Comparison
Big Sky vs Jackson Hole: which has more reliable snow?
Big Sky 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
Big Sky has had the more reliable natural snow: mid-mountain was snow-sure in 5 months of the year, against 4 at Jackson Hole. Month by month, Big Sky has the edge in May.
Month by month
November: Big Sky 0 of 11, Jackson Hole 0 of 11 snow-sure winters (24% and 23% of days).
December: Big Sky 6 of 11, Jackson Hole 7 of 11 snow-sure winters (67% and 89% of days).
January: Big Sky 10 of 11, Jackson Hole 11 of 11 snow-sure winters (98% and 100% of days).
February: Big Sky 11 of 11, Jackson Hole 11 of 11 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
March: Big Sky 11 of 11, Jackson Hole 11 of 11 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
April: Big Sky 11 of 11, Jackson Hole 11 of 11 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
May: Big Sky 10 of 11, Jackson Hole 7 of 11 snow-sure winters (97% 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
Big Sky and Jackson Hole are 194 km apart as the crow flies. Big Sky first, then Jackson Hole: Village 2,072 m against 1,924 m; Mid-mountain 2,738 m against 2,554 m; Summit 3,403 m against 3,185 m. Mapped downhill runs: Big Sky 238 km, Jackson Hole 79 km (OpenStreetMap).
In February, the village had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 82% of days at Big Sky and 100% at Jackson Hole.
Questions
Which has more reliable snow, Big Sky or Jackson Hole?
Big Sky has had the more reliable natural snow: mid-mountain was snow-sure in 5 months of the year, against 4 at Jackson Hole. Month by month, Big Sky has the edge in May.
Which has better snow down to the village, Big Sky or Jackson Hole?
In February, Jackson Hole: its village had 30 cm or more of modelled natural snow on 100% of days, against 82%.
Does this include snowmaking?
No. These are modelled natural snow figures only, from ERA5 weather. Groomed pistes with snowmaking often ski better than this.