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.

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