snowingplaces

Ski resort in Colorado, United States

Vail

A large resort in Eagle County, Colorado, with more than 5,300 acres of terrain including the Back Bowls.

Forecast updated , when it was 07:00 in Vail (GMT-6).

Vail snow forecast at 3,527 m (top lift)

Next 24 hours on the upper mountain

No snow in the next 24 hours.

No snow expected in the next 7 days.

High confidence, all three forecast models agree

No snow is forecast for Vail at the top lift (3,527 m / 11,600 ft) in the next 7 days, and all three weather models we compare agree. Expect temperatures from 1 to 11 °C (34 to 52 °F), the freezing level near 4,500 m (14,800 ft) and gusts up to 50 km/h (31 mph) over the next day.

Temperature now
5 °C (41 °F)
Freezing level
4,500 m (14,800 ft)
Wind
5 km/h (3 mph), gusts 15 km/h (9 mph)

Vail hour by hour, on the upper mountain

Hourly snowfall
Show the hours as a table
Hourly forecast for Vail on the upper mountain, local time (GMT-6)
TimeWeatherSnowfall
5pmRainNone

Hours not listed are dry. Times are local (GMT-6).

Vail 7-day snow forecast, on the upper mountain

DayWeatherSnowfall
TodayRain4 to 11 °C (39 to 52 °F) · gusts 42 km/h (26 mph) · freezing level 4,500 m (14,800 ft)No snow
SatRain1 to 9 °C (34 to 48 °F) · gusts 50 km/h (31 mph) · freezing level 4,200 m (13,800 ft)No snow
SunDry−1 to 10 °C (30 to 50 °F) · gusts 49 km/h (30 mph) · freezing level 4,050 m (13,300 ft)No snow
MonDry−2 to 12 °C (28 to 54 °F) · freezing level 4,150 m (13,600 ft)No snow
TueDry0 to 13 °C (32 to 55 °F) · freezing level 4,350 m (14,300 ft)No snow
WedDry0 to 11 °C (32 to 52 °F) · freezing level 4,400 m (14,400 ft)No snow
ThuDry1 to 12 °C (34 to 54 °F) · freezing level 4,450 m (14,600 ft)No snow

Vail 14-day snow outlook, on the upper mountain

Days 8 to 14. Only two of our three models run this far ahead, and forecasts at this range often change, so read this as a guide to the pattern rather than a plan.

DayWeatherSnowfall
Fri 25 SepDry0 to 10 °C (32 to 50 °F)No snow
Sat 26 SepDry1 to 12 °C (34 to 54 °F)No snow
Sun 27 SepDry1 to 14 °C (34 to 57 °F)No snow
Mon 28 SepDry0 to 12 °C (32 to 54 °F)No snow
Tue 29 SepChance of snow−2 to 8 °C (28 to 46 °F) · 1 of 2 models show snow0–4 cm (0–2 in)
Wed 30 SepRain0 to 7 °C (32 to 45 °F)No snow
Thu 1 OctDry−1 to 8 °C (30 to 46 °F)No snow

How much snow is there in Vail on the upper mountain?

No snow on the ground

This is an estimate from weather models, not a measurement, so it can differ from the depth a resort reports on its pistes. Check the official snow report before you travel.

Where is Vail?

Village
2,475 m
Top lift
3,527 m
Vertical
1,052 m
Lifts
32
Season
Mid-November to Mid-April
Airports
Eagle County Regional (EGE)

About Vail

Vail Mountain is in Eagle County, Colorado, about 100 miles from Denver via Interstate 70. Its operator describes it as Colorado’s largest resort, with more than 5,300 acres of terrain that include seven Back Bowls.

The base sits at 8,120 ft (2,475 m) and the summit at 11,570 ft (3,527 m). Eagle County Regional Airport is about 30 minutes away.

The snow

Vail is high, with its base at 2,475 m and summit at 3,527 m, and its Back Bowls face south across the ridge from the front side. In our record it snows on about 12 to 13 days a month at mid-mountain from January to April, with the snowiest months in late winter, and snow was on the ground every Christmas Day in the last ten years. Colorado’s snow is dry and cold, and the bowls hold it well; the front side’s groomers are covered by extensive snowmaking early in the season.

Who it suits

Intermediates who want to cruise for days: Vail is the largest single mountain in Colorado, with the Back Bowls and Blue Sky Basin for open terrain and the front side for groomed pistes. The village is purpose-built in a Tyrolean style and expensive. Vail is the flagship of the Epic Pass.

Getting there

Denver airport is about two hours by road on Interstate 70, longer on a weekend with snow. Eagle County airport is about 35 minutes away.

When does it snow in Vail?

In Vail, snow falls on about 13 days in February in a typical year, the snowiest month. Snow is regular from October to May.

Average days per month with at least 1 cm of snowfall in Vail at mid-mountain, 2016–2025
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
12 days13 days13 days12 days8 days1 days0 days<1 days2 days7 days9 days11 days

Average days each month with at least 1 cm of snowfall at mid-mountain, 2016–2025. Calculated from ERA5 reanalysis data.

Snow in Vail month by month

Averages for 2016 to 2025 at mid-mountain, from ERA5 reanalysis data.

