Comparison
Verbier vs Zermatt: which has more reliable snow?
Verbier 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
Zermatt has had the more reliable natural snow: mid-mountain was snow-sure in 6 months of the year, against 5 at Verbier. Month by month, Zermatt has the edge in November and December.
Month by month
November: Verbier 2 of 11, Zermatt 4 of 11 snow-sure winters (39% and 55% of days).
December: Verbier 8 of 11, Zermatt 10 of 11 snow-sure winters (86% and 90% of days).
January: Verbier 10 of 11, Zermatt 10 of 11 snow-sure winters (93% and 98% of days).
February: Verbier 11 of 11, Zermatt 11 of 11 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
March: Verbier 11 of 11, Zermatt 11 of 11 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
April: Verbier 11 of 11, Zermatt 11 of 11 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
May: Verbier 10 of 11, Zermatt 11 of 11 snow-sure winters (96% 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
Verbier and Zermatt are 41 km apart as the crow flies. Verbier first, then Zermatt: Village 1,500 m against 1,620 m; Mid-mountain 2,415 m against 2,752 m; Summit 3,330 m against 3,883 m. Mapped downhill runs: Verbier 174 km, Zermatt 208 km (OpenStreetMap).
In February, the village had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 81% of days at Verbier and 40% at Zermatt.
Questions
Which has more reliable snow, Verbier or Zermatt?
Zermatt has had the more reliable natural snow: mid-mountain was snow-sure in 6 months of the year, against 5 at Verbier. Month by month, Zermatt has the edge in November and December.
Which has better snow down to the village, Verbier or Zermatt?
In February, Verbier: its village had 30 cm or more of modelled natural snow on 81% 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.