October
Where to ski in October: the surest natural snow
The ski resorts with the surest natural snow in October, ranked from eleven winters of weather data. Las Leñas leads.
The short answer
Three of the 44 resorts Cirque models were snow-sure in October 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 October days. The surest: Las Leñas (11 of 11 winters), Treble Cone (9 of 11 winters) and Cerro Catedral (9 of 11 winters).
30 resorts had natural snow at mid-mountain on fewer than 5% of October days, so they are left out below. The counts in brackets are snow-sure winters out of the last 11.
The Alps
A gamble: Cervinia (1 of 11) and Zermatt (1 of 11).
North America
A gamble: Whistler Blackcomb (0 of 11).
New Zealand
Snow-sure: Treble Cone (9 of 11). Usually good: The Remarkables (7 of 11). Hit and miss: Cardrona (6 of 11). A gamble: Mt Hutt (3 of 11), Coronet Peak (2 of 11) and Whakapapa (1 of 11).
Australia
A gamble: Perisher (0 of 11).
South America
Snow-sure: Las Leñas (11 of 11) and Cerro Catedral (9 of 11). Usually good: Valle Nevado (7 of 11). A gamble: Portillo (2 of 11).
Go high
At The Remarkables, Mt Hutt, Portillo and Valle Nevado, the summit was snow-sure in October in at least 9 of the last 11 winters when mid-mountain was not. If you are going to one of these in October, the top of the mountain is where natural snow has been dependable.
Early or late October?
Across the resorts with snow this month, the first half of October has usually been the surer fortnight: 2 resorts had more snow-sure days late in the month and 8 resorts early on. Each resort’s own month page has its numbers.
Questions
Where is the best snow for skiing in October?
Among the 44 resorts Cirque models, Las Leñas (11 of 11), Treble Cone (9 of 11) and Cerro Catedral (9 of 11) have had the most reliable natural snow in October over the last 11 winters, counted as winters where mid-mountain had 30 cm or more on at least 90% of days.
Is October a good time to ski?
It is a shoulder month. A few high or late-season resorts have natural snow; most rely on snowmaking or are closed.
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.