February half term skiing: where natural snow is surest

The short answer

Late February is the heart of the northern season, so most resorts are good. The question is how far down the mountain the snow reaches.

Over the second half of February, when most UK and many European schools break, 28 of the 29 northern-hemisphere resorts Cirque models were snow-sure in at least 9 of the last 11 winters, meaning mid-mountain had 30 cm or more of modelled natural snow on at least 90% of days. The surest: Val Thorens (11 of 11 winters), Tignes (11 of 11 winters), Chamonix (11 of 11 winters), Les Deux Alpes (11 of 11 winters) and Courchevel (11 of 11 winters).

The Alps

Snow-sure: Val Thorens (11 of 11), Tignes (11 of 11), Chamonix (11 of 11), Les Deux Alpes (11 of 11), Courchevel (11 of 11), Zermatt (11 of 11), Verbier (11 of 11), St. Anton (11 of 11), Ischgl (11 of 11), Obergurgl (11 of 11), Cervinia (11 of 11), Kitzbühel (10 of 11), Cortina d’Ampezzo (10 of 11) and Val Gardena (10 of 11).

Northern Europe and the Pyrenees

Snow-sure: Åre (11 of 11) and Hemsedal (11 of 11). Usually good: Grandvalira (7 of 11).

North America

Snow-sure: Whistler Blackcomb (11 of 11), Banff Sunshine (11 of 11), Revelstoke (11 of 11), Jackson Hole (11 of 11), Alta (11 of 11), Vail (11 of 11), Aspen Snowmass (11 of 11), Big Sky (11 of 11), Mammoth Mountain (10 of 11) and Stowe (10 of 11).

Japan

Snow-sure: Niseko United (11 of 11) and Hakuba Valley (11 of 11).

Snow down to the village

If you want to ski back to your door, the village figure matters more than mid-mountain. The villages with the most natural snow over February half term: Val Thorens (100% of days), Jackson Hole (100% of days), Vail (100% of days), Aspen Snowmass (100% of days), Niseko United (100% of days), Alta (98% of days).

Go high

At Grandvalira, the summit was snow-sure in at least 9 of the last 11 winters over February half term when mid-mountain was not. Plan to ski the top of the mountain.

Questions

Where is the best snow for skiing at February half term?

Among the northern-hemisphere resorts Cirque models, Val Thorens (11 of 11 winters), Tignes (11 of 11 winters), Chamonix (11 of 11 winters), Les Deux Alpes (11 of 11 winters) and Courchevel (11 of 11 winters) have had the most reliable natural snow over the second half of February, when most UK and many European schools break.

Is there enough snow to ski at February half term?

At most resorts Cirque models, yes: 28 of 29 were snow-sure in at least 9 of the last 11 winters. Lower resorts depend more on snowmaking.

Does this include snowmaking?

No. These are modelled natural snow figures only, from ERA5 weather. Groomed pistes with snowmaking often ski better than this.