Alps
France
Chamonix
Natural snow at mid-mountain (2,438 m) is reliably skiable from 16 Dec to 31 May. At the peak of the season the village at 1,035 m is unreliable (5% of days) and the summit averages 69 cm of fresh snow per fortnight.
Month by month
October
Natural snow at mid-mountain reached 30 cm on fewer than 5% of days.
November
Unreliable for natural snow. Mid-mountain reached 30 cm on 46% of days. The summit averages 87 cm of new snow in the month.
December
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (2,438 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 94% of days, with a typical depth of 74 cm. The worst of the eleven seasons managed 47%. The village is usually bare. The summit averages 131 cm of new snow in the month.
January
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (2,438 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days, with a typical depth of 138 cm. The worst of the eleven seasons managed 100%. The village is usually bare. The summit averages 135 cm of new snow in the month.
February
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (2,438 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days, with a typical depth of 198 cm. The worst of the eleven seasons managed 100%. The village is usually bare. The summit averages 84 cm of new snow in the month.
March
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (2,438 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days, with a typical depth of 227 cm. The worst of the eleven seasons managed 100%. The village is usually bare. The summit averages 103 cm of new snow in the month.
April
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (2,438 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days, with a typical depth of 256 cm. The worst of the eleven seasons managed 100%. The village is usually bare. The summit averages 68 cm of new snow in the month.
May
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (2,438 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days, with a typical depth of 274 cm. The worst of the eleven seasons managed 100%. The village is usually bare. The summit averages 56 cm of new snow in the month.
June
Usually skiable. Mid-mountain had 30 cm or more on 70% of days, typically 112 cm deep. In the worst of the eleven seasons there was none. The village is usually bare.
July to September
Natural snow at mid-mountain reached 30 cm on fewer than 5% of days.
Questions
When is the best time to ski Chamonix?
For natural snow, 16 Dec to 31 May. In that window mid-mountain (2,438 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on at least 90% of days across eleven seasons. May is the most reliable month.
Is there snow at Chamonix in December?
In December, mid-mountain had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 94% of days over eleven seasons, typically 74 cm deep.
Does the snow reach the village at Chamonix?
Almost never as natural snow. Even in May, the village at 1,035 m had 30 cm or more on fewer than 5% of days. Expect to ride a lift down at the end of the day.
How high is Chamonix?
The modelled village is at 1,035 m, mid-mountain at 2,438 m and the summit at 3,842 m.
Is snow at Chamonix getting more or less reliable?
Over the eleven seasons modelled, snow-sure days have gone up by about 11 per decade. Eleven seasons is too short to separate a climate trend from year-to-year swings.
What is the nearest airport to Chamonix?
Annecy Meythet (NCY) is about 60 km away in a straight line. Geneva (GVA) is 68 km away. Road distances are longer.