Alps
Switzerland
Saas-Fee
Natural snow at mid-mountain (2,700 m) is reliably skiable from 16 Nov to 15 Jun. At the peak of the season the village at 1,800 m is snow-sure (100% of days) and modelled snowfall at the summit averages 83 cm a fortnight.
How natural snow at Saas-Fee 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, 1,800 m
19 fewer days a winter with 30 cm or more than in 1961–1990.Mid-mountain, 2,700 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 44% of days.
November
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (2,700 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 94% of days, with a typical depth of 138 cm. The worst of the thirty winters managed 7%. Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 266 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
December
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (2,700 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days, with a typical depth of 223 cm. The worst of the thirty winters managed 100%. Snow usually reaches the village too (80% of days). Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 141 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
January
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (2,700 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days, with a typical depth of 264 cm. The worst of the thirty winters managed 100%. Snow usually reaches the village too (96% of days). Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 124 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
February
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (2,700 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days, with a typical depth of 279 cm. The worst of the thirty winters managed 100%. Snow usually reaches the village too (99% of days). Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 111 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
March
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (2,700 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days, with a typical depth of 288 cm. The worst of the thirty winters managed 100%. Snow usually reaches the village too (100% of days). Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 158 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
April
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (2,700 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days, with a typical depth of 297 cm. The worst of the thirty winters managed 100%. Snow usually reaches the village too (76% of days). Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 238 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
May
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (2,700 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days, with a typical depth of 310 cm. The worst of the thirty winters managed 100%. The village is usually bare. Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 312 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
June
Usually skiable. Mid-mountain had 30 cm or more on 80% of days, typically 161 cm deep. In the worst of the thirty winters there was none. The village is usually bare. Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 210 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
July
Unreliable for natural snow. Mid-mountain reached 30 cm on 17% of days.
August
Natural snow at mid-mountain reached 30 cm on fewer than 5% of days.
September
Unreliable for natural snow. Mid-mountain reached 30 cm on 6% of days.
Questions
When is the best time to ski Saas-Fee?
For natural snow, 16 Nov to 15 Jun. In that window mid-mountain (2,700 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on at least 90% of days across thirty winters. May is the most reliable month.
Is there snow at Saas-Fee in December?
In December, mid-mountain had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days over thirty winters, typically 223 cm deep.
Does the snow reach the village at Saas-Fee?
At its most reliable, in May, the village at 1,800 m had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 8% of days. Expect to ride a lift down at the end of the day.
How high is Saas-Fee?
The modelled village is at 1,800 m, mid-mountain at 2,700 m and the summit at 3,600 m. The ski area itself spans 1,780 m to 3,556 m.
How much does natural snow vary from winter to winter at Saas-Fee?
Across the thirty winters modelled, mid-mountain had 30 cm or more of natural snow on between 216 and 299 days per season, with a typical winter around 253. 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 Saas-Fee?
Lugano (LUG) is about 77 km away in a straight line. Milan Malpensa (MXP) is 82 km away. Road distances are longer.