Steamboat snow history

10 years of snow depth, snowfall and conditions at Colorado, USA · 2,103m to 3,220m

Over the last 10 seasons Steamboat, USA has averaged 379cm of snowfall, a peak snow depth of 123cm, 2 powder days and 20 bluebird days a year, with skiable cover from around 5 December to 15 May.

Snow history & climate

10-year averages for Steamboat

379 cm
Snowfall / season
Nov-May total
123 cm
Peak depth
typical season high
2
Powder days
15cm+ in a day
20
Bluebird days
sun after snow
8
Rain days
1mm+ of rain
158
Skiable days
30cm+ cover

Month by month

Monthly averages

Average snowfall, snow depth, rain, sunshine and day counts by month at Steamboat, over the last 10 seasons.
MonthSnowfallAvg depthRainSun/dayTempPowderBluebirdRain days
Jan64 cm82 cm1mm6.6 h-5° / -12°0.42.80.2
Feb68 cm100 cm1mm7.8 h-3° / -12°0.24.50.1
Mar56 cm105 cm1mm9.3 h1° / -8°0.22.80.3
Apr51 cm83 cm6mm10.8 h5° / -5°0.13.11.5
May30 cm30 cm17mm12.3 h10° / 0°0.31.55.5
Jun3 cm1 cm32mm13.5 h19° / 6°0.00.38.0
Jul0 cm0 cm28mm13.6 h24° / 11°0.00.07.4
Aug0 cm0 cm41mm12.7 h23° / 10°0.00.08.0
Sept2 cm0 cm31mm11.4 h18° / 6°0.00.07.5
Oct28 cm3 cm19mm9.2 h9° / -2°0.10.94.1
Nov47 cm15 cm2mm7.8 h1° / -8°0.32.50.4
Dec64 cm45 cm1mm6.4 h-3° / -12°0.42.90.4

Averages across the last 10 seasons. Powder, bluebird and rain columns are the average number of such days per month.

Season by season

SeasonSnowfallPeak depthPowder daysBluebird daysSkiable days
2025/26323 cm125 cm120116
2024/25366 cm120 cm119160
2023/24438 cm114 cm323165
2022/23454 cm156 cm123187
2021/22359 cm105 cm314150
2020/21leanest281 cm97 cm012144
2019/20334 cm127 cm210167
2018/19best476 cm149 cm223191
2017/18359 cm100 cm327135
2016/17398 cm132 cm330169
How these numbers are calculated
  • Powder day — at least 15cm of new snow in 24 hours.
  • Bluebird day — sunshine for at least 60% of daylight, following at least 10cm of snow over the previous 3 days.
  • Rain day — at least 1mm of rain (not snow) at this elevation.
  • Skiable day — at least 30cm of settled snow on the ground.
  • Snow depth is modelled from Open-Meteo / ERA5 reanalysis at 2662m, not measured at the resort. Use it to compare seasons and resorts; use the resort's own report for today's conditions.

How Steamboat compares

Measured against 40 other resorts across 18 countries, each analysed exactly the same way. The line down the middle of each bar is the median.

Snowfall per season
well above average
379 cm
Ahead of 78% of resortsMedian 283 cm

Total new snow between November and May.

Peak snow depth
well above average
123 cm
Ahead of 83% of resortsMedian 84 cm

How deep the settled base gets at its yearly high.

Powder days
about average
2
Ahead of 43% of resortsMedian 2

Days with 15cm or more of new snow.

Bluebird days
well above average
20
Ahead of 85% of resortsMedian 10

Sun and fresh snow on the same day.

Rain days
well below average
8
Drier than 92% of resortsMedian 32

Days with 1mm or more of rain, not snow.

Skiable days
well above average
158
Ahead of 78% of resortsMedian 115

Days holding 30cm or more of settled snow.

The season at Steamboat

Typical stretch holding 30cm or more of settled snow, averaged over the record.

SeptOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAug
Cover arrives
5 December
Season ends
15 May
Days of cover
163 days

When to go

These rarely land in the same month, so it is worth deciding which one matters most before you book.

Deepest base
March
105cm average depth
Most new snow
February
68cm and 0.2 powder days
Best bluebird odds
February
4.5 bluebird days, 7.8h sun a day
Wettest month
May
5.5 rain days

Is Steamboat a good place to ski or board?

heavy snowfalla deep, reliable baseplenty of bluebird daysvery little raina long season

On 10 years of record, Steamboat stands out for heavy snowfall, a deep, reliable base, plenty of bluebird days, very little rain and a long season.

Figures are modelled at 2662m from reanalysis data and describe an average year, not a forecast.

Steamboat snow record in detail

How much snow does Steamboat get?

Steamboat averages 379cm of snowfall over a full season, measured from November to May across the last 10 winters. That is well above average: more snow than 78% of 40 resorts we have analysed the same way, where the median season brings 283cm.

Season to season the spread is wide. The best of the last 10 winters was 2018/19 with 476cm, and the leanest was 2020/21 with 281cm — a difference of 195cm between a good year and a poor one. The most recent complete season, 2025/26, delivered 323cm.

February is reliably the snowiest month, averaging 68cm and 14 days with fresh snow.

How deep does the snow get at Steamboat?

Snowfall totals flatter resorts that lose their snow quickly, so the more useful number is how deep the settled base actually gets. At Steamboat the snowpack peaks at an average of 123cm each season. That is well above average, deeper than 83% of 40 resorts we have analysed the same way, against a median peak of 84cm.

