World · North America · 5 hrs ago
Fresh snow raises hopes for Big White ski season as El Niño looms
Big White Ski Resort in British Columbia received six centimetres of snow overnight in late October, giving the mountain an early winter covering.
The resort is scheduled to open on Nov.
26, and the snowfall has raised hopes of starting the ski season on time.
The resort needs about 70 to 80 centimetres of snow to open some runs safely, with roughly 100 centimetres considered ideal.
A potentially strong El Niño could bring warmer-than-normal conditions as the season approaches.
El Niño is a natural climate pattern linked to warmer waters in the tropical Pacific, and its effects vary by region.
Warmer temperatures can raise freezing levels and turn snow into rain, making it harder to build the base needed for ski runs.
Big White says its high elevation may help, but the resort and skiers will be watching the forecast to see whether cold weather and snowfall continue.
Big White Ski Resort received fresh snow in late October, raising hopes for the ski season as a potentially strong El Niño could bring warmer conditions.
The resort is scheduled to open on Nov. 26 and says it needs about 70 to 80 centimetres of snow to safely open some runs.
Six centimetres of snow fell overnight at Big White on Oct. 26-27, according to local reports.
Big White’s vice-president of hospitality said recent conditions were encouraging after several light snow years.
A weather expert said sustained cold is needed to build snowpack and avoid a shorter ski season.
- Who
- Big White Ski Resort and skiers in the Okanagan.
- What
- Fresh snowfall has raised hopes for the coming ski season, though a potentially strong El Niño could bring warmer conditions.
- When
- Fresh snow fell overnight before Oct. 27, 2026; the resort is scheduled to open Nov. 26.
- Where
- Big White Ski Resort in British Columbia’s Okanagan.
- Why
- Cold temperatures and sufficient snowpack are needed for safe runs and a successful ski season; El Niño may bring warmer-than-normal conditions.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Six centimetres of snow fell overnight at Big White, and residents woke to fresh snow.
Global News reported that early snowfall had raised hopes while El Niño posed uncertainty about temperatures and snowpack.
Big White is scheduled to open for the ski season.
- Fresh snowfall
- 6 centimetres overnight
- Scheduled opening
- Nov. 26, 2026
- Snow needed to safely open some runs
- About 70 to 80 centimetres
- Ideal snow depth
- Around 100 centimetres
- Resort
- Big White Ski Resort, British Columbia’s Okanagan
3 sources
What people are saying
We’ve had a couple of light snow years the last couple of years
We’re hopefully going to open up on time or early this year and the indications the last few days are positive
We can’t have above normal temperatures because then that snowpack won’t form and in turn we will have a shorter ski season
Keep it coming!