North America
USA
Vail
Natural snow at mid-mountain (3,001 m) is reliably skiable from 1 Jan to 15 May. At the peak of the season the village at 2,475 m is snow-sure (98% of days) and the summit averages 30 cm of fresh snow per fortnight.
Month by month
October to November
Natural snow at mid-mountain reached 30 cm on fewer than 5% of days.
December
Usually skiable. Mid-mountain had 30 cm or more on 66% of days, typically 34 cm deep. In the worst of the eleven seasons there was none. The summit averages 50 cm of new snow in the month.
January
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (3,001 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days, with a typical depth of 60 cm. The worst of the eleven seasons managed 100%. Snow usually reaches the village too (79% of days). The summit averages 46 cm of new snow in the month.
February
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (3,001 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days, with a typical depth of 81 cm. The worst of the eleven seasons managed 100%. Snow usually reaches the village too (99% of days). The summit averages 51 cm of new snow in the month.
March
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (3,001 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days, with a typical depth of 103 cm. The worst of the eleven seasons managed 100%. Snow usually reaches the village too (91% of days). The summit averages 52 cm of new snow in the month.
April
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (3,001 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days, with a typical depth of 107 cm. The worst of the eleven seasons managed 100%. The summit averages 52 cm of new snow in the month.
May
Usually skiable. Mid-mountain had 30 cm or more on 62% of days, typically 38 cm deep. In the worst of the eleven seasons there was none. The village is usually bare. The summit averages 31 cm of new snow in the month.
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 Vail?
For natural snow, 1 Jan to 15 May. In that window mid-mountain (3,001 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on at least 90% of days across eleven seasons. April is the most reliable month.
Is there snow at Vail in December?
In December, mid-mountain had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 66% of days over eleven seasons, typically 34 cm deep. One or more seasons had none at all.
Does the snow reach the village at Vail?
At its most reliable, in April, the village at 2,475 m had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 43% of days. Expect to ride a lift down at the end of the day.
How high is Vail?
The modelled village is at 2,475 m, mid-mountain at 3,001 m and the summit at 3,527 m. The ski area itself spans 2,452 m to 3,526 m.
Is snow at Vail getting more or less reliable?
Over the eleven seasons modelled, snow-sure days have gone up by about 25 per decade. Eleven seasons is too short to separate a climate trend from year-to-year swings.
What is the nearest airport to Vail?
Eagle (EGE) is about 48 km away in a straight line. Aspen-Pitkin (ASE) is 61 km away. Road distances are longer.