Where to ski in June: the surest natural snow

The short answer

No resort Cirque models has been a sure thing for natural snow in June. The best odds have been at Zermatt (7 of 11), Cervinia (6 of 11) and Las Leñas (5 of 11), counting winters in which mid-mountain had 30 cm or more on at least 90% of June days. Snowmaking and glaciers matter more this month.

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

The Alps

Usually good: Zermatt (7 of 11). Hit and miss: Cervinia (6 of 11), Tignes (4 of 11) and Chamonix (4 of 11). A gamble: Les Deux Alpes (1 of 11), Verbier (1 of 11), Val Thorens (0 of 11), Obergurgl (0 of 11), St. Anton (0 of 11) and Ischgl (0 of 11).

Northern Europe and the Pyrenees

A gamble: Hemsedal (0 of 11).

North America

A gamble: Mammoth Mountain (2 of 11), Whistler Blackcomb (1 of 11), Big Sky (0 of 11), Banff Sunshine (0 of 11) and Jackson Hole (0 of 11).

New Zealand

A gamble: Treble Cone (1 of 11), Coronet Peak (1 of 11), Cardrona (1 of 11) and The Remarkables (0 of 11).

Australia

A gamble: Perisher (0 of 11), Falls Creek (0 of 11), Thredbo (0 of 11) and Mt Hotham (0 of 11).

South America

Hit and miss: Las Leñas (5 of 11) and Valle Nevado (4 of 11). A gamble: Portillo (2 of 11) and Cerro Catedral (1 of 11).

Go high

At Val Thorens, Tignes, Chamonix, Les Deux Alpes, Zermatt, Verbier, Cervinia and Whistler Blackcomb, the summit was snow-sure in June in at least 9 of the last 11 winters when mid-mountain was not. If you are going to one of these in June, the top of the mountain is where natural snow has been dependable.

Early or late June?

Across the resorts with snow this month, the first half of June has usually been the surer fortnight: 10 resorts had more snow-sure days late in the month and 16 resorts early on. Each resort’s own month page has its numbers.

Questions

Where is the best snow for skiing in June?

Among the 44 resorts Cirque models, Zermatt (7 of 11), Cervinia (6 of 11) and Las Leñas (5 of 11) have had the most reliable natural snow in June over the last 11 winters, counted as winters where mid-mountain had 30 cm or more on at least 90% of days.

Is June a good time to ski?

In the southern hemisphere, yes: it is the main season in New Zealand, Australia and South America.

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.