Comparison
Courchevel vs Les Deux Alpes: which has more reliable snow?
Courchevel or Les Deux Alpes? 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
Les Deux Alpes has had the more reliable natural snow: mid-mountain was snow-sure in 5 months of the year, against 4 at Courchevel. Month by month, Les Deux Alpes has the edge in November, December and May, and Courchevel in January.
Month by month
November: Courchevel 0 of 11, Les Deux Alpes 2 of 11 snow-sure winters (20% and 31% of days).
December: Courchevel 6 of 11, Les Deux Alpes 8 of 11 snow-sure winters (70% and 73% of days).
January: Courchevel 11 of 11, Les Deux Alpes 9 of 11 snow-sure winters (99% and 95% of days).
February: Courchevel 11 of 11, Les Deux Alpes 11 of 11 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
March: Courchevel 11 of 11, Les Deux Alpes 11 of 11 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
April: Courchevel 11 of 11, Les Deux Alpes 11 of 11 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
May: Courchevel 4 of 11, Les Deux Alpes 10 of 11 snow-sure winters (62% and 94% 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
Courchevel and Les Deux Alpes are 60 km apart as the crow flies. Courchevel first, then Les Deux Alpes: Village 1,100 m against 1,300 m; Mid-mountain 1,919 m against 2,434 m; Summit 2,738 m against 3,568 m. Mapped downhill runs: Courchevel 151 km, Les Deux Alpes 108 km (OpenStreetMap).
In February, the village had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 12% of days at Courchevel and 5% at Les Deux Alpes.
Questions
Which has more reliable snow, Courchevel or Les Deux Alpes?
Les Deux Alpes has had the more reliable natural snow: mid-mountain was snow-sure in 5 months of the year, against 4 at Courchevel. Month by month, Les Deux Alpes has the edge in November, December and May, and Courchevel in January.
Which has better snow down to the village, Courchevel or Les Deux Alpes?
In February, Courchevel: its village had 30 cm or more of modelled natural snow on 12% of days, against 5%.
Does this include snowmaking?
No. These are modelled natural snow figures only, from ERA5 weather. Groomed pistes with snowmaking often ski better than this.