Alps
France
Val Thorens
Natural snow at mid-mountain (2,515 m) is reliably skiable from 1 Jan to 31 May. At the peak of the season the village at 1,800 m is snow-sure (100% of days) and the summit averages 62 cm of fresh snow per fortnight.
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 37% of days. The summit averages 81 cm of new snow in the month.
December
Usually skiable. Mid-mountain had 30 cm or more on 84% of days, typically 66 cm deep. In the worst of the eleven seasons there was none. Snow usually reaches the village too (68% of days). The summit averages 115 cm of new snow in the month.
January
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (2,515 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 99% of days, with a typical depth of 106 cm. The worst of the eleven seasons managed 80%. Snow usually reaches the village too (90% of days). The summit averages 110 cm of new snow in the month.
February
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (2,515 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days, with a typical depth of 141 cm. The worst of the eleven seasons managed 100%. Snow usually reaches the village too (100% of days). The summit averages 65 cm of new snow in the month.
March
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (2,515 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days, with a typical depth of 168 cm. The worst of the eleven seasons managed 100%. Snow usually reaches the village too (100% of days). The summit averages 89 cm of new snow in the month.
April
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (2,515 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days, with a typical depth of 200 cm. The worst of the eleven seasons managed 100%. Snow usually reaches the village too (94% of days). The summit averages 59 cm of new snow in the month.
May
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (2,515 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 99% of days, with a typical depth of 206 cm. The worst of the eleven seasons managed 75%. The summit averages 53 cm of new snow in the month.
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 Thorens?
For natural snow, 1 Jan to 31 May. In that window mid-mountain (2,515 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 Val Thorens in December?
In December, mid-mountain had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 84% of days over eleven seasons, typically 66 cm deep. One or more seasons had none at all.
Does the snow reach the village at Val Thorens?
At its most reliable, in April, the village at 1,800 m had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 94% of days. You can usually ski back to the village.
How high is Val Thorens?
The modelled village is at 1,800 m, mid-mountain at 2,515 m and the summit at 3,230 m. The ski area itself spans 1,822 m to 3,175 m.
Is snow at Val Thorens getting more or less reliable?
Over the eleven seasons modelled, snow-sure days have gone up by about 8 per decade. Eleven seasons is too short to separate a climate trend from year-to-year swings.
What is the nearest airport to Val Thorens?
Chambéry Aix les Bains (CMF) is about 66 km away in a straight line. Annecy Meythet (NCY) is 80 km away. Road distances are longer.