Boom or bust: the ski resorts where natural snow varies most from year to year

The short answer

Some resorts are steady, others swing hugely from one winter to the next. Over the last 11 winters, Valle Nevado had the widest range: from 0 to 235 days with 30 cm or more of natural snow at mid-mountain. Among resorts with a typical season of 100 days or more, Jackson Hole was the steadiest, ranging only from 167 to 199.

Eleven winters show how much one season differs from the next, not a long-term trend.

Biggest swings

1. Valle Nevado, Chile: 0 to 235 days (typically 137).

2. Mammoth Mountain, USA: 24 to 244 days (typically 166).

3. Treble Cone, New Zealand: 5 to 214 days (typically 151).

4. Cerro Catedral, Argentina: 15 to 199 days (typically 139).

5. Grandvalira, Andorra: 0 to 169 days (typically 73).

6. Val Gardena, Italy: 0 to 164 days (typically 82).

7. Portillo, Chile: 0 to 160 days (typically 98).

8. Las Leñas, Argentina: 74 to 227 days (typically 180).

9. Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy: 44 to 190 days (typically 161).

10. Stowe, USA: 2 to 148 days (typically 113).

Steadiest seasons

1. Jackson Hole, USA: 167 to 199 days (typically 184).

2. Revelstoke, Canada: 136 to 171 days (typically 153).

3. Courchevel, France: 136 to 189 days (typically 164).

4. Vail, USA: 138 to 191 days (typically 165).

5. Niseko United, Japan: 116 to 173 days (typically 138).

6. Big Sky, USA: 145 to 206 days (typically 188).

7. Val Thorens, France: 172 to 238 days (typically 203).

8. Chamonix, France: 183 to 249 days (typically 213).

9. Whistler Blackcomb, Canada: 186 to 253 days (typically 207).

10. Banff Sunshine, Canada: 139 to 207 days (typically 177).

Questions

Which ski resorts have the most consistent snow?

Among the resorts Cirque models with a typical season of 100 days or more, Jackson Hole, Revelstoke and Courchevel varied least between winters.

Does a bad winter mean snow is declining?

No. Eleven winters show how much one season differs from the next, not a long-term trend. Cirque does not draw trend conclusions from this record.

Does this include snowmaking?

No. These are modelled natural snow figures only, from ERA5 weather. Groomed pistes with snowmaking often ski better than this.