Comparison
Courmayeur vs Les Arcs: which has more reliable snow?
Courmayeur or Les Arcs? 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
Les Arcs has had the more reliable natural snow: mid-mountain was snow-sure in 5 months of the year, against 4 at Courmayeur. Month by month, Les Arcs has the edge in November, December, April and May.
Month by month
November: Courmayeur 3 of 30, Les Arcs 11 of 30 snow-sure winters (41% and 59% of days).
December: Courmayeur 22 of 30, Les Arcs 27 of 30 snow-sure winters (90% and 96% of days).
January: Courmayeur 30 of 30, Les Arcs 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
February: Courmayeur 30 of 30, Les Arcs 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
March: Courmayeur 30 of 30, Les Arcs 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
April: Courmayeur 25 of 30, Les Arcs 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (92% and 100% of days).
May: Courmayeur 1 of 30, Les Arcs 13 of 30 snow-sure winters (31% and 80% 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
Courmayeur and Les Arcs are 27 km apart as the crow flies. Courmayeur first, then Les Arcs: Village 1,224 m against 1,200 m; Mid-mountain 1,990 m against 2,213 m; Summit 2,755 m against 3,226 m. Mapped downhill runs: Courmayeur 42 km, Les Arcs 170 km (OpenStreetMap).
In February, the village had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 61% of days at Courmayeur and 52% at Les Arcs.
Questions
Which has more reliable snow, Courmayeur or Les Arcs?
Les Arcs has had the more reliable natural snow: mid-mountain was snow-sure in 5 months of the year, against 4 at Courmayeur. Month by month, Les Arcs has the edge in November, December, April and May.
Which has better snow down to the village, Courmayeur or Les Arcs?
In February, Courmayeur: its village had 30 cm or more of modelled natural snow on 61% of days, against 52%.
Does this include snowmaking?
No. These are modelled natural snow figures only, from ERA5 weather. Groomed pistes with snowmaking often ski better than this.