Where to ski in April: the surest natural snow

The short answer

24 of the 44 resorts Cirque models were snow-sure in April in at least 9 of the last 11 winters, meaning mid-mountain had 30 cm or more of modelled natural snow on at least 90% of April days. The surest: Val Thorens (11 of 11 winters), Tignes (11 of 11 winters), Chamonix (11 of 11 winters), Les Deux Alpes (11 of 11 winters) and Courchevel (11 of 11 winters).

14 southern-hemisphere resorts had natural snow at mid-mountain on fewer than 5% of April days, so they are left out below. The counts in brackets are snow-sure winters out of the last 11.

The Alps

Snow-sure: Val Thorens (11 of 11), Tignes (11 of 11), Chamonix (11 of 11), Les Deux Alpes (11 of 11), Courchevel (11 of 11), Zermatt (11 of 11), Verbier (11 of 11), St. Anton (11 of 11), Ischgl (11 of 11), Obergurgl (11 of 11), Cervinia (11 of 11) and Cortina d’Ampezzo (10 of 11). A gamble: Kitzbühel (2 of 11) and Val Gardena (1 of 11).

Northern Europe and the Pyrenees

Snow-sure: Åre (10 of 11) and Hemsedal (9 of 11). A gamble: Grandvalira (3 of 11).

North America

Snow-sure: Whistler Blackcomb (11 of 11), Banff Sunshine (11 of 11), Jackson Hole (11 of 11), Alta (11 of 11), Vail (11 of 11), Aspen Snowmass (11 of 11), Big Sky (11 of 11) and Mammoth Mountain (10 of 11). Usually good: Revelstoke (8 of 11). A gamble: Stowe (3 of 11).

Japan

Snow-sure: Niseko United (10 of 11) and Hakuba Valley (9 of 11).

South America

A gamble: Las Leñas (0 of 11).

Go high

At Kitzbühel, Val Gardena, Grandvalira and Revelstoke, the summit was snow-sure in April in at least 9 of the last 11 winters when mid-mountain was not. If you are going to one of these in April, the top of the mountain is where natural snow has been dependable.

Early or late April?

Across the resorts with snow this month, the first half of April has usually been the surer fortnight: 1 resort had more snow-sure days late in the month and 7 resorts early on. Each resort’s own month page has its numbers.

Questions

Where is the best snow for skiing in April?

Among the 44 resorts Cirque models, Val Thorens (11 of 11), Tignes (11 of 11), Chamonix (11 of 11), Les Deux Alpes (11 of 11) and Courchevel (11 of 11) have had the most reliable natural snow in April over the last 11 winters, counted as winters where mid-mountain had 30 cm or more on at least 90% of days.

Is April a good time to ski?

Yes, in the northern hemisphere: it is the heart of the season, and most resorts Cirque models have been snow-sure or usually good.

Does this include snowmaking?

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

Is snow getting less reliable?

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.