Comparison
Breckenridge vs Steamboat: which has more reliable snow?
Breckenridge or Steamboat? 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
Breckenridge has had the more reliable natural snow: mid-mountain was snow-sure in 5 months of the year, against 4 at Steamboat. Month by month, Breckenridge has the edge in November, December, April and May.
Month by month
November: Breckenridge 6 of 30, Steamboat 4 of 30 snow-sure winters (45% and 42% of days).
December: Breckenridge 24 of 30, Steamboat 22 of 30 snow-sure winters (92% and 90% of days).
January: Breckenridge 30 of 30, Steamboat 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
February: Breckenridge 30 of 30, Steamboat 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
March: Breckenridge 30 of 30, Steamboat 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
April: Breckenridge 30 of 30, Steamboat 27 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 97% of days).
May: Breckenridge 11 of 30, Steamboat 1 of 30 snow-sure winters (77% and 30% 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
Breckenridge and Steamboat are 125 km apart as the crow flies. Breckenridge first, then Steamboat: Village 2,926 m against 2,100 m; Mid-mountain 3,420 m against 2,660 m; Summit 3,914 m against 3,221 m. Mapped downhill runs: Breckenridge 112 km, Steamboat 118 km (OpenStreetMap).
In February, the village had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days at Breckenridge and 85% at Steamboat.
Questions
Which has more reliable snow, Breckenridge or Steamboat?
Breckenridge has had the more reliable natural snow: mid-mountain was snow-sure in 5 months of the year, against 4 at Steamboat. Month by month, Breckenridge has the edge in November, December, April and May.
Which has better snow down to the village, Breckenridge or Steamboat?
In February, Breckenridge: its village had 30 cm or more of modelled natural snow on 100% of days, against 85%.
Does this include snowmaking?
No. These are modelled natural snow figures only, from ERA5 weather. Groomed pistes with snowmaking often ski better than this.