Comparison
Breckenridge vs Vail: which has more reliable snow?
Breckenridge or Vail? 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 3 at Vail. Month by month, Breckenridge has the edge in November, December, April and May.
Month by month
November: Breckenridge 6 of 30, Vail 0 of 30 snow-sure winters (45% and 23% of days).
December: Breckenridge 24 of 30, Vail 19 of 30 snow-sure winters (92% and 82% of days).
January: Breckenridge 30 of 30, Vail 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
February: Breckenridge 30 of 30, Vail 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
March: Breckenridge 30 of 30, Vail 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
April: Breckenridge 30 of 30, Vail 22 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 90% of days).
May: Breckenridge 11 of 30, Vail 0 of 30 snow-sure winters (77% and 17% 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 Vail are 28 km apart as the crow flies. Breckenridge first, then Vail: Village 2,926 m against 2,475 m; Mid-mountain 3,420 m against 3,001 m; Summit 3,914 m against 3,527 m. Mapped downhill runs: Breckenridge 112 km, Vail 215 km (OpenStreetMap).
In February, the village had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days at Breckenridge and 97% at Vail.
Questions
Which has more reliable snow, Breckenridge or Vail?
Breckenridge has had the more reliable natural snow: mid-mountain was snow-sure in 5 months of the year, against 3 at Vail. Month by month, Breckenridge has the edge in November, December, April and May.
Which has better snow down to the village, Breckenridge or Vail?
In February, Breckenridge: its village had 30 cm or more of modelled natural snow on 100% of days, against 97%.
Does this include snowmaking?
No. These are modelled natural snow figures only, from ERA5 weather. Groomed pistes with snowmaking often ski better than this.