The most snow-sure ski resorts in Europe

The short answer

Of the 17 resorts Cirque models in Europe, Cervinia has had the most reliable natural snow: mid-mountain was snow-sure in 6 months of the year, with 30 cm or more on a typical 233 days a winter.

A month counts as snow-sure when mid-mountain had 30 cm or more of modelled natural snow on at least 90% of its days in at least 9 of the last 11 winters. Ties are broken by the typical number of days a winter with 30 cm or more.

The ranking

1. Cervinia, Italy: snow-sure at mid-mountain in 6 months (Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May); typically 233 days a winter with 30 cm or more.

2. Zermatt, Switzerland: snow-sure at mid-mountain in 6 months (Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May); typically 221 days a winter with 30 cm or more.

3. Chamonix, France: snow-sure at mid-mountain in 6 months (Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May); typically 213 days a winter with 30 cm or more.

4. Tignes, France: snow-sure at mid-mountain in 6 months (Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May); typically 211 days a winter with 30 cm or more.

5. Val Thorens, France: snow-sure at mid-mountain in 6 months (Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May); typically 203 days a winter with 30 cm or more.

6. Verbier, Switzerland: snow-sure at mid-mountain in 5 months (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May); typically 206 days a winter with 30 cm or more.

7. Les Deux Alpes, France: snow-sure at mid-mountain in 5 months (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May); typically 205 days a winter with 30 cm or more.

8. Obergurgl, Austria: snow-sure at mid-mountain in 4 months (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr); typically 198 days a winter with 30 cm or more.

9. Ischgl, Austria: snow-sure at mid-mountain in 4 months (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr); typically 185 days a winter with 30 cm or more.

10. St. Anton, Austria: snow-sure at mid-mountain in 4 months (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr); typically 172 days a winter with 30 cm or more.

11. Courchevel, France: snow-sure at mid-mountain in 4 months (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr); typically 164 days a winter with 30 cm or more.

12. Hemsedal, Norway: snow-sure at mid-mountain in 4 months (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr); typically 156 days a winter with 30 cm or more.

13. Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy: snow-sure at mid-mountain in 3 months (Feb, Mar, Apr); typically 161 days a winter with 30 cm or more.

14. Åre, Sweden: snow-sure at mid-mountain in 3 months (Feb, Mar, Apr); typically 133 days a winter with 30 cm or more.

15. Kitzbühel, Austria: snow-sure at mid-mountain in 1 month (Feb); typically 105 days a winter with 30 cm or more.

Questions

Which ski resort has the most reliable snow in Europe?

Of the resorts Cirque models, Cervinia: mid-mountain was snow-sure in 6 months of the year over the last 11 winters.

How is snow reliability measured?

By counting winters. A month is snow-sure when mid-mountain had 30 cm or more of modelled natural snow on at least 90% of its days in at least 9 of the last 11 winters.

Does this include snowmaking?

No. These are modelled natural snow figures only, from ERA5 weather. Groomed pistes with snowmaking often ski better than this.