Comparison
Les Arcs vs Tignes: which has more reliable snow?
Les Arcs or Tignes? 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
Tignes has had the more reliable natural snow: mid-mountain was snow-sure in 6 months of the year, against 5 at Les Arcs. Month by month, Tignes has the edge in November, December and May.
Month by month
November: Les Arcs 11 of 30, Tignes 17 of 30 snow-sure winters (59% and 79% of days).
December: Les Arcs 27 of 30, Tignes 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (96% and 100% of days).
January: Les Arcs 30 of 30, Tignes 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
February: Les Arcs 30 of 30, Tignes 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
March: Les Arcs 30 of 30, Tignes 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
April: Les Arcs 30 of 30, Tignes 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
May: Les Arcs 13 of 30, Tignes 27 of 30 snow-sure winters (80% and 97% 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
Les Arcs and Tignes are 13 km apart as the crow flies. Les Arcs first, then Tignes: Village 1,200 m against 1,550 m; Mid-mountain 2,213 m against 2,503 m; Summit 3,226 m against 3,456 m. Mapped downhill runs: Les Arcs 170 km, Tignes 211 km (OpenStreetMap).
In February, the village had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 52% of days at Les Arcs and 91% at Tignes.
Questions
Which has more reliable snow, Les Arcs or Tignes?
Tignes has had the more reliable natural snow: mid-mountain was snow-sure in 6 months of the year, against 5 at Les Arcs. Month by month, Tignes has the edge in November, December and May.
Which has better snow down to the village, Les Arcs or Tignes?
In February, Tignes: its village had 30 cm or more of modelled natural snow on 91% 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.