Alps
France
La Plagne
Natural snow at mid-mountain (2,250 m) is reliably skiable from 1 Dec to 15 May. At the peak of the season the village at 1,250 m is unreliable (54% of days) and modelled snowfall at the summit averages 68 cm a fortnight.
How natural snow at La Plagne has changed
Days each winter (November to April) with 30 cm or more of natural snow, every winter since 1950. The lines are the averages for 1961/62 to 1990/91 and 1995/96 to 2024/25.
Village, 1,250 m
34 fewer days a winter with 30 cm or more than in 1961–1990.Mid-mountain, 2,250 m
About the same as in 1961–1990.Modelled from ERA5 weather (Copernicus Climate Change Service), one consistent record for every winter. Checked against measured snow, this model got the direction of change right at 18 of 19 Swiss weather stations and 22 of 25 US snow stations, but overstated its size: a typical loss of 26 days against 17 measured in Switzerland, and 12 against 6 in the US. Read the changes as upper estimates. See the measurements · All 104 resorts since 1950
Month by month
October
Unreliable for natural snow. Mid-mountain reached 30 cm on 6% of days.
November
Usually skiable. Mid-mountain had 30 cm or more on 60% of days, typically 38 cm deep. In the worst of the thirty winters there was none. The village is usually bare. Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 167 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
December
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (2,250 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 98% of days, with a typical depth of 110 cm. The worst of the thirty winters managed 27%. Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 178 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
January
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (2,250 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days, with a typical depth of 172 cm. The worst of the thirty winters managed 100%. Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 162 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
February
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (2,250 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days, with a typical depth of 204 cm. The worst of the thirty winters managed 100%. Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 122 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
March
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (2,250 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days, with a typical depth of 221 cm. The worst of the thirty winters managed 100%. Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 139 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
April
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (2,250 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days, with a typical depth of 195 cm. The worst of the thirty winters managed 100%. The village is usually bare. Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 127 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
May
Usually skiable. Mid-mountain had 30 cm or more on 84% of days, typically 112 cm deep. In the worst of the thirty winters there was none. The village is usually bare. Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 136 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
June
Unreliable for natural snow. Mid-mountain reached 30 cm on 10% of days.
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 La Plagne?
For natural snow, 1 Dec to 15 May. In that window mid-mountain (2,250 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on at least 90% of days across thirty winters. March is the most reliable month.
Is there snow at La Plagne in December?
In December, mid-mountain had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 98% of days over thirty winters, typically 110 cm deep.
Does the snow reach the village at La Plagne?
At its most reliable, in March, the village at 1,250 m had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 32% of days. Expect to ride a lift down at the end of the day.
How high is La Plagne?
The modelled village is at 1,250 m, mid-mountain at 2,250 m and the summit at 3,250 m. The ski area itself spans 1,217 m to 3,058 m.
How much does natural snow vary from winter to winter at La Plagne?
Across the thirty winters modelled, mid-mountain had 30 cm or more of natural snow on between 158 and 239 days per season, with a typical winter around 198. Thirty winters show how much one season can differ from the next. For how snow has changed since 1950, see the long record below.
What is the nearest airport to La Plagne?
Chambéry Aix les Bains (CMF) is about 64 km away in a straight line. Annecy Meythet (NCY) is 65 km away. Road distances are longer.