Powder Compass

Atlas · Alberta · AB

Sunshine Village

8,954′ summit · 3,514′ vert · 3,358 acres · avg 360″/yr

Strong bet — Nov 1–15

Delivered 24″+ in 10 of the last 10 seasons

Over 20 winters: 19 of 20 · typical 34", most land 30"–42"

Before you book

This bet missed 0 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.

Sunshine Village · 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″+ 10 of 10 Strong bet 34" 80" 2021 24" 2010
Nov 16–30 24″+ 6 of 10 · 1 bust Solid odds 32" 69" 2014 3" 2023
Dec 1–15 24″+ 3 of 10 · 1 bust Long shot 23" 65" 2025 5" 2017
Dec 16–31 30″+ 7 of 10 · 1 bust Solid odds 28" 74" 2019 7" 2023
Jan 1–15 24″+ 5 of 10 · 2 busts Coin flip 31" 67" 2014 5" 2023
Jan 16–31 30″+ 1 of 10 · 4 busts Long shot 12" 45" 2018 4" 2026
Feb 1–15 24″+ 6 of 10 · 1 bust Solid odds 19" 55" 2018 2" 2026
Feb 16–28/29 24″+ 4 of 10 Coin flip 22" 46" 2024 3" 2010
Mar 1–15 24″+ 7 of 10 Solid odds 34" 81" 2012 9" 2021
Mar 16–31 30″+ 5 of 10 · 1 bust Coin flip 32" 67" 2026 8" 2019
Apr 1–15 24″+ 7 of 10 Solid odds 27" 57" 2012 7" 2016
Apr 16–30 24″+ 5 of 10 Coin flip 29" 59" 2017 5" 2015

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

Banff's snow leader — a high alpine plateau straddling the Divide that catches meaningfully more than its neighbors, with Delirium Dive's gated, gear-required steeps as the crown jewel. Wind-exposed, cold, and gorgeous.

The base is gondola-accessed — no cars at the village. Delirium requires a beacon, shovel, probe, and a partner; rent in Banff if needed. Divide weather is fierce, and bluebird days here are earned. Same Calgary-and-Banff logistics as Louise.

Watch this window

We'll email you when Sunshine Village'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.