Powder Compass

Atlas · Colorado · CO

Telluride

13,150′ summit · 4,425′ vert · 2,000 acres · avg 280″/yr

Solid odds — Mar 1–15

Delivered 24″+ in 7 of the last 10 seasons

Over 20 winters: 9 of 20 · typical 19", most land 13"–32"

Before you book

This bet missed 3 of the last 10.

1 of the last 10 came in under 8″ — a bust, under a third of the bet.

Odds count natural snowfall only. At snowmaking-dependent resorts, early-season cover can be fine in a low-natural-snow year.

The season, window by window

The bet: 12″ of new snow per week, scaled to each window. Counted from real seasons — how our odds work.

Telluride · the shape of a typical winter

Typical new snow, window by window

The middle season — median new snow per window, counted from the last 20 winters. A picture of timing, not a forecast. Snow is streaky; hover any window for the usual range.

0 15 30 45" NovDecJanFebMarApr
Window Bet Delivered Verdict Typical Biggest Leanest
Nov 1–15 24″+ 2 of 10 · 6 busts Long shot 13" 47" 2020 0" 2025 · 3 of 20
Nov 16–30 24″+ 5 of 10 · 2 busts Coin flip 19" 62" 2019 1" 2012
Dec 1–15 24″+ 3 of 10 · 2 busts Long shot 21" 68" 2007 3" 2017
Dec 16–31 30″+ 3 of 10 · 2 busts Long shot 22" 74" 2021 3" 2011
Jan 1–15 24″+ 5 of 10 · 1 bust Coin flip 15" 82" 2017 1" 2010
Jan 16–31 30″+ 3 of 10 · 2 busts Long shot 23" 40" 2010 4" 2022
Feb 1–15 24″+ 6 of 10 · 1 bust Solid odds 23" 62" 2019 6" 2022
Feb 16–28/29 24″+ 6 of 10 · 1 bust Solid odds 24" 45" 2015 5" 2025
Mar 1–15 24″+ 7 of 10 · 1 bust Solid odds 19" 106" 2019 6" 2026
Mar 16–31 30″+ 6 of 10 · 1 bust Solid odds 27" 60" 2023 4" 2026
Apr 1–15 24″+ 3 of 10 · 1 bust Long shot 22" 46" 2009 1" 2015
Apr 16–30 24″+ 3 of 10 Long shot 21" 39" 2016 8" 2012 · 2 of 20

Biggest and leanest are the two ends of the same 20 winters Typical is counted from — the year is when it happened, most recent first where more than one season ties.

At the snow sensor

Reading the snow sensor…

Field notes

The most complete mountain in the San Juans — continuous vert from the Palmyra Peak hike terrain (the Gold Hill chutes are the real deal) through Revelation Bowl down to endless intermediate flow, all above a postcard box-canyon town. Steep skiers and cruisers both leave satisfied, which is rare.

The town–gondola–Mountain Village triangle means you never touch the car once you arrive. Lodging is expensive everywhere; Ridgway, forty-five minutes out, is the budget escape. Crowds run gentle by destination standards — remoteness is the filter.

Watch this window

We'll email you when Telluride's odds move on the Mar 1–15 window — and the quote gets recorded as it stands today, so we can be graded on it later.

Planning a whole season? See the season outlook.

These are historical odds from the last 20 winters — not a forecast. Inside 16 days of a trip, a forecast is the better instrument; beyond that, counting real seasons is the honest play. Every number on this page is quoted under methodology v1.2.0, the same math we grade ourselves against in public.