Comparison
Saas-Fee vs Zermatt: which has more reliable snow?
Saas-Fee or Zermatt? 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
Very little separates them: both have been snow-sure at mid-mountain in 7 months of the year over the last 30 winters.
Month by month
November: Saas-Fee 25 of 30, Zermatt 24 of 30 snow-sure winters (94% and 91% of days).
December: Saas-Fee 30 of 30, Zermatt 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
January: Saas-Fee 30 of 30, Zermatt 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
February: Saas-Fee 30 of 30, Zermatt 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
March: Saas-Fee 30 of 30, Zermatt 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
April: Saas-Fee 30 of 30, Zermatt 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
May: Saas-Fee 30 of 30, Zermatt 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% 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
Saas-Fee and Zermatt are 17 km apart as the crow flies. Saas-Fee first, then Zermatt: Village 1,800 m against 1,620 m; Mid-mountain 2,700 m against 2,752 m; Summit 3,600 m against 3,883 m. Mapped downhill runs: Saas-Fee 48 km, Zermatt 208 km (OpenStreetMap).
In February, the village had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 99% of days at Saas-Fee and 92% at Zermatt.
Questions
Which has more reliable snow, Saas-Fee or Zermatt?
Very little separates them: both have been snow-sure at mid-mountain in 7 months of the year over the last 30 winters.
Which has better snow down to the village, Saas-Fee or Zermatt?
In February, Saas-Fee: its village had 30 cm or more of modelled natural snow on 99% of days, against 92%.
Does this include snowmaking?
No. These are modelled natural snow figures only, from ERA5 weather. Groomed pistes with snowmaking often ski better than this.