Average snow days, share of annual snowfall and temperature by month in Vail, 2016 to 2025
MonthSnow daysShare of the year's snowLow to high
January1213%−15 to −4 °C (5 to 25 °F)
February1314%−14 to −3 °C (7 to 27 °F)
March1315%−11 to 1 °C (12 to 34 °F)
April1215%−8 to 5 °C (18 to 41 °F)
May810%−3 to 10 °C (27 to 50 °F)
June12%0 to 16 °C (32 to 61 °F)
July00%4 to 21 °C (39 to 70 °F)
August<10%4 to 20 °C (39 to 68 °F)
September21%1 to 16 °C (34 to 61 °F)
October79%−6 to 8 °C (21 to 46 °F)
November910%−12 to 1 °C (10 to 34 °F)
December1113%−15 to −3 °C (5 to 27 °F)

Snow in Vail in October

In October, Vail gets snow on about 7 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 9% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −6 to 8 °C (21 to 46 °F).

Snow in Vail in November

In November, Vail gets snow on about 9 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 10% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −12 to 1 °C (10 to 34 °F).

Snow in Vail in December

In December, Vail gets snow on about 11 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 13% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −15 to −3 °C (5 to 27 °F).

Snow in Vail in January

In January, Vail gets snow on about 12 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 13% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −15 to −4 °C (5 to 25 °F).

Snow in Vail in February

In February, Vail gets snow on about 13 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 14% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −14 to −3 °C (7 to 27 °F).

Snow in Vail in March

In March, Vail gets snow on about 13 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 15% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −11 to 1 °C (12 to 34 °F).

Snow in Vail in April

In April, Vail gets snow on about 12 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 15% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −8 to 5 °C (18 to 41 °F).

Snow in Vail in May

In May, Vail gets snow on about 8 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 10% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −3 to 10 °C (27 to 50 °F).

Which winters were snowiest in Vail?

Of the last ten winters in Vail, 2018/19 was the snowiest, about 28% above the ten-year average at mid-mountain. The leanest was 2025/26, about 23% below average. The biggest single day of snowfall in the record was 2 October 2017.

Snowfall in Vail for each of the last ten winters, as a percentage of the ten-year average
WinterCompared with average
2016/1794% of average
2017/18101% of average
2018/19128% of average
2019/2097% of average
2020/2189% of average
2021/22105% of average
2022/23113% of average
2023/24103% of average
2024/2593% of average
2025/2677% of average

Winters are compared with each other rather than given in centimetres. The ERA5 record is reliable on which winters were big and which were lean, but it underestimates absolute snowfall in the mountains, so the resort's own measured totals are the ones to trust for amounts.

Questions about snow in Vail

Does Vail have snow at Christmas?

Vail had at least 2.5 cm (1 in) of snow on the ground on Christmas Day in every one of the 10 years from 2016 to 2025 at mid-mountain. Fresh snow fell during 20 to 26 December in every one of those years.

Does Vail have snow at New Year?

Vail had at least 2.5 cm (1 in) of snow on the ground on New Year's Day in every one of the 10 years from 2016 to 2025 at mid-mountain. Fresh snow fell during 27 December to 2 January in 8 of those years.

Does Vail have snow in mid-February?

Vail had at least 2.5 cm (1 in) of snow on the ground on 15 February in every one of the 10 years from 2016 to 2025 at mid-mountain. Fresh snow fell during 10 to 20 February in every one of those years.

Does Vail have snow at Easter?

Vail had at least 2.5 cm (1 in) of snow on the ground on Easter Sunday in every one of the 10 years from 2016 to 2025 at mid-mountain. Fresh snow fell during Good Friday to Easter Monday in 7 of those years.

How many days a year does it snow in Vail?

It snows on about 88 days a year in Vail at mid-mountain, counting days with at least 1 cm of snowfall, averaged over 2016 to 2025. February has the most, about 13 days.

What is the snowiest month in Vail?

March is the snowiest month in Vail, bringing about 15% of the year's snowfall at mid-mountain, based on ERA5 reanalysis data for 2016 to 2025. February has the most snowy days, about 13.

Which recent winter was the snowiest in Vail?

Of the last ten winters in Vail, 2018/19 was the snowiest, about 28% above the ten-year average. The leanest was 2025/26, about 23% below average.

How cold does Vail get in winter?

January is the coldest month in Vail at mid-mountain, with average daily lows of −15 °C (5 °F) and highs of −4 °C (25 °F).

How high is Vail?

The village or lowest lift at Vail is at 2,475 m (8,100 ft) and the top lift is at 3,527 m (11,600 ft), a vertical drop of 1,052 m (3,500 ft).

When does the ski season start in Vail?

The lifts at Vail usually open in mid-November and close in mid-April. Exact dates change each year with the snow, so check the resort's own website before you book.

Snow forecasts near Vail

Map of ski resorts and cities within 150 km of VailBeaver Creek, about 10 km away, no snow this week; Breckenridge, about 30 km away, no snow this week; Aspen Snowmass, about 70 km away, no snow this week; Steamboat, about 100 km away, no snow this week; Denver, about 120 km away, no snow this week.50 km100 km150 kmNBeaver Creek: No snow this weekBreckenridge: No snow this weekAspen Snowmass: No snow this weekSteamboat: No snow this weekDenver: No snow this weekBeaver CreekBreckenridgeAspen SnowmassSteamboatDenverVail
Blue dots expect snow in the next 7 days. Distances are straight lines, not driving distances.
Beaver CreekSki resort, about 10 km awayNo snow this weekBreckenridgeSki resort, about 30 km awayNo snow this weekAspen SnowmassSki resort, about 70 km awayNo snow this weekSteamboatSki resort, about 100 km awayNo snow this week

Compare Vail for snow

More ski resorts in Colorado

Facts checked 18 September 2026. Sources: Vail mountain information, Vail Mountain 2025-26 winter tip sheet, Wikipedia: Vail Ski Resort, J2Ski: Vail season dates, Skiresort.com, Vail