Powder Compass

Atlas · British Columbia · BC

Whitewater

6,700′ summit · 1,300′ vert · 1,184 acres · avg 480″/yr

Strong bet — Dec 16–31

Delivered 30″+ in 9 of the last 10 seasons

Over 20 winters: 17 of 20 · typical 51", most land 40"–71"

Before you book

This bet missed 1 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.

Whitewater · 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 45" 77" 2017 10" 2019
Nov 16–30 24″+ 9 of 10 · 1 bust Strong bet 46" 98" 2012 7" 2023
Dec 1–15 24″+ 7 of 10 Solid odds 33" 79" 2015 5" 2011
Dec 16–31 30″+ 9 of 10 Strong bet 51" 88" 2019 14" 2023
Jan 1–15 24″+ 8 of 10 Strong bet 50" 83" 2021 10" 2025
Jan 16–31 30″+ 3 of 10 Long shot 23" 93" 2018 5" 2009
Feb 1–15 24″+ 7 of 10 Solid odds 32" 92" 2017 11" 2009
Feb 16–28/29 24″+ 8 of 10 Strong bet 35" 69" 2024 3" 2015
Mar 1–15 24″+ 8 of 10 Strong bet 41" 81" 2012 10" 2021
Mar 16–31 30″+ 7 of 10 Solid odds 37" 93" 2017 11" 2019
Apr 1–15 24″+ 7 of 10 Solid odds 29" 84" 2018 5" 2016
Apr 16–30 24″+ 5 of 10 Coin flip 16" 53" 2017 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

Nelson's powder temple — some of interior British Columbia's driest snow on two modest lifts and endless slackcountry. The Ymir Peak lines and the glades define it; the lodge food is inexplicably famous. Small footprint, huge experience.

Base in Nelson, one of Canada's great small towns, half an hour below. The limited infrastructure is the point. It pairs with Red for a Kootenay double, and beacon-and-partner culture prevails beyond the ropes.

Watch this window

We'll email you when Whitewater'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.