Comparison
Cervinia vs Saas-Fee: which has more reliable snow?
Cervinia or Saas-Fee? 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
Very little separates them: both have been snow-sure at mid-mountain in 7 months of the year over the last 30 winters.
Month by month
November: Cervinia 24 of 30, Saas-Fee 25 of 30 snow-sure winters (91% and 94% of days).
December: Cervinia 30 of 30, Saas-Fee 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
January: Cervinia 30 of 30, Saas-Fee 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
February: Cervinia 30 of 30, Saas-Fee 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
March: Cervinia 30 of 30, Saas-Fee 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
April: Cervinia 30 of 30, Saas-Fee 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
May: Cervinia 30 of 30, Saas-Fee 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% 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
Cervinia and Saas-Fee are 30 km apart as the crow flies. Cervinia first, then Saas-Fee: Village 2,050 m against 1,800 m; Mid-mountain 2,765 m against 2,700 m; Summit 3,480 m against 3,600 m.
In February, the village had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days at Cervinia and 99% at Saas-Fee.
Questions
Which has more reliable snow, Cervinia or Saas-Fee?
Very little separates them: both have been snow-sure at mid-mountain in 7 months of the year over the last 30 winters.
Which has better snow down to the village, Cervinia or Saas-Fee?
In February, Cervinia: its village had 30 cm or more of modelled natural snow on 100% of days, against 99%.
Does this include snowmaking?
No. These are modelled natural snow figures only, from ERA5 weather. Groomed pistes with snowmaking often ski better than this.