Alps
France
Serre Chevalier
Natural snow at mid-mountain (2,000 m) is reliably skiable from 16 Dec to 15 Apr. At the peak of the season the village at 1,200 m is unreliable (37% of days) and modelled snowfall at the summit averages 38 cm a fortnight.
How natural snow at Serre Chevalier 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, 1,200 m
26 fewer days a winter with 30 cm or more than in 1961–1990.Mid-mountain, 2,000 m
8 fewer days a winter with 30 cm or more than 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
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 30% of days.
December
Usually skiable. Mid-mountain had 30 cm or more on 86% of days, typically 68 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.
January
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (2,000 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days, with a typical depth of 126 cm. The worst of the thirty winters managed 80%. Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 117 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
February
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (2,000 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days, with a typical depth of 142 cm. The worst of the thirty winters managed 100%. Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 86 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
March
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (2,000 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days, with a typical depth of 146 cm. The worst of the thirty winters managed 100%. The village is usually bare. Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 105 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
April
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (2,000 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 92% of days, with a typical depth of 110 cm. In the worst of the thirty winters there was none. The village is usually bare. Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 100 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
May
Unreliable for natural snow. Mid-mountain reached 30 cm on 23% of days.
June to September
Natural snow at mid-mountain reached 30 cm on fewer than 5% of days.
Questions
When is the best time to ski Serre Chevalier?
For natural snow, 16 Dec to 15 Apr. In that window mid-mountain (2,000 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 Serre Chevalier in December?
In December, mid-mountain had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 86% of days over thirty winters, typically 68 cm deep. One or more seasons had none at all.
Does the snow reach the village at Serre Chevalier?
At its most reliable, in March, the village at 1,200 m had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 17% of days. Expect to ride a lift down at the end of the day.
How high is Serre Chevalier?
The modelled village is at 1,200 m, mid-mountain at 2,000 m and the summit at 2,800 m. The ski area itself spans 1,219 m to 2,764 m.
How much does natural snow vary from winter to winter at Serre Chevalier?
Across the thirty winters modelled, mid-mountain had 30 cm or more of natural snow on between 122 and 203 days per season, with a typical winter around 161. 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 Serre Chevalier?
Turin (TRN) is about 90 km away in a straight line. Chambéry Aix les Bains (CMF) is 94 km away. Road distances are longer.