Comparison
Sestriere vs Val Thorens: which has more reliable snow?
Sestriere or Val Thorens? 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
Val Thorens has had the more reliable natural snow: mid-mountain was snow-sure in 6 months of the year, against 5 at Sestriere. Month by month, Val Thorens has the edge in November, December and May.
Month by month
November: Sestriere 15 of 30, Val Thorens 18 of 30 snow-sure winters (70% and 81% of days).
December: Sestriere 27 of 30, Val Thorens 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (97% and 100% of days).
January: Sestriere 30 of 30, Val Thorens 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
February: Sestriere 30 of 30, Val Thorens 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
March: Sestriere 30 of 30, Val Thorens 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
April: Sestriere 30 of 30, Val Thorens 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
May: Sestriere 16 of 30, Val Thorens 28 of 30 snow-sure winters (84% and 99% 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
Sestriere and Val Thorens are 44 km apart as the crow flies. Sestriere first, then Val Thorens: Village 2,035 m against 1,800 m; Mid-mountain 2,429 m against 2,515 m; Summit 2,823 m against 3,230 m. Mapped downhill runs: Sestriere 58 km, Val Thorens 115 km (OpenStreetMap).
In February, the village had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days at Sestriere and 100% at Val Thorens.
Questions
Which has more reliable snow, Sestriere or Val Thorens?
Val Thorens has had the more reliable natural snow: mid-mountain was snow-sure in 6 months of the year, against 5 at Sestriere. Month by month, Val Thorens has the edge in November, December and May.
Which has better snow down to the village, Sestriere or Val Thorens?
In February, Sestriere: its village had 30 cm or more of modelled natural snow on 100% of days, against 100%.
Does this include snowmaking?
No. These are modelled natural snow figures only, from ERA5 weather. Groomed pistes with snowmaking often ski better than this.