Comparison
Courchevel vs Val Thorens: which has more reliable snow?
Courchevel or Val Thorens? 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
Val Thorens has had the more reliable natural snow: mid-mountain was snow-sure in 6 months of the year, against 4 at Courchevel. Month by month, Val Thorens has the edge in November, December and May.
Month by month
November: Courchevel 0 of 11, Val Thorens 2 of 11 snow-sure winters (20% and 37% of days).
December: Courchevel 6 of 11, Val Thorens 9 of 11 snow-sure winters (70% and 83% of days).
January: Courchevel 11 of 11, Val Thorens 11 of 11 snow-sure winters (99% and 99% of days).
February: Courchevel 11 of 11, Val Thorens 11 of 11 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
March: Courchevel 11 of 11, Val Thorens 11 of 11 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
April: Courchevel 11 of 11, Val Thorens 11 of 11 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
May: Courchevel 4 of 11, Val Thorens 10 of 11 snow-sure winters (62% and 99% 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 Val Thorens are 14 km apart as the crow flies. Courchevel first, then Val Thorens: Village 1,100 m against 1,800 m; Mid-mountain 1,919 m against 2,515 m; Summit 2,738 m against 3,230 m. Mapped downhill runs: Courchevel 151 km, Val Thorens 115 km (OpenStreetMap).
In February, the village had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 12% of days at Courchevel and 100% at Val Thorens.
Questions
Which has more reliable snow, Courchevel or Val Thorens?
Val Thorens has had the more reliable natural snow: mid-mountain was snow-sure in 6 months of the year, against 4 at Courchevel. Month by month, Val Thorens has the edge in November, December and May.
Which has better snow down to the village, Courchevel or Val Thorens?
In February, Val Thorens: its village had 30 cm or more of modelled natural snow on 100% of days, against 12%.
Does this include snowmaking?
No. These are modelled natural snow figures only, from ERA5 weather. Groomed pistes with snowmaking often ski better than this.