Comparison
Les Arcs vs Val d'Isère: which has more reliable snow?
Les Arcs or Val d'Isère? 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
Val d’Isère 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, Val d’Isère has the edge in November, December and May.
Month by month
November: Les Arcs 11 of 30, Val d’Isère 20 of 30 snow-sure winters (59% and 82% of days).
December: Les Arcs 27 of 30, Val d’Isère 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (96% and 100% of days).
January: Les Arcs 30 of 30, Val d’Isère 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
February: Les Arcs 30 of 30, Val d’Isère 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
March: Les Arcs 30 of 30, Val d’Isère 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
April: Les Arcs 30 of 30, Val d’Isère 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
May: Les Arcs 13 of 30, Val d’Isère 27 of 30 snow-sure winters (80% and 98% 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 Val d’Isère are 18 km apart as the crow flies. Les Arcs first, then Val d’Isère: Village 1,200 m against 1,785 m; Mid-mountain 2,213 m against 2,620 m; Summit 3,226 m against 3,456 m.
In February, the village had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 52% of days at Les Arcs and 99% at Val d’Isère.
Questions
Which has more reliable snow, Les Arcs or Val d’Isère?
Val d’Isère 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, Val d’Isère has the edge in November, December and May.
Which has better snow down to the village, Les Arcs or Val d’Isère?
In February, Val d’Isère: its village had 30 cm or more of modelled natural snow on 99% 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.