North America
Canada
Whistler Blackcomb
Natural snow at mid-mountain (1,480 m) is reliably skiable from 16 Nov to 15 May. At the peak of the season the village at 675 m is unreliable (24% of days) and the summit averages 111 cm of fresh snow per fortnight.
Month by month
October
Unreliable for natural snow. Mid-mountain reached 30 cm on 10% of days.
November
Usually skiable. Mid-mountain had 30 cm or more on 70% of days, typically 50 cm deep. In the worst of the eleven seasons there was none. The village is usually bare. The summit averages 195 cm of new snow in the month.
December
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (1,480 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 99% of days, with a typical depth of 123 cm. The worst of the eleven seasons managed 80%. The village is usually bare. The summit averages 209 cm of new snow in the month.
January
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (1,480 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days, with a typical depth of 221 cm. The worst of the eleven seasons managed 100%. The summit averages 199 cm of new snow in the month.
February
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (1,480 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days, with a typical depth of 306 cm. The worst of the eleven seasons managed 100%. The village is usually bare. The summit averages 112 cm of new snow in the month.
March
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (1,480 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days, with a typical depth of 330 cm. The worst of the eleven seasons managed 100%. The village is usually bare. The summit averages 136 cm of new snow in the month.
April
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (1,480 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days, with a typical depth of 353 cm. The worst of the eleven seasons managed 100%. The village is usually bare. The summit averages 86 cm of new snow in the month.
May
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (1,480 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 93% of days, with a typical depth of 198 cm. The worst of the eleven seasons managed 50%. The village is usually bare. The summit averages 32 cm of new snow in the month.
June
Unreliable for natural snow. Mid-mountain reached 30 cm on 22% 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 Whistler Blackcomb?
For natural snow, 16 Nov to 15 May. In that window mid-mountain (1,480 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on at least 90% of days across eleven seasons. April is the most reliable month.
Is there snow at Whistler Blackcomb in December?
In December, mid-mountain had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 99% of days over eleven seasons, typically 123 cm deep.
Does the snow reach the village at Whistler Blackcomb?
Almost never as natural snow. Even in April, the village at 675 m had 30 cm or more on fewer than 5% of days. Expect to ride a lift down at the end of the day.
How high is Whistler Blackcomb?
The modelled village is at 675 m, mid-mountain at 1,480 m and the summit at 2,284 m. The ski area itself spans 653 m to 2,259 m.
Is snow at Whistler Blackcomb getting more or less reliable?
Over the eleven seasons modelled, snow-sure days have gone down by about 16 per decade. Eleven seasons is too short to separate a climate trend from year-to-year swings.
What is the nearest airport to Whistler Blackcomb?
Vancouver (YVR) is about 104 km away in a straight line. Powell River (YPW) is 115 km away. Road distances are longer.