alta has the edge in May.
Which has better snow down to the village, Alta or Snowbird?
In February, Alta: its village had 30 cm or more of modelled natural snow on 100% of days, against 100%.
Does this include snowmaking?
No. These are modelled natural snow figures only, from ERA5 weather. Groomed pistes with snowmaking often ski better than this.