Comparison
Arosa Lenzerheide vs Laax: which has more reliable snow?
Arosa Lenzerheide or Laax? 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 Laax has had the edge more often. Month by month, Laax has the edge in April and May.
Month by month
November: Arosa Lenzerheide 9 of 30, Laax 10 of 30 snow-sure winters (56% and 61% of days).
December: Arosa Lenzerheide 26 of 30, Laax 27 of 30 snow-sure winters (91% and 97% of days).
January: Arosa Lenzerheide 30 of 30, Laax 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (99% and 100% of days).
February: Arosa Lenzerheide 30 of 30, Laax 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
March: Arosa Lenzerheide 30 of 30, Laax 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
April: Arosa Lenzerheide 25 of 30, Laax 29 of 30 snow-sure winters (93% and 98% of days).
May: Arosa Lenzerheide 3 of 30, Laax 7 of 30 snow-sure winters (36% and 58% 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
Arosa Lenzerheide and Laax are 28 km apart as the crow flies. Arosa Lenzerheide first, then Laax: Village 1,229 m against 1,100 m; Mid-mountain 2,047 m against 2,059 m; Summit 2,865 m against 3,018 m. Mapped downhill runs: Arosa Lenzerheide 164 km, Laax 152 km (OpenStreetMap).
In February, the village had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 38% of days at Arosa Lenzerheide and 35% at Laax.
Questions
Which has more reliable snow, Arosa Lenzerheide or Laax?
Both have been snow-sure at mid-mountain in 5 months of the year, but Laax has had the edge more often. Month by month, Laax has the edge in April and May.
Which has better snow down to the village, Arosa Lenzerheide or Laax?
In February, Arosa Lenzerheide: its village had 30 cm or more of modelled natural snow on 38% of days, against 35%.
Does this include snowmaking?
No. These are modelled natural snow figures only, from ERA5 weather. Groomed pistes with snowmaking often ski better than this.