Comparison
La Plagne vs Les Arcs: which has more reliable snow?
La Plagne 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
Both have been snow-sure at mid-mountain in 5 months of the year, but La Plagne has had the edge more often. Month by month, La Plagne has the edge in May.
Month by month
November: La Plagne 11 of 30, Les Arcs 11 of 30 snow-sure winters (60% and 59% of days).
December: La Plagne 28 of 30, Les Arcs 27 of 30 snow-sure winters (98% and 96% of days).
January: La Plagne 30 of 30, Les Arcs 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
February: La Plagne 30 of 30, Les Arcs 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
March: La Plagne 30 of 30, Les Arcs 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
April: La Plagne 30 of 30, Les Arcs 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
May: La Plagne 16 of 30, Les Arcs 13 of 30 snow-sure winters (84% 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
La Plagne and Les Arcs are 14 km apart as the crow flies. La Plagne first, then Les Arcs: Village 1,250 m against 1,200 m; Mid-mountain 2,250 m against 2,213 m; Summit 3,250 m against 3,226 m. Mapped downhill runs: La Plagne 188 km, Les Arcs 170 km (OpenStreetMap).
In February, the village had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 54% of days at La Plagne and 52% at Les Arcs.
Questions
Which has more reliable snow, La Plagne or Les Arcs?
Both have been snow-sure at mid-mountain in 5 months of the year, but La Plagne has had the edge more often. Month by month, La Plagne has the edge in May.
Which has better snow down to the village, La Plagne or Les Arcs?
In February, La Plagne: its village had 30 cm or more of modelled natural snow on 54% 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.