Fresh snow lifts hopes at Okanagan ski resorts as El Niño looms

People across the Okanagan woke this week to fresh snow on the surrounding mountains, offering an early taste of winter. Snow was visible above Kelowna on Oct. 28, and skiers at Big White Ski Resort are already enjoying the powder ahead of the coming season.

The early snowfall is encouraging, but the weather in the months ahead remains uncertain. El Niño, a climate pattern driven by warmer waters in the tropical Pacific, can influence weather around the world, including in British Columbia. It is part of a natural cycle of warming and cooling in the Pacific and typically occurs every two to seven years. A potentially strong event is developing, and warmer-than-normal conditions could make it harder for ski resorts to build a solid snowpack.

Trevor Hanna, Big White’s vice-president of hospitality, said the resort has had a couple of light-snow years in recent years. El Niño’s effects vary by region. Coastal ski resorts could face particular challenges if warmer temperatures push freezing levels higher. Above 0 C, precipitation that might otherwise fall as snow can come down as rain, slowing the formation of the snowpack needed to sustain ski runs.

In the Okanagan, residents hope freezing levels stay low enough to keep temperatures below 0 C and allow snow to build up for a successful season. Weather expert Peter Quinlan said sustained cold is important for establishing that base. If temperatures are above normal, he said, the snowpack will not form and the ski season will be shorter.

Big White is counting on its high elevation to help protect the resort from warmer temperatures during an El Niño year. Temperatures above freezing could significantly affect its snowpack. The resort says it needs about 70 to 80 centimetres of snow on the ground to safely open some runs, with about 100 centimetres ideal.

Despite the uncertainty, Hanna said recent conditions give the resort reason for optimism. Big White is scheduled to open Nov. 26, after opening about a week later than planned last season. Hanna said the resort hopes to open on time or early this year, and indications over the past few days have been positive. For now, skiers will watch the forecast and hope the recent snow signals more winter weather, with temperatures cold enough to keep snow on the mountains.