Where to ski in December: the surest natural snow

The short answer

Six of the 44 resorts Cirque models were snow-sure in December 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 December days. The surest: Whistler Blackcomb (11 of 11 winters), Zermatt (10 of 11 winters), Chamonix (9 of 11 winters), Cervinia (9 of 11 winters) and Tignes (9 of 11 winters).

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

The Alps

Snow-sure: Zermatt (10 of 11), Chamonix (9 of 11), Cervinia (9 of 11), Tignes (9 of 11) and Val Thorens (9 of 11). Usually good: Verbier (8 of 11), Les Deux Alpes (8 of 11) and Obergurgl (7 of 11). Hit and miss: Courchevel (6 of 11), Ischgl (6 of 11) and Cortina d’Ampezzo (4 of 11). A gamble: St. Anton (3 of 11), Val Gardena (2 of 11) and Kitzbühel (2 of 11).

Northern Europe and the Pyrenees

A gamble: Hemsedal (2 of 11), Åre (2 of 11) and Grandvalira (1 of 11).

North America

Snow-sure: Whistler Blackcomb (11 of 11). Usually good: Revelstoke (7 of 11), Jackson Hole (7 of 11) and Banff Sunshine (7 of 11). Hit and miss: Big Sky (6 of 11), Vail (4 of 11), Aspen Snowmass (4 of 11) and Mammoth Mountain (4 of 11). A gamble: Alta (3 of 11) and Stowe (1 of 11).

Japan

Hit and miss: Hakuba Valley (4 of 11). A gamble: Niseko United (1 of 11).

New Zealand

A gamble: Treble Cone (0 of 11).

South America

A gamble: Las Leñas (1 of 11) and Valle Nevado (1 of 11).

Go high

At Courchevel, Verbier, St. Anton, Ischgl, Revelstoke, Jackson Hole and Hemsedal, the summit was snow-sure in December in at least 9 of the last 11 winters when mid-mountain was not. If you are going to one of these in December, the top of the mountain is where natural snow has been dependable.

Early or late December?

Across the resorts with snow this month, the second half of December has usually been the surer fortnight: 26 resorts had more snow-sure days late in the month and 3 resorts early on. Each resort’s own month page has its numbers.

Questions

Where is the best snow for skiing in December?

Among the 44 resorts Cirque models, Whistler Blackcomb (11 of 11), Zermatt (10 of 11), Chamonix (9 of 11), Cervinia (9 of 11) and Tignes (9 of 11) have had the most reliable natural snow in December over the last 11 winters, counted as winters where mid-mountain had 30 cm or more on at least 90% of days.

Is December a good time to ski?

In the northern hemisphere, yes at higher resorts, but natural snow is less certain lower down.

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.