Varingskollen snow history

10 years of snow depth, snowfall and conditions at Akershus, Norway · 1,312ft to 1,969ft

Over the last 10 seasons Varingskollen, Norway has averaged 73in of snowfall, a peak snow depth of 27in, 1 powder day and 4 bluebird days a year, with skiable cover from around December 28 to March 24.

Snow history & climate

10-year averages for Varingskollen

73 in
Snowfall / season
Nov-May total
27 in
Peak depth
typical season high
1
Powder days
6in+ in a day
4
Bluebird days
sun after snow
45
Rain days
0.04in+ of rain
82
Skiable days
12in+ cover

Month by month

Monthly averages

Average snowfall, snow depth, rain, sunshine and day counts by month at Varingskollen, over the last 10 seasons.
MonthSnowfallAvg depthRainSun/dayTempPowderBluebirdRain days
Jan19 in17 in0.6in2.5 h27° / 17°0.20.62.7
Feb13 in21 in0.8in4.6 h28° / 18°0.10.93.7
Mar11 in18 in0.9in7.3 h36° / 23°0.21.24.7
Apr6 in8 in1.3in10.3 h46° / 30°0.20.75.8
May2 in1 in2.9in12.2 h56° / 39°0.00.010.8
Jun0 in0 in4.3in13.1 h64° / 48°0.00.012.7
Jul0 in0 in4.8in12.7 h66° / 51°0.00.014.1
Aug0 in0 in4.1in10.6 h63° / 49°0.00.014.1
Sep0 in0 in4.7in7.5 h56° / 44°0.00.013.2
Oct2 in0 in4.3in4.8 h44° / 36°0.00.013.5
Nov8 in2 in3in2.5 h35° / 28°0.00.210.1
Dec15 in7 in1.4in1.9 h29° / 21°0.20.26.7

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
2025/2650 in20 in0241
2024/25leanest43 in22 in1157
2023/2487 in35 in02122
2022/23best101 in34 in15131
2021/2244 in18 in1357
2020/2183 in30 in2495
2019/2077 in19 in0362
2018/1981 in38 in18114
2017/18101 in40 in26120
2016/1763 in15 in1416
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 1,640ft, not measured at the resort. Use it to compare seasons and resorts; use the resort's own report for today's conditions.

How Varingskollen 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 below average
73 in
Ahead of 23% of resortsMedian 111 in

Total new snow between November and May.

Peak snow depth
below average
27 in
Ahead of 33% of resortsMedian 33 in

How deep the settled base gets at its yearly high.

Powder days
below average
1
Ahead of 35% of resortsMedian 2

Days with 6in or more of new snow.

Bluebird days
below average
4
Ahead of 33% of resortsMedian 10

Sun and fresh snow on the same day.

Rain days
above average
45
Drier than 37% of resortsMedian 32

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

Skiable days
below average
82
Ahead of 33% of resortsMedian 115

Days holding 12in or more of settled snow.

The season at Varingskollen

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

SepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAug
Cover arrives
December 28
Season ends
March 24
Days of cover
88 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
February
21in average depth
Most new snow
January
19in and 0.2 powder days
Best bluebird odds
March
1.2 bluebird days, 7.3h sun a day
Wettest month
May
10.8 rain days

Is Varingskollen a good place to ski or board?

snowfall is on the light side

On 10 years of record, Varingskollen is a mixed picture: snowfall is on the light side. It can still ski well in a good year — 2022/23 produced 101in — but the averages argue for flexibility on timing.

Figures are modelled at 1,640ft from reanalysis data and describe an average year, not a forecast.

Varingskollen snow record in detail

How much snow does Varingskollen get?

Varingskollen averages 73in of snowfall over a full season, measured from November to May across the last 10 winters. That is well below average: more snow than 23% 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 2022/23 with 101in, and the leanest was 2024/25 with 43in — a difference of 58in between a good year and a poor one. The most recent complete season, 2025/26, delivered 50in.

January is reliably the snowiest month, averaging 19in and 9 days with fresh snow.

How deep does the snow get at Varingskollen?

Snowfall totals flatter resorts that lose their snow quickly, so the more useful number is how deep the settled base actually gets. At Varingskollen the snowpack peaks at an average of 27in each season. That is below average, deeper than 33% of 40 resorts we have analysed the same way, against a median peak of 33in.

The base is deepest in February, averaging 21in through the month and topping out around 25in in a typical year.

