Powder Compass

Atlas · British Columbia · BC

Whistler Blackcomb

7,494′ summit · 5,280′ vert · 8,171 acres · avg 459″/yr

Strong bet — Dec 16–31

Delivered 30″+ in 10 of the last 10 seasons

Over 20 winters: 19 of 20 · typical 50", most land 41"–59"

Before you book

This bet missed 0 of the last 10.

None of the last 10 came in under 10″ — 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.

Whistler Blackcomb · 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 25 50 75" NovDecJanFebMarApr
Window Bet Delivered Verdict Typical Biggest Leanest
Nov 1–15 24″+ 8 of 10 Strong bet 44" 95" 2006 10" 2019
Nov 16–30 24″+ 8 of 10 · 1 bust Strong bet 48" 125" 2009 6" 2023
Dec 1–15 24″+ 6 of 10 Solid odds 37" 133" 2015 3" 2011
Dec 16–31 30″+ 10 of 10 Strong bet 50" 86" 2010 20" 2013
Jan 1–15 24″+ 7 of 10 · 1 bust Solid odds 60" 97" 2010 8" 2017
Jan 16–31 30″+ 4 of 10 Coin flip 26" 107" 2018 4" 2014
Feb 1–15 24″+ 4 of 10 · 1 bust Coin flip 27" 67" 2011 6" 2025
Feb 16–28/29 24″+ 4 of 10 · 1 bust Coin flip 24" 46" 2007 1" 2015
Mar 1–15 24″+ 5 of 10 Coin flip 34" 105" 2016 9" 2019
Mar 16–31 30″+ 3 of 10 · 2 busts Long shot 34" 60" 2007 4" 2019
Apr 1–15 24″+ 6 of 10 · 1 bust Solid odds 23" 46" 2010 3" 2020
Apr 16–30 24″+ 1 of 10 · 2 busts Long shot 17" 33" 2014 1" 2025

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

North America's biggest lift-served complex — two full-scale mountains linked by the Peak 2 Peak gondola, alpine bowls that ski like the Alps, and a mile of vertical. The ceiling on what a ski resort can be.

Two hours up the Sea to Sky from Vancouver's airport. Epic anchor. The village is a small city — book far ahead and expect crowds always. Coastal snow swings warm, but the alpine elevation saves most storms, and the exchange rate flatters American budgets.

Watch this window

We'll email you when Whistler Blackcomb's odds move on the Dec 16–31 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.