Powder Compass

Atlas · British Columbia · BC

Big White

7,606′ summit · 2,576′ vert · 2,765 acres · avg 295″/yr

Strong bet — Nov 1–15

Delivered 24″+ in 8 of the last 10 seasons

Over 20 winters: 14 of 20 · typical 30", most land 16"–43"

Before you book

This bet missed 2 of the last 10.

None of the last 10 came in under 8″ — a bust, under a third of the bet.

Odds count natural snowfall only. At snowmaking-dependent resorts, early-season cover can be fine in a low-natural-snow year.

The season, window by window

The bet: 12″ of new snow per week, scaled to each window. Counted from real seasons — how our odds work.

Big White · the shape of a typical winter

Typical new snow, window by window

The middle season — median new snow per window, counted from the last 20 winters. A picture of timing, not a forecast. Snow is streaky; hover any window for the usual range.

0 20 40 60" NovDecJanFebMarApr
Window Bet Delivered Verdict Typical Biggest Leanest
Nov 1–15 24″+ 8 of 10 Strong bet 30" 60" 2024 8" 2014
Nov 16–30 24″+ 6 of 10 · 1 bust Solid odds 26" 42" 2006 4" 2023
Dec 1–15 24″+ 3 of 10 Long shot 23" 48" 2025 3" 2011
Dec 16–31 30″+ 8 of 10 Strong bet 28" 53" 2025 15" 2010
Jan 1–15 24″+ 6 of 10 · 1 bust Solid odds 26" 54" 2020 7" 2017
Jan 16–31 30″+ 3 of 10 · 2 busts Long shot 14" 70" 2018 2" 2009
Feb 1–15 24″+ 4 of 10 Coin flip 19" 41" 2018 7" 2012
Feb 16–28/29 24″+ 5 of 10 Coin flip 22" 49" 2023 5" 2015
Mar 1–15 24″+ 7 of 10 Solid odds 27" 68" 2017 10" 2021
Mar 16–31 30″+ 4 of 10 · 1 bust Coin flip 21" 56" 2017 9" 2023
Apr 1–15 24″+ 7 of 10 Solid odds 16" 68" 2018 3" 2007
Apr 16–30 24″+ 4 of 10 · 3 busts Coin flip 11" 37" 2024 0" 2016

Biggest and leanest are the two ends of the same 20 winters Typical is counted from — the year is when it happened, most recent first where more than one season ties.

At the snow sensor

Reading the snow sensor…

Field notes

The Okanagan's 'it's the snow' resort — famously consistent dry powder on friendly gladed terrain, ghost-tree summit zones, and the best true ski-in/ski-out village in Canada. More cruise-and-float than steep-and-deep.

Kelowna's airport is an hour out — easy logistics by British Columbia standards. Family-heavy but big enough to spread out. Summit fog is the recurring caveat. A strong value play for a relaxed powder week.

Watch this window

We'll email you when Big White's odds move on the Nov 1–15 window — and the quote gets recorded as it stands today, so we can be graded on it later.

Planning a whole season? See the season outlook.

These are historical odds from the last 20 winters — not a forecast. Inside 16 days of a trip, a forecast is the better instrument; beyond that, counting real seasons is the honest play. Every number on this page is quoted under methodology v1.2.0, the same math we grade ourselves against in public.