How many powder days does Varingskollen get?

Counting any day that delivers at least 6in of new snow, Varingskollen averages 1 powder day a season. That is below average, more powder days than 35% of 40 resorts we have analysed the same way, where the median is 2 a season.

January has the most, 0.2 on average.

How often does Varingskollen get bluebird days?

Varingskollen averages 4 bluebird days a season — days of sunshine for at least 60% of daylight after 4in or more of fresh snow. That is below average, more than 33% of 40 resorts we have analysed the same way, against a median of 10.

March is the best month for it, averaging 1.2 bluebird days and 7.3 hours of sunshine a day.

Does it rain at Varingskollen?

At mid-mountain Varingskollen sees an average of 45 days a season with 0.04in or more of rain rather than snow. That is above average: 63% 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 10.8 rain days and 2.9in on average.

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

Varingskollen typically holds at least 12in of settled snow from around December 28 through to March 24, which works out at roughly 88 days of skiable cover in an average year. 82 of those fall inside the November to May season. On season length that is below average compared with the 40 other resorts we have analysed the same way.

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

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 Varingskollen are taken at 1,640ft. Corpus last rebuilt September 2, 2026.

Varingskollen 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.

Varingskollen in November

Too early

In November cover at mid-mountain is usually too thin to rely on, averaging 2in through the month. It brings 8in of new snow in an average year, with 4 snow days and almost no powder days. Average highs are 35°F and lows 28°F, with 2.5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is a real risk: 10.1 days with rain rather than snow at mid-mountain in an average November.

Varingskollen in December

Early and thin

December is the start of the season at Varingskollen: the base averages 7in, which is skiable in a good year but patchy in a poor one. It is the second-snowiest month of the season, with 15in of new snow on average, 9 snow days and 0.2 powder days. Average highs are 29°F and lows 21°F, with 1.9 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is a real risk: 6.7 days with rain rather than snow at mid-mountain in an average December.

Varingskollen in January

Best all round

January is when the base starts to build, averaging 17in and deepening towards its February peak. It is the snowiest month of the season, with 19in of new snow on average, 9 snow days and 0.2 powder days. Average highs are 27°F and lows 17°F, with 2.5 hours of sunshine a day. Expect the odd wet day — 2.7 on average at mid-mountain. Taking cover, fresh snow, sunshine and rain together, it is the best all-round month at Varingskollen.

Varingskollen in February

Deepest base

February is when the base at Varingskollen is at its deepest, averaging 21in through the month and peaking around 25in in a typical year. It is the third-snowiest month of the season, with 13in of new snow on average, 8 snow days and 0.1 powder days. Average highs are 28°F and lows 18°F, with 4.6 hours of sunshine a day. Expect the odd wet day — 3.7 on average at mid-mountain.

Varingskollen in March

Still deep

March still has a deep base, averaging 18in — only a little down on the February peak. It brings 11in of new snow in an average year, with 6 snow days and 0.2 powder days. Average highs are 36°F and lows 23°F, with 7.3 hours of sunshine a day and 1.2 bluebird days, the most of any month. Rain is a real risk: 4.7 days with rain rather than snow at mid-mountain in an average March.

Varingskollen in April

Thinning out

In April the base is down to an average of 8in, enough on the upper mountain in most years but not something to count on lower down. It brings 6in of new snow in an average year, with 3 snow days and 0.2 powder days. Average highs are 46°F and lows 30°F, with 10.3 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is a real risk: 5.8 days with rain rather than snow at mid-mountain in an average April.

How Varingskollen compares with nearby resorts

Of Varingskollen and the 4 nearest resorts with a ten-year record, Varingskollen ranks 4 of 5 for snowfall, with 73in a season. Norefjell, Kongsberg and Kvitfjell get more; Branäs gets less.

Norefjell has the most powder days (2 a season, against 1 here); Norefjell builds the deepest base (43in against 27in); and Norefjell gets the most bluebird days (5 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 Varingskollen and the nearest resorts with a record
ResortDistanceMeasured atSnowfallPeak basePowder daysBluebird days
Varingskollen—1,640ft73in27in14
Norefjell42 mi2,149ft90in43in25
Kongsberg52 mi1,476ft88in41in25
Branäs, Sweden75 mi1,804ft44in17in01
Kvitfjell76 mi3,409ft75in39in02

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

More on Varingskollen

Ski resorts near Varingskollen

Distances are straight-line, not by road.