Steamboat snow history

10 years of snow depth, snowfall and conditions at Colorado, USA · 6,900ft to 10,564ft

Over the last 10 seasons Steamboat, USA has averaged 149in of snowfall, a peak snow depth of 48in, 2 powder days and 20 bluebird days a year, with skiable cover from around December 5 to May 15.

Snow history & climate

10-year averages for Steamboat

149 in
Snowfall / season
Nov-May total
48 in
Peak depth
typical season high
2
Powder days
6in+ in a day
20
Bluebird days
sun after snow
8
Rain days
0.04in+ of rain
158
Skiable days
12in+ 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
Jan25 in32 in0in6.6 h24° / 10°0.42.80.2
Feb27 in39 in0in7.8 h26° / 11°0.24.50.1
Mar22 in41 in0.1in9.3 h34° / 18°0.22.80.3
Apr20 in33 in0.2in10.8 h41° / 23°0.13.11.5
May12 in12 in0.7in12.3 h50° / 31°0.31.55.5
Jun1 in0 in1.2in13.5 h65° / 43°0.00.38.0
Jul0 in0 in1.1in13.6 h75° / 51°0.00.07.4
Aug0 in0 in1.6in12.7 h73° / 50°0.00.08.0
Sep1 in0 in1.2in11.4 h65° / 43°0.00.07.5
Oct11 in1 in0.7in9.2 h47° / 29°0.10.94.1
Nov19 in6 in0.1in7.8 h35° / 18°0.32.50.4
Dec25 in18 in0in6.4 h26° / 11°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
2025/26127 in49 in120116
2024/25144 in47 in119160
2023/24172 in45 in323165
2022/23179 in61 in123187
2021/22141 in41 in314150
2020/21leanest110 in38 in012144
2019/20131 in50 in210167
2018/19best187 in59 in223191
2017/18141 in39 in327135
2016/17157 in52 in330169
How these numbers are calculated
  • Powder day — at least 6in of new snow in 24 hours.
  • Bluebird day — sunshine for at least 60% of daylight, following at least 4in of snow over the previous 3 days.
  • Rain day — at least 0.04in of rain (not snow) at this elevation.
  • Skiable day — at least 12in of settled snow on the ground.
  • Snow depth is modelled from Open-Meteo / ERA5 reanalysis at 8,734ft, 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
149 in
Ahead of 78% of resortsMedian 111 in

Total new snow between November and May.

Peak snow depth
well above average
48 in
Ahead of 83% of resortsMedian 33 in

How deep the settled base gets at its yearly high.

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

Days with 6in 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 0.04in or more of rain, not snow.

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

Days holding 12in or more of settled snow.

The season at Steamboat

Typical stretch holding 12in or more of settled snow, averaged over the record.

SepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAug
Cover arrives
December 5
Season ends
May 15
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
41in average depth
Most new snow
February
27in 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 8,734ft from reanalysis data and describe an average year, not a forecast.

Steamboat snow record in detail

How much snow does Steamboat get?

Steamboat averages 149in 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 111in.

Season to season the spread is wide. The best of the last 10 winters was 2018/19 with 187in, and the leanest was 2020/21 with 110in — a difference of 77in between a good year and a poor one. The most recent complete season, 2025/26, delivered 127in.

February is reliably the snowiest month, averaging 27in 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 48in each season. That is well above average, deeper than 83% of 40 resorts we have analysed the same way, against a median peak of 33in.

The base is deepest in March, averaging 41in through the month and topping out around 47in in a typical year.

How many powder days does Steamboat get?

Counting any day that delivers at least 6in 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 4in 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 0.04in 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 0.7in on average.

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

Steamboat typically holds at least 12in of settled snow from around December 5 through to May 15, 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 8,734ft. Corpus last rebuilt September 2, 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 6in through the month. It brings 19in of new snow in an average year, with 10 snow days and 0.3 powder days. Average highs are 35°F and lows 18°F, 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 18in and deepening towards its March peak. It is the third-snowiest month of the season, with 25in of new snow on average, 12 snow days and 0.4 powder days. Average highs are 26°F and lows 11°F, 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 32in. It is the second-snowiest month of the season, with 25in of new snow on average, 13 snow days and 0.4 powder days. Average highs are 24°F and lows 10°F, 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 39in. It is the snowiest month of the season, with 27in of new snow on average, 14 snow days and 0.2 powder days. Average highs are 26°F and lows 11°F, 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 41in through the month and peaking around 46in in a typical year. It brings 22in of new snow in an average year, with 13 snow days and 0.2 powder days. Average highs are 34°F and lows 18°F, 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 33in — only a little down on the March peak. It brings 20in of new snow in an average year, with 11 snow days and 0.1 powder days. Average highs are 41°F and lows 23°F, 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 12in, past its March peak of 41in and thinning. It brings 12in of new snow in an average year, with 6 snow days and 0.3 powder days. Average highs are 50°F and lows 31°F, 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 149in 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 (48in 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 1,640ft 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—8,734ft149in48in220
Vail61 mi9,843ft130in43in120
Beaver Creek61 mi9,783ft122in43in018
Breckenridge79 mi9,843ft102in39in011
Aspen Snowmass88 mi9,843ft117in43in115

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.