The base is deepest in March, averaging 105cm through the month and topping out around 118cm in a typical year.

How many powder days does Steamboat get?

Counting any day that delivers at least 15cm of new snow, Steamboat averages 2 powder days a season. That is about average, more powder days than 43% of 40 resorts we have analysed the same way, where the median is 2 a season.

February has the most, 0.2 on average.

How often does Steamboat get bluebird days?

Steamboat averages 20 bluebird days a season — days of sunshine for at least 60% of daylight after 10cm or more of fresh snow. That is well above average, more than 85% of 40 resorts we have analysed the same way, against a median of 10.

February is the best month for it, averaging 4.5 bluebird days and 7.8 hours of sunshine a day.

Does it rain at Steamboat?

At mid-mountain Steamboat sees an average of 8 days a season with 1mm or more of rain rather than snow. That is well below average: 8% of the 40 other resorts we have analysed the same way see fewer wet days, against a median of 32.

May is the wettest month of the season, with 5.5 rain days and 17mm on average.

When is the best time to ski or board Steamboat, and when does the season end?

Steamboat typically holds at least 30cm of settled snow from around 5 December through to 15 May, which works out at roughly 163 days of skiable cover in an average year. 158 of those fall inside the November to May season. On season length that is well above average compared with the 40 other resorts we have analysed the same way.

For the deepest base, go in March; for the most new snow, February; for fresh snow with sunshine, February.

Comparisons use 40 resorts across 18 countries, each measured over 5 recent seasons at mid-mountain height. Glaciated locations, where the model never melts the snow out, are excluded. Figures for Steamboat are taken at 2662m. Corpus last rebuilt 2 September 2026.

Steamboat month by month

What to expect in each month of the season, from the same ten-year record. Figures are averages for mid-mountain; a good or poor winter can move them a long way.

Steamboat in November

Too early

In November cover at mid-mountain is usually too thin to rely on, averaging 15cm through the month. It brings 47cm of new snow in an average year, with 10 snow days and 0.3 powder days. Average highs are 1°C and lows -8°C, with 7.8 hours of sunshine a day and 2.5 bluebird days.

Steamboat in December

Base building

December is when the base starts to build, averaging 45cm and deepening towards its March peak. It is the third-snowiest month of the season, with 64cm of new snow on average, 12 snow days and 0.4 powder days. Average highs are -3°C and lows -12°C, with 6.4 hours of sunshine a day and 2.9 bluebird days. Rain is rare: under two days in a typical December.

Steamboat in January

Base building

Through January the base keeps building, to an average of 82cm. It is the second-snowiest month of the season, with 64cm of new snow on average, 13 snow days and 0.4 powder days. Average highs are -5°C and lows -12°C, with 6.6 hours of sunshine a day and 2.8 bluebird days.

Steamboat in February

Best all round

By February the base is close to its March peak, averaging 100cm. It is the snowiest month of the season, with 68cm of new snow on average, 14 snow days and 0.2 powder days. Average highs are -3°C and lows -12°C, with 7.8 hours of sunshine a day and 4.5 bluebird days, the most of any month. Taking cover, fresh snow, sunshine and rain together, it is the best all-round month at Steamboat.

Steamboat in March

Deepest base

March is when the base at Steamboat is at its deepest, averaging 105cm through the month and peaking around 118cm in a typical year. It brings 56cm of new snow in an average year, with 13 snow days and 0.2 powder days. Average highs are 1°C and lows -8°C, with 9.3 hours of sunshine a day and 2.8 bluebird days.

Steamboat in April

Still deep

April still has a deep base, averaging 83cm — only a little down on the March peak. It brings 51cm of new snow in an average year, with 11 snow days and 0.1 powder days. Average highs are 5°C and lows -5°C, with 10.8 hours of sunshine a day and 3.1 bluebird days. Expect the odd wet day — 1.5 on average at mid-mountain.

Steamboat in May

Late season

In May the base averages 30cm, past its March peak of 105cm and thinning. It brings 30cm of new snow in an average year, with 6 snow days and 0.3 powder days. Average highs are 10°C and lows 0°C, with 12.3 hours of sunshine a day and 1.5 bluebird days. Rain is a real risk: 5.5 days with rain rather than snow at mid-mountain in an average May.

How Steamboat compares with nearby resorts

Of Steamboat and the 4 nearest resorts with a ten-year record, Steamboat ranks first for snowfall, with 379cm a season. Every one of its neighbours gets less.

Steamboat has the most powder days of the group (2 a season); Steamboat builds the deepest base (123cm at its peak); and Steamboat also gets the most bluebird days.

Each resort is measured at its own mid-mountain height, so part of any difference is altitude: a resort modelled 500m higher will usually hold more snow. The table shows the height each figure comes from.

Ten-year snow averages for Steamboat and the nearest resorts with a record
ResortDistanceMeasured atSnowfallPeak basePowder daysBluebird days
Steamboat—2662m379cm123cm220
Vail98 km3000m331cm110cm120
Beaver Creek98 km2982m311cm109cm018
Breckenridge127 km3000m260cm99cm011
Aspen Snowmass141 km3000m296cm110cm115

Distances are straight-line. Season averages, November to May, over the last ten winters.

More on Steamboat

Ski resorts near Steamboat

Distances are straight-line, not by road.