by Skiers have little to do with snow – predicting, comparing, complaining about it – especially as the ski season gets into full swing as we try to book our next trip to the slopes. But it is unpredictable at best, especially in Europe, and “it is much more nuanced than just numbers”. With figures largely uncontrolled and subject to great artistic license, “snow depth data is a minefield,” warns weather forecaster Fraser Wilkin of Snow-Wise.
“Take Ischgl – it’s so reliable [for snow] but snow depth is generally moderate. It doesn’t get a lot of snow but what it does get sticks,” he says. “People might look at Ischgl’s stats and think that snowfall looks slim, but you can bet your bottom dollar most weather conditions are there.”
Therefore, in our search for snow comfort, we take into account the altitude and location of a ski resort, as well as its snow fall, snow retention and quality – can we combine this with expertise to protect our valuables, as much as possible . winter breaks?
Yes – that’s where weather watchers and skiers like Wilkin come in. “Ask yourself – what kind of skier are you?” he gives advice. “If you like to hit the piste, then go high or to a ski area with solid snowmaking… For powder, if you’re going to hedge your bets – dangerous in Europe – choose a high resort in the north of the Alps – Engelberg, Andermatt, St Anton.”
And don’t be tempted to judge a resort by what you see on social media. The infamous 2022/23 season was plagued by rain-soaked headlines and videos. Granted, the Christmas temperature spike was less than ideal, but overall snowfall levels were normal.
To help you on your way to choosing a ski resort this winter, here we analyze some of the best destinations in Europe and their 10-year weather trends. Once you’ve found a gem to your specifications, use our directory of expert holiday guides to plan the perfect break.
Go to your favorite country:
France
With the best April conditions across the board, Alpine side, spring days in Val d’Isère are filled with plenty of late season snow as well as sunshine. With two glaciers to contend with – Pisaillas and Grande Motte – as well as Val’s vast sub-alpine terrain, the quality of snow varies little, good year or bad.
Elevations of over 7m and lows of 50cm in annual snowfall calculations, there are variable conditions to say in Méribel according to the data. But early in the season (December/January) seems to be the best bet for fresh snow, although its above-average snow depth is well visible for the ski-in/ski-out village. Tougnette telecabine or Olympic chairlift are sensible starting points for those looking for good snow on the slopes, or go to the highest point of Mont Vallon for peak skiing.
High altitude, sound snowmaking, good snow cover – you usually know what you’re getting when you ski Val Thorens. Snowfall totals haven’t dropped in years, and most visitors don’t hit the slopes, which have plenty, so you’ll be unbeatable if that’s your thing.
The temperature affects the high altitude of La Plagne the most, with the level of rain-snow climbing year by year; “But above 2,000m the effects of global warming are not so sensitive,” says Claude Schneider, a 35-year-old ski patroller, who saw it firsthand. “While total winter snowfall is not decreasing, temperature anomalies are becoming more frequent.”
Heavy snowfall and snow depth put Avoriaz at the top of the Portes du Soleil leaderboard, with the snowiest week falling at the beginning of March. Days of sun and snow come in equal measure during peak winter, but plenty of lower pistes cater for low visibility days and skiing up to 2,466m at Avoriaz is at its best.
Austria
This is a choice that the statistics do not do justice; one of Europe’s best options for powder seekers. January is a true snow fest – cold with high precipitation – and the season average sits well above the rest. The southerly slopes affect the quality of the snow, but there are always things to scout out in one of Austria’s snowiest regions.
Obergurgl rarely experiences weekly snowfall below 30cm from December to April, due to its high altitude and north/northwest facing – which also results in poor weather and cold temperatures. Good for early and late season skiing.
Snowmaking is strong, to cover hiking trails early and late in the season in Kitzbühel, which has relatively low altitude slopes and annual snow totals (compared to their Tyrolean counterparts here). Kitzbuhel’s tree-lining runs through when the weather isn’t there, helping with visibility and protecting from the elements.
Switzerland
A trend seen in the late 70’s in Verbier (and again in the 90’s) was the full standing season of 2012/13 (over 10m of snowfall) and the lowest winter ever (3.3m). ten years of better than average snow years. What is to be gained from it? That weather varies in the high-altitude resort, but generally snow totals and base depths are well above average. Locals love the tree-lined terrain facing north in Brussels when the weather is bad.
According to the data, the best skiing in Zermatt is in February, when the base is built up and its steep and rocky terrain has the best coverage. But with the terrain hosting the highest lifts in Europe and cold temperatures throughout the season, you can bank on reasonable conditions at any time.
Before the 2017/18 bumper season in Wengen, with a total of 7m and 170cm of snow depth on higher slopes, there was the worst season ever with a grand total of…1m snowfall. But the slopes of Wengen have staying power because of the shadow that the great Monch-Eiger-Jungfrau massif casts over the area (cold, shaded, facing north). Swings and carousels.
As part of the Dolomiti Superski, Cortina bucks the winter trends a bit. That is, with some of the best snowmaking systems in the world (6,000 snow guns covering 96 percent of the ski area) it’s as snowy as it gets. The average snowfall is low, but the climate is dry – ideal for making and keeping snow. It will be a refuge from piste skiers from December to April, regardless of what is happening on the macro scale.
Italy’s largest snow resort, with the bonus of glacier access (all summer), Cervinia scores high for snow coverage and quality. It also benefits from Zermatt’s position – the ski areas are connected – although its western position means the sun, especially in the afternoon.
Canada
While most resorts see their snowiest week towards the beginning of February, Whistler, increasingly, is at the beginning of December with an average of five days of snow a week and around 80cm. But in late spring, skiing and mountain biking overlap, with the two mountains hosting each other.
United States of America
Locked in the high-altitude desert of Wyoming, Jackson’s lightweight dry powder is unmatched, except perhaps by Japan. During the snowiest week in February it takes half of Whistler’s total snow on the coast, which makes sense considering the water content. The choice is steep, and nothing is off limits, best suited for powder hunting skiers.
