Comparison
Saalbach Hinterglemm vs Zell am See-Kaprun: which has more reliable snow?
Saalbach Hinterglemm or Zell am See-Kaprun? 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
Zell am See-Kaprun has had the more reliable natural snow: mid-mountain was snow-sure in 4 months of the year, against 3 at Saalbach Hinterglemm. Month by month, Zell am See-Kaprun has the edge in November, December, April and May.
Month by month
November: Saalbach Hinterglemm 3 of 30, Zell am See-Kaprun 6 of 30 snow-sure winters (37% and 55% of days).
December: Saalbach Hinterglemm 22 of 30, Zell am See-Kaprun 25 of 30 snow-sure winters (88% and 93% of days).
January: Saalbach Hinterglemm 30 of 30, Zell am See-Kaprun 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
February: Saalbach Hinterglemm 30 of 30, Zell am See-Kaprun 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
March: Saalbach Hinterglemm 30 of 30, Zell am See-Kaprun 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
April: Saalbach Hinterglemm 18 of 30, Zell am See-Kaprun 23 of 30 snow-sure winters (78% and 90% of days).
May: Saalbach Hinterglemm 0 of 30, Zell am See-Kaprun 0 of 30 snow-sure winters (10% and 22% 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
Saalbach Hinterglemm and Zell am See-Kaprun are 15 km apart as the crow flies. Saalbach Hinterglemm first, then Zell am See-Kaprun: Village 1,003 m against 750 m; Mid-mountain 1,550 m against 1,890 m; Summit 2,096 m against 3,029 m. Mapped downhill runs: Saalbach Hinterglemm 267 km, Zell am See-Kaprun 46 km (OpenStreetMap).
In February, the village had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 73% of days at Saalbach Hinterglemm and 4% at Zell am See-Kaprun.
Questions
Which has more reliable snow, Saalbach Hinterglemm or Zell am See-Kaprun?
Zell am See-Kaprun has had the more reliable natural snow: mid-mountain was snow-sure in 4 months of the year, against 3 at Saalbach Hinterglemm. Month by month, Zell am See-Kaprun has the edge in November, December, April and May.
Which has better snow down to the village, Saalbach Hinterglemm or Zell am See-Kaprun?
In February, Saalbach Hinterglemm: its village had 30 cm or more of modelled natural snow on 73% of days, against 4%.
Does this include snowmaking?
No. These are modelled natural snow figures only, from ERA5 weather. Groomed pistes with snowmaking often ski better than this.