North America
USA
Telluride
Natural snow at mid-mountain (3,245 m) is reliably skiable from 16 Dec to 30 Apr. At the peak of the season the village at 2,659 m is snow-sure (97% of days) and modelled snowfall at the summit averages 73 cm a fortnight.
How natural snow at Telluride 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, 2,659 m
21 fewer days a winter with 30 cm or more than in 1961–1990.Mid-mountain, 3,245 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 46% of days.
December
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (3,245 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 90% of days, with a typical depth of 62 cm. In the worst of the thirty winters there was none. Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 130 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
January
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (3,245 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 99% of days, with a typical depth of 91 cm. The worst of the thirty winters managed 33%. Snow usually reaches the village too (86% of days). Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 132 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
February
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (3,245 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days, with a typical depth of 115 cm. The worst of the thirty winters managed 100%. Snow usually reaches the village too (96% of days). Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 141 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
March
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (3,245 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days, with a typical depth of 130 cm. The worst of the thirty winters managed 100%. Snow usually reaches the village too (92% of days). Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 155 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
April
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (3,245 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days, with a typical depth of 120 cm. The worst of the thirty winters managed 93%. The village is usually bare. Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 160 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
May
Usually skiable. Mid-mountain had 30 cm or more on 62% of days, typically 45 cm deep. In the worst of the thirty winters there was none. The village is usually bare. Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 94 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
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 Telluride?
For natural snow, 16 Dec to 30 Apr. In that window mid-mountain (3,245 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 Telluride in December?
In December, mid-mountain had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 90% of days over thirty winters, typically 62 cm deep. One or more seasons had none at all.
Does the snow reach the village at Telluride?
At its most reliable, in March, the village at 2,659 m had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 92% of days. You can usually ski back to the village.
How high is Telluride?
The modelled village is at 2,659 m, mid-mountain at 3,245 m and the summit at 3,831 m. The ski area itself spans 2,662 m to 3,812 m.
How much does natural snow vary from winter to winter at Telluride?
Across the thirty winters modelled, mid-mountain had 30 cm or more of natural snow on between 109 and 225 days per season, with a typical winter around 182. 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 Telluride?
Telluride (TEX) is about 6 km away in a straight line. Montrose (MTJ) is 64 km away. Road distances are longer.