Comparison
Chamonix vs Courmayeur: which has more reliable snow?
Chamonix or Courmayeur? 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
Chamonix has had the more reliable natural snow: mid-mountain was snow-sure in 6 months of the year, against 4 at Courmayeur. Month by month, Chamonix has the edge in November, December, April and May.
Month by month
November: Chamonix 19 of 30, Courmayeur 3 of 30 snow-sure winters (85% and 41% of days).
December: Chamonix 30 of 30, Courmayeur 22 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 90% of days).
January: Chamonix 30 of 30, Courmayeur 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
February: Chamonix 30 of 30, Courmayeur 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
March: Chamonix 30 of 30, Courmayeur 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
April: Chamonix 30 of 30, Courmayeur 25 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 92% of days).
May: Chamonix 28 of 30, Courmayeur 1 of 30 snow-sure winters (99% and 31% 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
Chamonix and Courmayeur are 17 km apart as the crow flies. Chamonix first, then Courmayeur: Village 1,035 m against 1,224 m; Mid-mountain 2,438 m against 1,990 m; Summit 3,842 m against 2,755 m.
In February, the village had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 54% of days at Chamonix and 61% at Courmayeur.
Questions
Which has more reliable snow, Chamonix or Courmayeur?
Chamonix has had the more reliable natural snow: mid-mountain was snow-sure in 6 months of the year, against 4 at Courmayeur. Month by month, Chamonix has the edge in November, December, April and May.
Which has better snow down to the village, Chamonix or Courmayeur?
In February, Courmayeur: its village had 30 cm or more of modelled natural snow on 61% of days, against 54%.
Does this include snowmaking?
No. These are modelled natural snow figures only, from ERA5 weather. Groomed pistes with snowmaking often ski better than this.