Comparison
Obergurgl vs Val Gardena: which has more reliable snow?
Obergurgl or Val Gardena? 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
Obergurgl has had the more reliable natural snow: mid-mountain was snow-sure in 4 months of the year, against 0 at Val Gardena. Month by month, Obergurgl has the edge in November, December, January, February, March, April and May.
Month by month
November: Obergurgl 2 of 11, Val Gardena 0 of 11 snow-sure winters (45% and 6% of days).
December: Obergurgl 7 of 11, Val Gardena 2 of 11 snow-sure winters (70% and 32% of days).
January: Obergurgl 9 of 11, Val Gardena 4 of 11 snow-sure winters (89% and 45% of days).
February: Obergurgl 11 of 11, Val Gardena 7 of 11 snow-sure winters (100% and 78% of days).
March: Obergurgl 11 of 11, Val Gardena 8 of 11 snow-sure winters (100% and 86% of days).
April: Obergurgl 11 of 11, Val Gardena 1 of 11 snow-sure winters (100% and 50% of days).
May: Obergurgl 8 of 11, Val Gardena 0 of 11 snow-sure winters (90% and 5% 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
Obergurgl and Val Gardena are 66 km apart as the crow flies. Obergurgl first, then Val Gardena: Village 1,793 m against 1,236 m; Mid-mountain 2,436 m against 1,877 m; Summit 3,080 m against 2,518 m.
In February, the village had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 60% of days at Obergurgl and 0% at Val Gardena.
Questions
Which has more reliable snow, Obergurgl or Val Gardena?
Obergurgl has had the more reliable natural snow: mid-mountain was snow-sure in 4 months of the year, against 0 at Val Gardena. Month by month, Obergurgl has the edge in November, December, January, February, March, April and May.
Which has better snow down to the village, Obergurgl or Val Gardena?
In February, Obergurgl: its village had 30 cm or more of modelled natural snow on 60% of days, against 0%.
Does this include snowmaking?
No. These are modelled natural snow figures only, from ERA5 weather. Groomed pistes with snowmaking often ski better than this.