Valmorel snow history

10 years of snow depth, snowfall and conditions at Savoie, France · 4,593ft to 8,366ft

Over the last 10 seasons Valmorel, France has averaged 222in of snowfall, a peak snow depth of 72in, 10 powder days and 24 bluebird days a year, with skiable cover from around November 22 to May 17.

Snow history & climate

10-year averages for Valmorel

222 in
Snowfall / season
Nov-May total
72 in
Peak depth
typical season high
10
Powder days
6in+ in a day
24
Bluebird days
sun after snow
36
Rain days
0.04in+ of rain
176
Skiable days
12in+ cover

Month by month

Monthly averages

Average snowfall, snow depth, rain, sunshine and day counts by month at Valmorel, over the last 10 seasons.
MonthSnowfallAvg depthRainSun/dayTempPowderBluebirdRain days
Jan45 in46 in0.3in6.2 h27° / 11°2.55.01.3
Feb29 in55 in0.3in7.3 h33° / 15°1.42.81.3
Mar37 in58 in0.4in8.3 h35° / 18°1.74.12.3
Apr19 in47 in1.1in10.1 h42° / 23°0.72.26.0
May14 in21 in3.7in10.7 h48° / 30°0.02.016.5
Jun0 in1 in4.7in12.6 h60° / 40°0.00.017.9
Jul0 in0 in3.6in13.1 h64° / 44°0.00.014.1
Aug0 in0 in3.7in11.7 h64° / 43°0.00.013.2
Sep3 in0 in3.5in9.9 h56° / 36°0.20.112.0
Oct7 in1 in3.5in8.0 h48° / 29°0.00.610.6
Nov30 in9 in1.5in6.4 h36° / 18°1.13.65.2
Dec48 in30 in0.9in5.6 h30° / 13°2.64.03.4

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
2025/26189 in64 in919109
2024/25182 in60 in1017172
2023/24245 in68 in929206
2022/23204 in54 in821173
2021/22196 in62 in1118163
2020/21220 in65 in526174
2019/20259 in102 in1429188
2018/19222 in73 in929189
2017/18best326 in103 in1731198
2016/17leanest173 in69 in818187
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 6,480ft, not measured at the resort. Use it to compare seasons and resorts; use the resort's own report for today's conditions.

How Valmorel 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
among the very best we track
222 in
Ahead of 95% of resortsMedian 111 in

Total new snow between November and May.

Peak snow depth
well above average
72 in
Ahead of 85% of resortsMedian 33 in

How deep the settled base gets at its yearly high.

Powder days
among the very best we track
10
Ahead of 95% of resortsMedian 2

Days with 6in or more of new snow.

Bluebird days
among the very best we track
24
Ahead of 98% of resortsMedian 10

Sun and fresh snow on the same day.

Rain days
about average
36
Drier than 47% of resortsMedian 32

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

Skiable days
well above average
176
Ahead of 85% of resortsMedian 115

Days holding 12in or more of settled snow.

The season at Valmorel

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

SepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAug
Cover arrives
November 22
Season ends
May 17
Days of cover
178 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
58in average depth
Most new snow
December
48in and 2.6 powder days
Best bluebird odds
January
5.0 bluebird days, 6.2h sun a day
Wettest month
May
16.5 rain days

Is Valmorel a good place to ski or board?

heavy snowfalla deep, reliable basefrequent powder daysplenty of bluebird daysa long season

On 10 years of record, Valmorel stands out for heavy snowfall, a deep, reliable base, frequent powder days, plenty of bluebird days and a long season.

Figures are modelled at 6,480ft from reanalysis data and describe an average year, not a forecast.

Valmorel snow record in detail

How much snow does Valmorel get?

Valmorel averages 222in of snowfall over a full season, measured from November to May across the last 10 winters. That is among the very best we track: more snow than 95% 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 2017/18 with 326in, and the leanest was 2016/17 with 173in — a difference of 153in between a good year and a poor one. The most recent complete season, 2025/26, delivered 189in.

December is reliably the snowiest month, averaging 48in and 12 days with fresh snow.

How deep does the snow get at Valmorel?

Snowfall totals flatter resorts that lose their snow quickly, so the more useful number is how deep the settled base actually gets. At Valmorel the snowpack peaks at an average of 72in each season. That is well above average, deeper than 85% of 40 resorts we have analysed the same way, against a median peak of 33in.

The base is deepest in March, averaging 58in through the month and topping out around 68in in a typical year.

How many powder days does Valmorel get?

