North America
USA
Taos Ski Valley
Natural snow at mid-mountain (3,304 m) is reliably skiable from 1 Jan to 15 Apr. At the peak of the season the village at 2,804 m is usually skiable (88% of days) and modelled snowfall at the summit averages 42 cm a fortnight.
How natural snow at Taos Ski 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, 2,804 m
22 fewer days a winter with 30 cm or more than in 1961–1990.Mid-mountain, 3,304 m
15 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 40% of days.
December
Usually skiable. Mid-mountain had 30 cm or more on 74% of days, typically 61 cm deep. In the worst of the thirty winters there was none. Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 74 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
January
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (3,304 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 93% of days, with a typical depth of 94 cm. In the worst of the thirty winters there was none. Snow usually reaches the village too (72% of days). Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 68 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
February
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (3,304 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 99% of days, with a typical depth of 113 cm. The worst of the thirty winters managed 33%. Snow usually reaches the village too (87% of days). Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 76 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
March
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (3,304 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 100%. Snow usually reaches the village too (84% of days). Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 87 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
April
Usually skiable. Mid-mountain had 30 cm or more on 86% 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 91 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
May
Unreliable for natural snow. Mid-mountain reached 30 cm on 29% 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 Taos Ski Valley?
For natural snow, 1 Jan to 15 Apr. In that window mid-mountain (3,304 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 Taos Ski Valley in December?
In December, mid-mountain had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 74% of days over thirty winters, typically 61 cm deep. One or more seasons had none at all.
Does the snow reach the village at Taos Ski Valley?
At its most reliable, in March, the village at 2,804 m had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 84% of days. You can usually ski back to the village.
How high is Taos Ski Valley?
The modelled village is at 2,804 m, mid-mountain at 3,304 m and the summit at 3,804 m. The ski area itself spans 2,850 m to 3,602 m.
How much does natural snow vary from winter to winter at Taos Ski Valley?
Across the thirty winters modelled, mid-mountain had 30 cm or more of natural snow on between 64 and 211 days per season, with a typical winter around 169. 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 Taos Ski Valley?
Taos (TSM) is about 26 km away in a straight line. San Luis Valley /Bergman Field (ALS) is 100 km away. Road distances are longer.