Comparison
Banff Sunshine vs Whistler Blackcomb: which has more reliable snow?
Banff Sunshine or Whistler Blackcomb? Natural snow month by month, at the village, mid-mountain and summit, from eleven winters of weather data.
Month by month
Each cell is one month: the share of days with 30 cm or more of modelled natural snow at mid-mountain over the last 11 winters, from brown (often thin) to deep blue (snow-sure). Blank means almost none.
The short answer
Whistler Blackcomb has had the more reliable natural snow: mid-mountain was snow-sure in 5 months of the year, against 4 at Banff Sunshine. Month by month, Whistler Blackcomb has the edge in November, December and May.
Month by month
November: Banff Sunshine 0 of 11, Whistler Blackcomb 4 of 11 snow-sure winters (28% and 70% of days).
December: Banff Sunshine 7 of 11, Whistler Blackcomb 11 of 11 snow-sure winters (82% and 99% of days).
January: Banff Sunshine 11 of 11, Whistler Blackcomb 11 of 11 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
February: Banff Sunshine 11 of 11, Whistler Blackcomb 11 of 11 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
March: Banff Sunshine 11 of 11, Whistler Blackcomb 11 of 11 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
April: Banff Sunshine 11 of 11, Whistler Blackcomb 11 of 11 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
May: Banff Sunshine 4 of 11, Whistler Blackcomb 7 of 11 snow-sure winters (61% and 93% of days).
A snow-sure winter is one where mid-mountain had 30 cm or more of modelled natural snow on at least 90% of that month’s days.
Height and terrain
Banff Sunshine and Whistler Blackcomb are 519 km apart as the crow flies. Banff Sunshine first, then Whistler Blackcomb: Village 1,660 m against 675 m; Mid-mountain 2,195 m against 1,480 m; Summit 2,730 m against 2,284 m. Mapped downhill runs: Banff Sunshine 77 km, Whistler Blackcomb 299 km (OpenStreetMap).
In February, the village had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 80% of days at Banff Sunshine and 12% at Whistler Blackcomb.
Questions
Which has more reliable snow, Banff Sunshine or Whistler Blackcomb?
Whistler Blackcomb has had the more reliable natural snow: mid-mountain was snow-sure in 5 months of the year, against 4 at Banff Sunshine. Month by month, Whistler Blackcomb has the edge in November, December and May.
Which has better snow down to the village, Banff Sunshine or Whistler Blackcomb?
In February, Banff Sunshine: its village had 30 cm or more of modelled natural snow on 80% of days, against 12%.
Does this include snowmaking?
No. These are modelled natural snow figures only, from ERA5 weather. Groomed pistes with snowmaking often ski better than this.