Comparison
Big White vs Revelstoke: which has more reliable snow?
Big White or Revelstoke? Natural snow month by month, at the village, mid-mountain and summit, from thirty winters of weather data.
The season at a glance
Each cell is one month: the share of days with 30 cm or more of modelled natural snow at mid-mountain over the last 30 winters, from brown (often thin) to deep blue (snow-sure). Blank means almost none.
The short answer
Big White has had the more reliable natural snow: mid-mountain was snow-sure in 6 months of the year, against 4 at Revelstoke. Month by month, Big White has the edge in November, December, April and May.
Month by month
November: Big White 24 of 30, Revelstoke 5 of 30 snow-sure winters (92% and 47% of days).
December: Big White 30 of 30, Revelstoke 28 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 96% of days).
January: Big White 30 of 30, Revelstoke 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
February: Big White 30 of 30, Revelstoke 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
March: Big White 30 of 30, Revelstoke 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
April: Big White 30 of 30, Revelstoke 18 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 84% of days).
May: Big White 9 of 30, Revelstoke 0 of 30 snow-sure winters (68% and 12% 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
Big White and Revelstoke are 148 km apart as the crow flies. Big White first, then Revelstoke: Village 1,508 m against 512 m; Mid-mountain 1,914 m against 1,368 m; Summit 2,319 m against 2,225 m. Mapped downhill runs: Big White 96 km, Revelstoke 84 km (OpenStreetMap).
In February, the village had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days at Big White and 13% at Revelstoke.
Questions
Which has more reliable snow, Big White or Revelstoke?
Big White has had the more reliable natural snow: mid-mountain was snow-sure in 6 months of the year, against 4 at Revelstoke. Month by month, Big White has the edge in November, December, April and May.
Which has better snow down to the village, Big White or Revelstoke?
In February, Big White: its village had 30 cm or more of modelled natural snow on 100% of days, against 13%.
Does this include snowmaking?
No. These are modelled natural snow figures only, from ERA5 weather. Groomed pistes with snowmaking often ski better than this.