Comparison
Garmisch-Partenkirchen vs Obergurgl: which has more reliable snow?
Garmisch-Partenkirchen or Obergurgl? 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
Obergurgl has had the more reliable natural snow: mid-mountain was snow-sure in 5 months of the year, against 3 at Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Month by month, Obergurgl has the edge in November, December, January, February, March, April and May.
Month by month
November: Garmisch-Partenkirchen 0 of 30, Obergurgl 16 of 30 snow-sure winters (14% and 74% of days).
December: Garmisch-Partenkirchen 13 of 30, Obergurgl 28 of 30 snow-sure winters (63% and 98% of days).
January: Garmisch-Partenkirchen 24 of 30, Obergurgl 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (89% and 100% of days).
February: Garmisch-Partenkirchen 28 of 30, Obergurgl 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (95% and 100% of days).
March: Garmisch-Partenkirchen 26 of 30, Obergurgl 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (90% and 100% of days).
April: Garmisch-Partenkirchen 2 of 30, Obergurgl 29 of 30 snow-sure winters (39% and 99% of days).
May: Garmisch-Partenkirchen 0 of 30, Obergurgl 12 of 30 snow-sure winters (0% and 74% 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
Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Obergurgl are 67 km apart as the crow flies. Garmisch-Partenkirchen first, then Obergurgl: Village 720 m against 1,793 m; Mid-mountain 1,385 m against 2,436 m; Summit 2,050 m against 3,080 m. Mapped downhill runs: Garmisch-Partenkirchen 38 km, Obergurgl 64 km (OpenStreetMap).
In February, the village had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 4% of days at Garmisch-Partenkirchen and 95% at Obergurgl.
Questions
Which has more reliable snow, Garmisch-Partenkirchen or Obergurgl?
Obergurgl has had the more reliable natural snow: mid-mountain was snow-sure in 5 months of the year, against 3 at Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Month by month, Obergurgl has the edge in November, December, January, February, March, April and May.
Which has better snow down to the village, Garmisch-Partenkirchen or Obergurgl?
In February, Obergurgl: its village had 30 cm or more of modelled natural snow on 95% of days, against 4%.
Does this include snowmaking?
No. These are modelled natural snow figures only, from ERA5 weather. Groomed pistes with snowmaking often ski better than this.