Comparison
Chamonix vs Megève: which has more reliable snow?
Chamonix or Megève? 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 Megève. Month by month, Chamonix has the edge in November, December, April and May.
Month by month
November: Chamonix 19 of 30, Megève 3 of 30 snow-sure winters (85% and 35% of days).
December: Chamonix 30 of 30, Megève 24 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 91% of days).
January: Chamonix 30 of 30, Megève 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
February: Chamonix 30 of 30, Megève 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
March: Chamonix 30 of 30, Megève 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
April: Chamonix 30 of 30, Megève 17 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 81% of days).
May: Chamonix 28 of 30, Megève 0 of 30 snow-sure winters (99% and 14% 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 Megève are 21 km apart as the crow flies. Chamonix first, then Megève: Village 1,035 m against 1,113 m; Mid-mountain 2,438 m against 1,733 m; Summit 3,842 m against 2,353 m.
In February, the village had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 54% of days at Chamonix and 58% at Megève.
Questions
Which has more reliable snow, Chamonix or Megève?
Chamonix has had the more reliable natural snow: mid-mountain was snow-sure in 6 months of the year, against 4 at Megève. Month by month, Chamonix has the edge in November, December, April and May.
Which has better snow down to the village, Chamonix or Megève?
In February, Megève: its village had 30 cm or more of modelled natural snow on 58% 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.