North America
Canada
Big White
Natural snow at mid-mountain (1,914 m) is reliably skiable from 16 Nov to 15 May. At the peak of the season the village at 1,508 m is snow-sure (100% of days) and modelled snowfall at the summit averages 84 cm a fortnight.
How natural snow at Big White has changed
Days each winter (November to April) with 30 cm or more of natural snow, every winter since 1950. The lines are the averages for 1961/62 to 1990/91 and 1995/96 to 2024/25.
Village, 1,508 m
13 fewer days a winter with 30 cm or more than in 1961–1990.Mid-mountain, 1,914 m
About the same as in 1961–1990.Modelled from ERA5 weather (Copernicus Climate Change Service), one consistent record for every winter. Checked against measured snow, this model got the direction of change right at 18 of 19 Swiss weather stations and 22 of 25 US snow stations, but overstated its size: a typical loss of 26 days against 17 measured in Switzerland, and 12 against 6 in the US. Read the changes as upper estimates. See the measurements · All 104 resorts since 1950
Month by month
October
Unreliable for natural snow. Mid-mountain reached 30 cm on 16% of days.
November
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (1,914 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 92% of days, with a typical depth of 82 cm. In the worst of the thirty winters there was none. Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 204 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
December
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (1,914 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days, with a typical depth of 148 cm. The worst of the thirty winters managed 100%. Snow usually reaches the village too (88% of days). Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 171 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
January
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (1,914 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days, with a typical depth of 203 cm. The worst of the thirty winters managed 100%. Snow usually reaches the village too (100% of days). Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 154 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
February
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (1,914 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days, with a typical depth of 233 cm. The worst of the thirty winters managed 100%. Snow usually reaches the village too (100% of days). Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 132 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
March
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (1,914 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days, with a typical depth of 259 cm. The worst of the thirty winters managed 100%. Snow usually reaches the village too (99% of days). Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 172 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
April
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (1,914 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days, with a typical depth of 234 cm. The worst of the thirty winters managed 100%. Snow usually reaches the village too (61% of days). Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 147 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
May
Usually skiable. Mid-mountain had 30 cm or more on 68% of days, typically 85 cm deep. In the worst of the thirty winters there was none. The village is usually bare. Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 106 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
June
Unreliable for natural snow. Mid-mountain reached 30 cm on 10% of days.
July to September
Natural snow at mid-mountain reached 30 cm on fewer than 5% of days.
Questions
When is the best time to ski Big White?
For natural snow, 16 Nov to 15 May. In that window mid-mountain (1,914 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on at least 90% of days across thirty winters. March is the most reliable month.
Is there snow at Big White in December?
In December, mid-mountain had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days over thirty winters, typically 148 cm deep.
Does the snow reach the village at Big White?
At its most reliable, in March, the village at 1,508 m had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 99% of days. You can usually ski back to the village.
How high is Big White?
The modelled village is at 1,508 m, mid-mountain at 1,914 m and the summit at 2,319 m. The ski area itself spans 1,512 m to 2,271 m.
How much does natural snow vary from winter to winter at Big White?
Across the thirty winters modelled, mid-mountain had 30 cm or more of natural snow on between 174 and 249 days per season, with a typical winter around 203. Thirty winters show how much one season can differ from the next. For how snow has changed since 1950, see the long record below.
What is the nearest airport to Big White?
Kelowna (YLW) is about 41 km away in a straight line. Penticton (YYF) is 56 km away. Road distances are longer.