Comparison
Courchevel vs Méribel: which has more reliable snow?
Courchevel or Méribel? 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
Méribel has had the more reliable natural snow: mid-mountain was snow-sure in 5 months of the year, against 3 at Courchevel. Month by month, Méribel has the edge in November, December, April and May.
Month by month
November: Courchevel 2 of 30, Méribel 10 of 30 snow-sure winters (30% and 64% of days).
December: Courchevel 22 of 30, Méribel 27 of 30 snow-sure winters (86% and 97% of days).
January: Courchevel 30 of 30, Méribel 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
February: Courchevel 30 of 30, Méribel 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
March: Courchevel 30 of 30, Méribel 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
April: Courchevel 23 of 30, Méribel 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (89% and 100% of days).
May: Courchevel 0 of 30, Méribel 19 of 30 snow-sure winters (20% and 85% 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 Méribel are 6 km apart as the crow flies. Courchevel first, then Méribel: Village 1,100 m against 1,400 m; Mid-mountain 1,919 m against 2,176 m; Summit 2,738 m against 2,952 m. Mapped downhill runs: Courchevel 151 km, Méribel 142 km (OpenStreetMap).
In February, the village had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 30% of days at Courchevel and 93% at Méribel.
Questions
Which has more reliable snow, Courchevel or Méribel?
Méribel has had the more reliable natural snow: mid-mountain was snow-sure in 5 months of the year, against 3 at Courchevel. Month by month, Méribel has the edge in November, December, April and May.
Which has better snow down to the village, Courchevel or Méribel?
In February, Méribel: its village had 30 cm or more of modelled natural snow on 93% of days, against 30%.
Does this include snowmaking?
No. These are modelled natural snow figures only, from ERA5 weather. Groomed pistes with snowmaking often ski better than this.