Comparison
Val Thorens vs Zermatt: which has more reliable snow?
Val Thorens or Zermatt? Natural snow month by month, at the village, mid-mountain and summit, from eleven winters of weather data.
Month by month
Each cell is one month: the share of days with 30 cm or more of modelled natural snow at mid-mountain over the last 11 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 Zermatt has had the edge more often. Month by month, Zermatt has the edge in November.
Month by month
November: Val Thorens 2 of 11, Zermatt 4 of 11 snow-sure winters (37% and 55% of days).
December: Val Thorens 9 of 11, Zermatt 10 of 11 snow-sure winters (83% and 90% of days).
January: Val Thorens 11 of 11, Zermatt 10 of 11 snow-sure winters (99% and 98% of days).
February: Val Thorens 11 of 11, Zermatt 11 of 11 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
March: Val Thorens 11 of 11, Zermatt 11 of 11 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
April: Val Thorens 11 of 11, Zermatt 11 of 11 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
May: Val Thorens 10 of 11, Zermatt 11 of 11 snow-sure winters (99% 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
Val Thorens and Zermatt are 121 km apart as the crow flies. Val Thorens first, then Zermatt: Village 1,800 m against 1,620 m; Mid-mountain 2,515 m against 2,752 m; Summit 3,230 m against 3,883 m. Mapped downhill runs: Val Thorens 115 km, Zermatt 208 km (OpenStreetMap).
In February, the village had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days at Val Thorens and 40% at Zermatt.
Questions
Which has more reliable snow, Val Thorens or Zermatt?
Both have been snow-sure at mid-mountain in 6 months of the year, but Zermatt has had the edge more often. Month by month, Zermatt has the edge in November.
Which has better snow down to the village, Val Thorens or Zermatt?
In February, Val Thorens: its village had 30 cm or more of modelled natural snow on 100% of days, against 40%.
Does this include snowmaking?
No. These are modelled natural snow figures only, from ERA5 weather. Groomed pistes with snowmaking often ski better than this.