South America
Argentina
Las Leñas
Natural snow at mid-mountain (2,835 m) is reliably skiable from 16 Jun to 15 Nov. At the peak of the season the village at 2,240 m is usually skiable (89% of days) and modelled snowfall at the summit averages 75 cm a fortnight.
How natural snow at Las Leñas has changed
Days each winter (May to October) with 30 cm or more of natural snow, every winter since 1950. The lines are the averages for 1961 to 1990 and 1995 to 2024.
Village, 2,240 m
8 fewer days a winter with 30 cm or more than in 1961–1990.Mid-mountain, 2,835 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
April
Natural snow at mid-mountain reached 30 cm on fewer than 5% of days.
May
Unreliable for natural snow. Mid-mountain reached 30 cm on 37% of days.
June
Usually skiable. Mid-mountain had 30 cm or more on 86% of days, typically 86 cm deep. In the worst of the thirty winters there was none. Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 189 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
July
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (2,835 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 96% of days, with a typical depth of 148 cm. In the worst of the thirty winters there was none. Snow usually reaches the village too (79% of days). Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 125 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
August
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (2,835 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 98% of days, with a typical depth of 174 cm. In the worst of the thirty winters there was none. Snow usually reaches the village too (88% of days). Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 140 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
September
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (2,835 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days, with a typical depth of 184 cm. The worst of the thirty winters managed 100%. Snow usually reaches the village too (73% of days). Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 82 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
October
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (2,835 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 98% of days, with a typical depth of 159 cm. In the worst of the thirty winters there was none. Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 45 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
November
Usually skiable. Mid-mountain had 30 cm or more on 79% of days, typically 80 cm deep. In the worst of the thirty winters there was none. The village is usually bare. Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 29 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
December
Unreliable for natural snow. Mid-mountain reached 30 cm on 15% of days.
January to March
Natural snow at mid-mountain reached 30 cm on fewer than 5% of days.
Questions
When is the best time to ski Las Leñas?
For natural snow, 16 Jun to 15 Nov. In that window mid-mountain (2,835 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on at least 90% of days across thirty winters. September is the most reliable month.
Is there snow at Las Leñas in June?
In June, mid-mountain had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 86% of days over thirty winters, typically 86 cm deep. One or more seasons had none at all.
Does the snow reach the village at Las Leñas?
At its most reliable, in September, the village at 2,240 m had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 73% of days. You can usually ski back to the village.
How high is Las Leñas?
The modelled village is at 2,240 m, mid-mountain at 2,835 m and the summit at 3,430 m. The ski area itself spans 2,215 m to 3,416 m.
How much does natural snow vary from winter to winter at Las Leñas?
Across the thirty winters modelled, mid-mountain had 30 cm or more of natural snow on between 83 and 230 days per season, with a typical winter around 196. 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 Las Leñas?
Suboficial Ay Santiago Germano (AFA) is about 165 km away in a straight line. Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez (SCL) is 206 km away. Road distances are longer.