Snow ghosts, champagne on tap for Big White in 2024-25 snow forecast
BIG WHITE, BC — While conditions were sparse across much of North America last ski season, BC's Big White was quietly enjoying a solid snow year.
"We fared better than a lot of BC," says Andrew Daly, Big White sales director. "We had a solid early base and we managed to keep topping up over the winter, so we had some of the best conditions in BC last year."
The proof is there in Big White's snow ghosts, the snow-caked trees that the resort is famous for, and its 750cm (24.5 foot) average annual snowfall.
But don't just believe the hype—you need to go see it for yourself.
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for a little taste of the Okanagan champagne at Big White
One of the keys to Big White's success is consistency, explains Daly: "Top-ups happen almost every night, we have sort of our own little micro-climate up here."
Assistant patrol director Patrick Shier, who's been doing avalanche forecasting at the resort for 10 years now, backs that up. "I like to call it the Big White Hat—precipitation likes to linger around large snowy peaks like ours, at higher elevations."
"At 1750 metres above sea level at the village, that's equivalent to the roundhouse at Whistler," Daly adds. "So that guarantees our snowfall and it's where we get our moniker 'Okanagan champagne powder.'"
Almost nightly top-ups ensure consistent conditions and some great pow days at Big White.
What can we expect for snow at Big White this season? Keep reading for the full snow forecast for Big White for the 2024-25 ski season.
Big White 2024-25 snow forecast
Long-range forecasting is challenging at the best of times, especially for precipitation trends. Some of our best insights come from looking for bigger clues in the ocean-atmosphere system along with agreement in forecast models. Let's take a deeper look.
La Niña effect
It turns out that the most significant driver of our weather on a seasonal scale comes from the El Niño-Southern Oscillation, a cyclical pattern of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean.
El Niño winters (like 2023-24) tend to be warmer and drier than average across much of Canada, which tends to bring less snow to the mountains of western Canada.
Photo:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Colder and wetter than normal conditions typically occur through the mountains of western Canada during La Niña winters. It is important to note that no two La Niña events are the same
La Niña winters tend to bring colder and snowier than average conditions to the mountains of western Canada, which tend to be more favourable for snow seekers.
Since last winter, strong El Niño conditions have waned to neutral conditions as of early fall 2024. However, there are signs that weak La Niña conditions will likely develop that could persist through the heart of the winter.
This would bring an increased likelihood of colder and snowier than normal conditions to the mountains of western Canada, including BC's southern interior.
"La Nina is usually pretty kind to Big White," says Daly, raising hopes that this year will be a good snow year there. "More snow, colder temperatures, so we're expecting the skiing to be really good this year."
Now, let's look to an ensemble or "blend" of long-range forecast models from several different government agencies:
Photo:
Copernicus Climate Change Service
Forecast probability of where temperatures could be above, near, or below normal for December through February around the globe.
Notice the high probability of cooler than normal temperatures in the central and eastern Tropical Pacific, characteristic of La Niña conditions.
We can also see the signal for near to slightly below normal temperatures possible over western Canada and Alaska.
Meanwhile, models also seem to be picking up on a higher probability of wetter than normal conditions across southern BC this winter:
Photo:
Copernicus Climate Change Service
Forecast probability of where precipitation could be above, near, or below normal for December through February around the globe.
Given a high likelihood of at least weak La Niña conditions this winter, we are cautiously optimistic that this season could be promising for those seeking a snowier season than normal at Big White! Time to go slay some snow ghosts.
When you go
Daly advises planning your Big White visit between December to March to get those prime conditions.
Stay & ski deals at Big White Big White offers every accommodation option possible, from cabins to full four-star condos to your budget kitchenette suites. Check out the deals here and book now.
The cabins in Bullet Creek, one of Big White's many ski in/ski out options.
Where to ski through snow ghosts BIg White was recently voted #1 tree skiing in Canada. "Corkscrew Glades and Flagpole Glades are two of my favourites," says Daly, adding the the best views are from the upper alpine, accessed via Alpine T-Bar.
Other things to do at Big White Skiing or riding is the number one activity, but with a full resort village and events almost every night, there's always something to do.
Events like regular fireworks nights play a big part in bringing together a community at Big White.
Activities for booking
- horse-drawn sleigh rides
- dog sledding
- snowmobiling
- spa & more
Free activities
- fireworks
- ice skating
- snowshoeing
- cross-country skiing
- & more
Getting to Big White If you're flying in, hold on to your boarding pass! Guests who book 5 nights get a free day of skiing when you show your pass. Big White offers shuttle service from YLW (Kelowna).
For more details to plan your stay, check out Big White resort info here.
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