Cortina d'Ampezzo Snow Conditions Overview
Cortina d'Ampezzo in Dolomites, Italy sits at 2,828m (9,279ft) elevation and averages 366cm of annual snowfall based on 10 years of historical data (2015-2025). During the ski season, Cortina d'Ampezzo receives approximately 324cm of snow. The best month for powder is November, averaging 68cm of snowfall with a 27% powder probability. The highest chance of fresh powder (15cm+ in any given week) occurs in April at 34%.
- Annual Snowfall
- 366cm
- Elevation
- 2,828m
- Best Month
- November
- Powder Probability
- 34%
Snowfall data sourced from ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo Historical Weather API (2015-2025).
Check Cortina d'Ampezzo snow forecast for your dates
Based on 10 years of historical snowfall data
About Cortina d'Ampezzo
Cortina d'Ampezzo is a historic Italian resort in the Dolomites of Veneto, host of the 1956 Winter Olympics and co-host of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. Lift-served terrain on the Tofana, Cristallo, Faloria and Cinque Torri sectors reaches a summit of 2,828m above a valley town at 1,224m, with access to the wider Dolomiti Superski network covering more than 1,200km of pistes across 12 connected areas. The surrounding peaks — Tofana di Mezzo (3,244m), Cristallo (3,221m) and the Sorapis massif — sit within the UNESCO World Heritage Dolomites. Its position on the southeastern rim of the Alps exposes it to Mediterranean and Adriatic fronts that bank up against the Dolomite walls, producing a snowfall regime with strong shoulder-season months and large year-to-year variability. This page uses 10 years of historical snowfall data (2015-2025) to help you find the weeks most likely to deliver fresh powder.
Snowfall patterns over the last decade
Across ERA5 reanalysis snowfall records from 2015 to 2025, Cortina d'Ampezzo's November-through-April season averages 324cm (128 inches) of snowfall, with roughly 42cm more spread across the shoulder months for a 366cm (144 inches) annual total. November is the heaviest calendar month in the 10-year average at 68.0cm, followed by December at 61.8cm and March at 54.7cm; February (51.1cm) and April (51.1cm) sit just behind, and January (37.6cm) is the lightest mid-season month — an unusual midwinter low for an Alpine resort. Ranked by powder probability — the share of weeks with at least 15cm of fresh snow — the order shifts noticeably: April leads at 34%, ahead of November at 27%, February at 26%, March at 24%, December at 22% and January at 20%. April is the single best month in the record for fresh-powder odds at Cortina, despite carrying less total snow than November or December.
Year-to-year variability at Cortina is unusually large, because the Dolomites sit at the boundary of two storm regimes — Atlantic fronts from the northwest and Mediterranean fronts from the south — that wax and wane independently. November snowfall in the 10-year record ranges from just 6.9cm in the driest winter to 322.9cm in the wettest, a 47-fold spread on a single calendar month and one of the widest November ranges of any resort tracked here. December swings between 1.1cm and 263.3cm, February between 8.6cm and 149.2cm, March between 4.6cm and 108.3cm, and April between 3.7cm and 138.3cm. This volatility is why two consecutive seasons can deliver entirely different conditions in the same calendar week, and why a multi-year baseline is more useful for choosing travel dates than any single-day Cortina snow report or short-range forecast.
In the context of the Italian resorts tracked here, Cortina's 366cm (144 inches) annual average is the heaviest in the Dolomites — neighbouring Val Gardena records 229cm in the same dataset, roughly 63% of Cortina's total. Bormio in Lombardy comes in at 361cm, the closest Italian match. The gap to Val Gardena is concentrated in the shoulder months: Cortina's November alone (68cm) is more than two and a half times Val Gardena's 26.4cm, and its December (61.8cm) is more than double. For peak powder odds the late-March through April window has historically offered the highest weekly hit rate; for the largest single-storm contributions, mid-November through mid-December is when the biggest events in the record have landed, though that window also carries the widest year-to-year swing. The 2,828m summit on Tofana and the Dolomiti Superski lift network preserve snow quality well into April in most years.
Snow & Weather Conditions
We use 10 years of historical data to help you plan — not a live snow report.
Italian resorts in the Dolomites and western Alps receive generous snowfall, often enhanced by Mediterranean moisture. The unique Dolomite microclimate produces reliable, quality snow. Altitude is a key advantage here: the higher you go, the colder and drier conditions become, resulting in dependable accumulations and a snowpack that resists deterioration well into spring. Typical annual snowfall ranges from 6-10 metres, with a mid-season base depth often surpassing 2 metres.
Best Time to Ski
The best time to ski at Cortina d'Ampezzo is April, with 51.1cm average snowfall and 34% powder probability. Based on 10 years of historical snowfall data from PowderDays. Season runs from early December to mid-April. February is typically the snowiest month in the Italian Alps. Browse PowderDays' decade-spanning snow statistics to pinpoint the weeks with the heaviest accumulations.
Powder Probability by Month
Chance of 15cm+ fresh snow in any given week (10 years of data):
- Nov27%
- Dec22%
- Jan20%
- Feb26%
- Mar24%
- Apr34%
10-Year Snow History
| Month | Avg Snowfall (cm) | Record High | Record Low | Powder Probability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov | 68.0 | 322.9 | 6.9 | 27% |
| Dec | 61.8 | 263.3 | 1.1 | 22% |
| Jan | 37.6 | 90.0 | 6.8 | 20% |
| Feb | 51.1 | 149.2 | 8.6 | 26% |
| Mar | 54.7 | 108.3 | 4.6 | 24% |
| Apr | 51.1 | 138.3 | 3.7 | 34% |
What Makes It Special
The Dolomites offer dramatic rock spires, long groomed runs connecting picturesque villages, and the famous Sella Ronda circuit. Western Alps resorts feature steeper, glacier-accessible terrain. Italian ski culture is defined by extraordinary mountain cuisine — multi-course lunches, espresso bars, local wines, and a convivial, unhurried pace. The Dolomites are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Dolomites were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2009 for their outstanding natural beauty and geological significance. The Sella Ronda circuit — a 40km loop connecting four valleys and four mountain passes — is one of the most celebrated ski routes in the Alps.
Data Sources & Methodology
All snowfall statistics for Cortina d'Ampezzo are based on 10 years of historical data (2015-2025) from the Open-Meteo Historical Weather API, which provides ERA5 reanalysis data from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF). Daily snowfall totals are queried at Cortina d'Ampezzo's coordinates (46.54, 12.14) and 2,828m elevation, then aggregated into monthly averages, record highs/lows, and powder probability scores. Powder probability represents the chance of receiving 15cm or more of fresh snow in any given week during that month.