Comparison
Chamonix vs Tignes: which has more reliable snow?
Chamonix or Tignes? Natural snow month by month, at the village, mid-mountain and summit, from eleven winters of weather data.
Month by month
Each cell is one month: the share of days with 30 cm or more of modelled natural snow at mid-mountain over the last 11 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 6 months of the year over the last 11 winters.
Month by month
November: Chamonix 2 of 11, Tignes 2 of 11 snow-sure winters (45% and 42% of days).
December: Chamonix 9 of 11, Tignes 9 of 11 snow-sure winters (95% and 88% of days).
January: Chamonix 11 of 11, Tignes 11 of 11 snow-sure winters (100% and 99% of days).
February: Chamonix 11 of 11, Tignes 11 of 11 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
March: Chamonix 11 of 11, Tignes 11 of 11 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
April: Chamonix 11 of 11, Tignes 11 of 11 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
May: Chamonix 11 of 11, Tignes 11 of 11 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
Chamonix and Tignes are 51 km apart as the crow flies. Chamonix first, then Tignes: Village 1,035 m against 1,550 m; Mid-mountain 2,438 m against 2,503 m; Summit 3,842 m against 3,456 m.
In February, the village had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 10% of days at Chamonix and 76% at Tignes.
Questions
Which has more reliable snow, Chamonix or Tignes?
Very little separates them: both have been snow-sure at mid-mountain in 6 months of the year over the last 11 winters.
Which has better snow down to the village, Chamonix or Tignes?
In February, Tignes: its village had 30 cm or more of modelled natural snow on 76% of days, against 10%.
Does this include snowmaking?
No. These are modelled natural snow figures only, from ERA5 weather. Groomed pistes with snowmaking often ski better than this.