Comparison
Las Leñas vs Valle Nevado: which has more reliable snow?
Las Leñas or Valle Nevado? 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
Las Leñas has had the more reliable natural snow: mid-mountain was snow-sure in 4 months of the year, against 1 at Valle Nevado. Month by month, Las Leñas has the edge in August, September, October and November.
Month by month
June: Las Leñas 5 of 11, Valle Nevado 4 of 11 snow-sure winters (69% and 44% of days).
July: Las Leñas 9 of 11, Valle Nevado 8 of 11 snow-sure winters (88% and 79% of days).
August: Las Leñas 10 of 11, Valle Nevado 7 of 11 snow-sure winters (95% and 78% of days).
September: Las Leñas 11 of 11, Valle Nevado 9 of 11 snow-sure winters (100% and 82% of days).
October: Las Leñas 11 of 11, Valle Nevado 7 of 11 snow-sure winters (99% and 83% of days).
November: Las Leñas 5 of 11, Valle Nevado 3 of 11 snow-sure winters (66% and 46% 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
Las Leñas and Valle Nevado are 200 km apart as the crow flies. Las Leñas first, then Valle Nevado: Village 2,240 m against 2,860 m; Mid-mountain 2,835 m against 3,265 m; Summit 3,430 m against 3,670 m. Mapped downhill runs: Las Leñas 27 km, Valle Nevado 47 km (OpenStreetMap).
In August, the village had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 61% of days at Las Leñas and 80% at Valle Nevado.
Questions
Which has more reliable snow, Las Leñas or Valle Nevado?
Las Leñas has had the more reliable natural snow: mid-mountain was snow-sure in 4 months of the year, against 1 at Valle Nevado. Month by month, Las Leñas has the edge in August, September, October and November.
Which has better snow down to the village, Las Leñas or Valle Nevado?
In August, Valle Nevado: its village had 30 cm or more of modelled natural snow on 80% of days, against 61%.
Does this include snowmaking?
No. These are modelled natural snow figures only, from ERA5 weather. Groomed pistes with snowmaking often ski better than this.