Where to ski in January: the surest natural snow

The short answer

22 of the 44 resorts Cirque models were snow-sure in January 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 January days. The surest: Chamonix (11 of 11 winters), Whistler Blackcomb (11 of 11 winters), Banff Sunshine (11 of 11 winters), Revelstoke (11 of 11 winters) and Jackson Hole (11 of 11 winters).

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

The Alps

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

Northern Europe and the Pyrenees

Snow-sure: Hemsedal (10 of 11). Hit and miss: Åre (6 of 11). A gamble: Grandvalira (2 of 11).

North America

Snow-sure: Whistler Blackcomb (11 of 11), Banff Sunshine (11 of 11), Revelstoke (11 of 11), Jackson Hole (11 of 11), Vail (11 of 11), Big Sky (10 of 11), Aspen Snowmass (10 of 11) and Alta (9 of 11). Usually good: Mammoth Mountain (8 of 11) and Stowe (7 of 11).

Japan

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

Go high

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

Early or late January?

Across the resorts with snow this month, the second half of January has usually been the surer fortnight: 12 resorts had more snow-sure days late in the month and none early on. Each resort’s own month page has its numbers.

Questions

Where is the best snow for skiing in January?

Among the 44 resorts Cirque models, Chamonix (11 of 11), Whistler Blackcomb (11 of 11), Banff Sunshine (11 of 11), Revelstoke (11 of 11) and Jackson Hole (11 of 11) have had the most reliable natural snow in January over the last 11 winters, counted as winters where mid-mountain had 30 cm or more on at least 90% of days.

Is January 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.