Comparison
Tignes vs Val d'Isère: which has more reliable snow?
Tignes or Val d'Isère? 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
Both have been snow-sure at mid-mountain in 6 months of the year, but Val d’Isère has had the edge more often. Month by month, Val d’Isère has the edge in November.
Month by month
November: Tignes 17 of 30, Val d’Isère 20 of 30 snow-sure winters (79% and 82% of days).
December: Tignes 30 of 30, Val d’Isère 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
January: Tignes 30 of 30, Val d’Isère 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
February: Tignes 30 of 30, Val d’Isère 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
March: Tignes 30 of 30, Val d’Isère 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
April: Tignes 30 of 30, Val d’Isère 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
May: Tignes 27 of 30, Val d’Isère 27 of 30 snow-sure winters (97% and 98% 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
Tignes and Val d’Isère are 6 km apart as the crow flies. Tignes first, then Val d’Isère: Village 1,550 m against 1,785 m; Mid-mountain 2,503 m against 2,620 m; Summit 3,456 m against 3,456 m.
In February, the village had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 91% of days at Tignes and 99% at Val d’Isère.
Questions
Which has more reliable snow, Tignes or Val d’Isère?
Both have been snow-sure at mid-mountain in 6 months of the year, but Val d’Isère has had the edge more often. Month by month, Val d’Isère has the edge in November.
Which has better snow down to the village, Tignes or Val d’Isère?
In February, Val d’Isère: its village had 30 cm or more of modelled natural snow on 99% of days, against 91%.
Does this include snowmaking?
No. These are modelled natural snow figures only, from ERA5 weather. Groomed pistes with snowmaking often ski better than this.