Alps
France
Val d'Isère
Natural snow at mid-mountain (2,620 m) is reliably skiable from 16 Nov to 31 May. At the peak of the season the village at 1,785 m is snow-sure (100% of days) and modelled snowfall at the summit averages 77 cm a fortnight.
How natural snow at Val d'Isère 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, 1,785 m
18 fewer days a winter with 30 cm or more than in 1961–1990.Mid-mountain, 2,620 m
About the same as 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
Unreliable for natural snow. Mid-mountain reached 30 cm on 20% of days.
November
Usually skiable. Mid-mountain had 30 cm or more on 82% of days, typically 86 cm deep. In the worst of the thirty winters there was none. The village is usually bare. Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 191 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
December
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (2,620 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 87%. Snow usually reaches the village too (72% of days). Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 167 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
January
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (2,620 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days, with a typical depth of 208 cm. The worst of the thirty winters managed 100%. Snow usually reaches the village too (96% of days). Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 150 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
February
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (2,620 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days, with a typical depth of 234 cm. The worst of the thirty winters managed 100%. Snow usually reaches the village too (99% of days). Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 117 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
March
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (2,620 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days, with a typical depth of 256 cm. The worst of the thirty winters managed 100%. Snow usually reaches the village too (100% of days). Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 143 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
April
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (2,620 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days, with a typical depth of 256 cm. The worst of the thirty winters managed 100%. Snow usually reaches the village too (68% of days). Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 159 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
May
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (2,620 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 98% of days, with a typical depth of 233 cm. The worst of the thirty winters managed 50%. The village is usually bare. Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 180 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
June
Unreliable for natural snow. Mid-mountain reached 30 cm on 56% of days.
July to September
Natural snow at mid-mountain reached 30 cm on fewer than 5% of days.
Questions
When is the best time to ski Val d’Isère?
For natural snow, 16 Nov to 31 May. In that window mid-mountain (2,620 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 Val d’Isère in December?
In December, mid-mountain had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days over thirty winters, typically 146 cm deep.
Does the snow reach the village at Val d’Isère?
At its most reliable, in March, the village at 1,785 m had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days. You can usually ski back to the village.
How high is Val d’Isère?
The modelled village is at 1,785 m, mid-mountain at 2,620 m and the summit at 3,456 m.
How much does natural snow vary from winter to winter at Val d’Isère?
Across the thirty winters modelled, mid-mountain had 30 cm or more of natural snow on between 184 and 267 days per season, with a typical winter around 230. 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 Val d’Isère?
Turin (TRN) is about 59 km away in a straight line. Annecy Meythet (NCY) is 87 km away. Road distances are longer.