Comparison
Serre Chevalier vs Sestriere: which has more reliable snow?
Serre Chevalier or Sestriere? 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
Sestriere has had the more reliable natural snow: mid-mountain was snow-sure in 5 months of the year, against 3 at Serre Chevalier. Month by month, Sestriere has the edge in November, December, April and May.
Month by month
November: Serre Chevalier 2 of 30, Sestriere 15 of 30 snow-sure winters (31% and 70% of days).
December: Serre Chevalier 21 of 30, Sestriere 27 of 30 snow-sure winters (87% and 97% of days).
January: Serre Chevalier 30 of 30, Sestriere 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
February: Serre Chevalier 30 of 30, Sestriere 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
March: Serre Chevalier 30 of 30, Sestriere 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
April: Serre Chevalier 23 of 30, Sestriere 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (92% and 100% of days).
May: Serre Chevalier 0 of 30, Sestriere 16 of 30 snow-sure winters (23% and 84% 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
Serre Chevalier and Sestriere are 26 km apart as the crow flies. Serre Chevalier first, then Sestriere: Village 1,200 m against 2,035 m; Mid-mountain 2,000 m against 2,429 m; Summit 2,800 m against 2,823 m. Mapped downhill runs: Serre Chevalier 157 km, Sestriere 58 km (OpenStreetMap).
In February, the village had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 34% of days at Serre Chevalier and 100% at Sestriere.
Questions
Which has more reliable snow, Serre Chevalier or Sestriere?
Sestriere has had the more reliable natural snow: mid-mountain was snow-sure in 5 months of the year, against 3 at Serre Chevalier. Month by month, Sestriere has the edge in November, December, April and May.
Which has better snow down to the village, Serre Chevalier or Sestriere?
In February, Sestriere: its village had 30 cm or more of modelled natural snow on 100% of days, against 34%.
Does this include snowmaking?
No. These are modelled natural snow figures only, from ERA5 weather. Groomed pistes with snowmaking often ski better than this.