North America
USA
Sun Valley
Natural snow at mid-mountain (2,270 m) is reliably skiable from 16 Jan to 31 Mar. At the peak of the season the village at 1,752 m is usually skiable (65% of days) and modelled snowfall at the summit averages 44 cm a fortnight.
How natural snow at Sun Valley 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, 1,752 m
7 fewer days a winter with 30 cm or more than in 1961–1990.Mid-mountain, 2,270 m
14 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 to November
Natural snow at mid-mountain reached 30 cm on fewer than 5% of days.
December
Unreliable for natural snow. Mid-mountain reached 30 cm on 44% of days.
January
Usually skiable. Mid-mountain had 30 cm or more on 88% of days, typically 54 cm deep. In the worst of the thirty winters there was none. Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 91 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
February
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (2,270 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days, with a typical depth of 70 cm. The worst of the thirty winters managed 60%. Snow usually reaches the village too (64% of days). Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 89 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
March
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (2,270 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 98% of days, with a typical depth of 75 cm. In the worst of the thirty winters there was none. Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 100 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
April
Unreliable for natural snow. Mid-mountain reached 30 cm on 54% of days.
May to September
Natural snow at mid-mountain reached 30 cm on fewer than 5% of days.
Questions
When is the best time to ski Sun Valley?
For natural snow, 16 Jan to 31 Mar. In that window mid-mountain (2,270 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on at least 90% of days across thirty winters. February is the most reliable month.
Is there snow at Sun Valley in December?
In December, mid-mountain had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 44% of days over thirty winters, typically 27 cm deep. One or more seasons had none at all.
Does the snow reach the village at Sun Valley?
At its most reliable, in February, the village at 1,752 m had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 64% of days. You can usually ski back to the village.
How high is Sun Valley?
The modelled village is at 1,752 m, mid-mountain at 2,270 m and the summit at 2,789 m. The ski area itself spans 1,756 m to 2,780 m.
How much does natural snow vary from winter to winter at Sun Valley?
Across the thirty winters modelled, mid-mountain had 30 cm or more of natural snow on between 65 and 179 days per season, with a typical winter around 116. 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 Sun Valley?
Friedman Memorial (SUN) is about 19 km away in a straight line. Joslin Field Magic Valley (TWF) is 132 km away. Road distances are longer.