Counting any day that delivers at least 6in of new snow, Valmorel averages 10 powder days a season. That is among the very best we track, more powder days than 95% of 40 resorts we have analysed the same way, where the median is 2 a season.

December has the most, 2.6 on average.

How often does Valmorel get bluebird days?

Valmorel averages 24 bluebird days a season — days of sunshine for at least 60% of daylight after 4in or more of fresh snow. That is among the very best we track, more than 98% of 40 resorts we have analysed the same way, against a median of 10.

January is the best month for it, averaging 5.0 bluebird days and 6.2 hours of sunshine a day.

Does it rain at Valmorel?

At mid-mountain Valmorel sees an average of 36 days a season with 0.04in or more of rain rather than snow. That is about average: 53% 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 16.5 rain days and 3.7in on average.

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

Valmorel typically holds at least 12in of settled snow from around November 22 through to May 17, which works out at roughly 178 days of skiable cover in an average year. 176 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, December; for fresh snow with sunshine, January.

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 Valmorel are taken at 6,480ft. Corpus last rebuilt September 2, 2026.

Valmorel 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.

Valmorel in November

Early and thin

November is the start of the season at Valmorel: the base averages 9in, which is skiable in a good year but patchy in a poor one. It brings 30in of new snow in an average year, with 10 snow days and 1.1 powder days. Average highs are 36°F and lows 18°F, with 6.4 hours of sunshine a day and 3.6 bluebird days. Rain is a real risk: 5.2 days with rain rather than snow at mid-mountain in an average November.

Valmorel in December

Base building

December is when the base starts to build, averaging 30in and deepening towards its March peak. It is the snowiest month of the season, with 48in of new snow on average, 12 snow days and 2.6 powder days. Average highs are 30°F and lows 13°F, with 5.6 hours of sunshine a day and 4 bluebird days. Expect the odd wet day — 3.4 on average at mid-mountain.

Valmorel in January

Best all round

Through January the base keeps building, to an average of 46in. It is the second-snowiest month of the season, with 45in of new snow on average, 12 snow days and 2.5 powder days. Average highs are 27°F and lows 11°F, with 6.2 hours of sunshine a day and 5 bluebird days, the most of any month. Rain is rare: under two days in a typical January. Taking cover, fresh snow, sunshine and rain together, it is the best all-round month at Valmorel.

Valmorel in February

Base building

By February the base is close to its March peak, averaging 55in. It brings 29in of new snow in an average year, with 9 snow days and 1.4 powder days. Average highs are 33°F and lows 15°F, with 7.3 hours of sunshine a day and 2.8 bluebird days.

Valmorel in March

Deepest base

March is when the base at Valmorel is at its deepest, averaging 58in through the month and peaking around 68in in a typical year. It is the third-snowiest month of the season, with 37in of new snow on average, 12 snow days and 1.7 powder days. Average highs are 35°F and lows 18°F, with 8.3 hours of sunshine a day and 4.1 bluebird days. Expect the odd wet day — 2.3 on average at mid-mountain.

Valmorel in April

Still deep

April still has a deep base, averaging 47in — only a little down on the March peak. It brings 19in of new snow in an average year, with 8 snow days and 0.7 powder days. Average highs are 42°F and lows 23°F, with 10.1 hours of sunshine a day and 2.2 bluebird days. Rain is a real risk: 6 days with rain rather than snow at mid-mountain in an average April.

Valmorel in May

Late season

In May the base averages 21in, past its March peak of 58in and thinning. It brings 14in of new snow in an average year, with 6 snow days and almost no powder days. Average highs are 48°F and lows 30°F, with 10.7 hours of sunshine a day and 2 bluebird days. Rain is a real risk: 16.5 days with rain rather than snow at mid-mountain in an average May.

How Valmorel compares with nearby resorts

Of Valmorel and the 4 nearest resorts with a ten-year record, Valmorel ranks last for snowfall, with 222in a season. Every one of its neighbours gets more.

La Plagne has the most powder days (11 a season, against 10 here); Méribel builds the deepest base (86in against 72in); and La Plagne gets the most bluebird days (28 a season).

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 Valmorel and the nearest resorts with a record
ResortDistanceMeasured atSnowfallPeak basePowder daysBluebird days
Valmorel—6,480ft222in72in1024
Méribel7 mi6,647ft228in86in924
Courchevel10 mi6,296ft228in85in923
Val Thorens12 mi9,072ft231in84in926
La Plagne14 mi7,382ft253in85in1128

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

More on Valmorel

Ski resorts near Valmorel

Distances are straight-line, not by road.