The Zermatt snowfall record is impressive. One of the great appeals of early season skiing (or skiing at any time) here is the reliable snow.
Skiers often dismiss the start of the season saying the snow isn’t good enough and that during the festive period the slopes are too busy.
Zermatt has over 350km of piste which means that it never feels crowded even during peak holiday times, plus it has great early season snow. In this article we look at historical snow depths to show how good skiing in December can be.
The Average Snow Depth in Early-December is 159cm
If you’re thinking about a December ski trip, but to spend Christmas at home then you can rely on Zermatt for early season snow.
The snow depth in Zermatt at the beginning of the season (on the upper slopes) has averaged 159cm over that last 8 years.
The glacier in Zermatt, October 2016
December v. February
During the same period the average snow depth for the middle of February is 217 cm – only 58cm different – and remember that there will be fewer people on the slopes in December.
Snow depths can be variable of course. In 2014 there was a massive snowfall in February, which left 326 cm of fluffy white snow on Zermatt’s slopes. You can also get huge dumps of snow in December, as in 2008 when there was 250 cm in the middle of the month.
How do other resorts compare?
But what about other resorts?
The trend for a greater snow levels in December on the pistes of Zermatt is true most years when compared to many of the world’s top resorts.
In December 2013, Zermatt had 194 cm of snow on its upper slopes. At the same time Val Thorens (Europe’s highest resort) had 103 cm, Val d’Isere had 78c m and over in Whistler there was 85 cm.
Guaranteed snow on the glacier
Christmas Snow Depths
Skiing on Christmas day is one of the greatest presents in the world and guaranteeing a white ski holiday is crucial to your festive enjoyment.
Zermatt has a great record for snow over Christmas. The graph below shows that Zermatt regularly beats other ski resorts for late December snow.
Source : http://www.myweather2.com/
How does the snow depth compare to America and Canada?
The season over Canada and the States can start earlier than most resorts in Europe. For example, Lake Louise opened at the beginning of October. But how does their snow compared to Zermatt’s?
Last season the depth of Zermatt’s December snow averaged around 130 cm, which is just below its own average. Over in Lake Louise the snow depth was averaging 100 cm and down in Colorado, Telluride reported 76 cm – which is good to know as it will save you the long flight!
What a view!
Our chalets open in Early-December
These things are never a problem in Zermatt – which is why we open our luxury ski chalets from the first week in December. Early season skiing also offers great value as accommodation is less expensive than the rest of the season.
To book a December catered ski holiday to Zermatt please visit our website.
