Comparison
Portillo vs Valle Nevado: which has more reliable snow?
Portillo 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
Valle Nevado has had the more reliable natural snow: mid-mountain was snow-sure in 1 month of the year, against 0 at Portillo. Month by month, Valle Nevado has the edge in June, September, October and November.
Month by month
June: Portillo 2 of 11, Valle Nevado 4 of 11 snow-sure winters (41% and 44% of days).
July: Portillo 7 of 11, Valle Nevado 8 of 11 snow-sure winters (76% and 79% of days).
August: Portillo 6 of 11, Valle Nevado 7 of 11 snow-sure winters (72% and 78% of days).
September: Portillo 6 of 11, Valle Nevado 9 of 11 snow-sure winters (64% and 82% of days).
October: Portillo 2 of 11, Valle Nevado 7 of 11 snow-sure winters (42% and 83% of days).
November: Portillo 0 of 11, Valle Nevado 3 of 11 snow-sure winters (2% 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
Portillo and Valle Nevado are 59 km apart as the crow flies. Portillo first, then Valle Nevado: Village 2,580 m against 2,860 m; Mid-mountain 2,945 m against 3,265 m; Summit 3,310 m against 3,670 m. Mapped downhill runs: Portillo 15 km, Valle Nevado 47 km (OpenStreetMap).
In August, the village had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 24% of days at Portillo and 80% at Valle Nevado.
Questions
Which has more reliable snow, Portillo or Valle Nevado?
Valle Nevado has had the more reliable natural snow: mid-mountain was snow-sure in 1 month of the year, against 0 at Portillo. Month by month, Valle Nevado has the edge in June, September, October and November.
Which has better snow down to the village, Portillo or Valle Nevado?
In August, Valle Nevado: its village had 30 cm or more of modelled natural snow on 80% of days, against 24%.
Does this include snowmaking?
No. These are modelled natural snow figures only, from ERA5 weather. Groomed pistes with snowmaking often ski better than this.