Gangwon
South Korea
Yongpyong
Natural snow at mid-mountain (1,079 m) rarely reaches a reliable 30 cm; the best odds are 16–28 Feb, at 75% of days. At the peak of the season the village at 700 m is unreliable (39% of days) and modelled snowfall at the summit averages 27 cm a fortnight.
How natural snow at Yongpyong 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, 700 m
18 fewer days a winter with 30 cm or more than in 1961–1990.Mid-mountain, 1,079 m
18 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 to November
Natural snow at mid-mountain reached 30 cm on fewer than 5% of days.
December
Unreliable for natural snow. Mid-mountain reached 30 cm on 14% of days.
January
Unreliable for natural snow. Mid-mountain reached 30 cm on 42% of days.
February
Usually skiable. Mid-mountain had 30 cm or more on 68% of days, typically 40 cm deep. In the worst of the thirty winters there was none. Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 52 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
March
Usually skiable. Mid-mountain had 30 cm or more on 62% of days, typically 34 cm deep. In the worst of the thirty winters there was none. Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 69 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
April
Unreliable for natural snow. Mid-mountain reached 30 cm on 7% of days.
May to September
Natural snow at mid-mountain reached 30 cm on fewer than 5% of days.
Questions
When is the best time to ski Yongpyong?
Natural snow at Yongpyong rarely builds a reliable base. The best odds are 16–28 Feb, and February is the most reliable month at 68% of days. Most skiing here relies on snowmaking, which this model does not include.
Is there snow at Yongpyong in December?
Rarely, as natural snow. In December, mid-mountain had 30 cm or more on 14% of days over thirty winters. Early-season skiing here depends on snowmaking, which this model leaves out.
Does the snow reach the village at Yongpyong?
At its most reliable, in February, the village at 700 m had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 34% of days. Expect to ride a lift down at the end of the day.
How high is Yongpyong?
The modelled village is at 700 m, mid-mountain at 1,079 m and the summit at 1,458 m. The ski area itself spans 760 m to 1,424 m.
How much does natural snow vary from winter to winter at Yongpyong?
Across the thirty winters modelled, mid-mountain had 30 cm or more of natural snow on between 0 and 129 days per season, with a typical winter around 61. 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 Yongpyong?
Yangyang (YNY) is about 46 km away in a straight line. Wonju (WJU) is 68 km away. Road distances are longer.