Weather Statistics

Snowfall

Whistler Blackcomb is blessed with a historical average of 10.42 metres / 410 inches / 34.1 ft per year on the summit, as measured at the Pig Alley Weather Station on Whistler Mountain (elevation 1,660 metres/ 5,445 feet).

Base Record

The snow base record for Whistler Mountain is 504 cm (197 inches, 16.4 feet) set in 1973/74. That season it snowed significantly in March and April when traditionally these months receive less snowfall.

Snowfall Totals and Averages by Month and Season

  Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Total
2011-
2012
312cm
123in
137cm
54in
          449cm
177in
2010-
2011
266cm
105in
363cm
143in
195cm
77in
259cm
102in
315cm
124in
143cm
56in
38cm
15in
1579cm
622in
2009-
2010
560cm
220in
148cm
58in
291cm
115in
132cm
52in
222cm
87in
107cm
42in
34cm
13in
1494cm
587in
2008-
2009
150cm
59in
169cm
67in
118cm
47in
143cm
56in
236cm
93in
72cm
28in
42cm
17in
930cm
367in
2007-
2008
162cm
64in
260cm
102in
264cm
104in
100cm
39in
170cm
67in
55cm
22in
8cm
3in
1019cm
401in
2006-
2007
416cm
164in
275cm
108in
254cm
100in
147cm
58in
198cm
78in
103cm
40in
23cm
9in
1416cm
557in
2005-
2006
115cm
45in
139cm
55in
469cm
185in
112cm
44in
243cm
97in
103cm
40in
11cm
4in
1181cm
466in
2004-
2005
81cm
31in
130cm
51in
42cm
16in
47cm
18in
143cm
56in
197cm
78in
45cm
18in
640cm
250in
2003-
2004
178cm
70in
300cm
118in
201cm
79in
111cm
44in
159cm
63in
20cm
8in
6cm
2in
975cm
384in
2002-
2003
110cm
43in
335cm
132in
178cm
70in
54cm
21in
336cm
132in
194cm
76in
23cm
9in
1230cm
483in
2001-
2002
151cm
59in
377cm
148in
164cm
65in
231cm
91in
149cm
59in
51cm
20in
41cm
16in
1164cm
458in
Average 227cm
89in
250cm
98in
218cm
86in
134cm
53in
217cm
86in
105cm
41in
27cm
12in
 



Average Valley Temperatures

  Lows Highs
  °C °F °C °F
November -1 30 5 41
December -5 23 -1 30
January -8 18 -2 28
February -5 23 3 37
March -3 27 8 46
April 2 36 11 52
May 7 44 17 62
June 9 48 21 70
July 11 52 27 80
August 11 52 27 80
September 8 46 20 68
October 3 38 16 60


Average Alpine Temperatures

  Lows Highs
  °C °F °C °F
Dec - Feb -12 11 -5 23
Mar - May -8 19 5 42


How the Snowfall Data is Collected and Used?

For Alex and Steve, the voices behind the Whistler Blackcomb Snow Phone, the day begins before 5am on the way to work, when they're checking the sky for clues about how the day's weather will unfold.

Alex, who is in Wednesday to Saturday, has about one hour until the first recorded weather information has to be taped and available on the Snow Phone and Snow Report webpage. She needs to record a 6am update for people who are making the trip to Whistler that day.



6am Report - Whistler Groomers

That first recording is compiled after talking to the groomers. The groomers, who are out on the mountains in the night prepping for the day, are Alex's "eyes on the mountains" and tell her what the conditions are like, new snow, what's groomed and what's looking like will be a great run of the day.

But with 8,171 acres and conditions forever changing; the 6am recording is just the first of five throughout the day.


7:30 Update - Pig Alley Weather Station

By the 7:30 am update, Alex has been given the official readings from the avalanche forecasters on Whistler Mountain, Jan Tindle and Anton Horvath. They gather information on snow base and new snowfall from the Pig Alley Weather Station.  Pig Alley is located at 1,660 meters/5,445 feet elevation on Whistler Mountain, under the Whistler Village Gondola. As you ride up, you can see the weather plot to your left near tower X.

"Settlement will likely not affect the total snowfall reading between 6-7:30am. New snow will make for a higher base at 7:30am. Settlement is more likely to be reflected if there is no new snow between the morning and afternoon readings," said Tindle.

Although the difference in the snow pack may only be 1-2 centimetres, Alex will update the recordings to reflect the new numbers.


Reported Conditions are an Average

With 8,171 acres to explore it is difficult to summarize what the conditions will be like that day; conditions can vary from Whistler to Blackcomb, and even from run to run.

This is why Alex always describes zones and information that applies to each zone; the peak, mid mountain (Roundhouse on Whistler of Rendezvous on Blackcomb) or the valley. This way there is an actual elevation attached to the numbers such as wind speed, temperatures and visibility.


Accuracy Critical in Avalanche Forecasting

Pig Alley has been chosen for the official weather forecasting spot because forecasters believe is an accurate snapshot of the average snowfall around the mountains.

"That spot seems to be a bit more protected. We used to use a plot at the bottom of Harmony but we found it wasn't a good average," said Tindle, who has been patrolling for 25 years and has been working as an avalanche forecaster for about 15 years.

Tindle works out of the Whistler Mountain weather office close to the Roundhouse Lodge. This site is an official Environment Canada reporting station and VANOC weather station as well. There, Jan looks at different forecast models to see what the day ahead may bring in the way of weather.

"From experience you can see certain trends coming through," she said.

A good weather forecast is important when trying to plan ahead for the next day.

"We need to have accurate weather data for us to effectively carry out the avalanche control work," she said.

She admits that it can be a stressful job, trying to keep on top of changing weather systems and trying to get the alpine avalanche-safe for the public.

"We're always weighing the risk against getting the terrain open quickly," she said.


Avalanche Control

There are specific avalanche routes that are laid out over the mountain and 90 per cent of the time avalanche control involves dropping bombs at targets on those routes. But on a big snow day there may be avalanches occurring in areas that are not usually controlled.

"The big things for us in avalanche control are: the snowfall, the wind and the temperature," she said. "The wind and temperature are almost more important than new snow."

Tindle, Horvath and other patrollers spend the morning after a new snowfall preparing the mountain, particularly the alpine, by dropping bombs to purposefully trigger potential avalanches.

They aim to have the alpine open as quickly as possible and are usually gunning for a 10am start. But the patrollers will work until early afternoon to get the alpine safe, even if it mean only a few hours of high alpine skiing and riding for the public.  Safety is definitely the number one concern and patrollers definitely appreciate everyone's patience while they work fast and effectively to clear each zone.  Then, it's powder time!


9am Update

A lot can happen on the mountains in the mornings weather wise, that's why an additional snowphone recording at 9am has been added this season. 

"9am, 9:30am, that's definitely the most popular time for our guest to start heading up the mountains. By adding this new snowphone recording, we're able to give our guests the latest info, just as they head off for that day.  That way, they're able to choose the best gear to wear and equipment to use to have an epic day," says Alex.


11am Update

For the really slow out of bed or sun seekers, the snowphone is updated at 11am. Conditions such as: wind speed, temperatures, snowfall, and visibility are all reassessed for the afternoon.


3:30pm Update

The final snowphone recording is ready by 3:30 pm.  Why record an afternoon snowphone update just when the mountains are closing you ask?  To get stoked for the next day! 

The Environment Canada Alpine forecast for overnight and the next day is prepared in the afternoon and is the primary resource for the 3:30pm snowphone recording.


And then it all begins again the next day.