Snow Totals:

The number of open ski resorts are dwindling as we head into mid-April, but we have some nice snow totals to report on Tuesday morning.

Across the Coast Range, Whistler received 15 cm (6") over the past 24 hours and Grouse Mountain received 9 cm (4"). Whistler has been in the cold sector throughout this snow event with snow levels below mid-mountain, and they have now received 60 cm (24") over the past 3 days! Should be some outstanding late skiing conditions.

Across the Interior, rain was prevalent during the day on Monday with high snow levels. However, a cold front moved through overnight with snow levels falling to the lower portions of most ski areas with heavy snow developing behind the front. Fernie and the Lizard Range in the southeast corner is the one exception as snow levels have not yet dropped with rain continuing on Tuesday morning.

New snow totals as of Tuesday AM across the Interior include 21 cm (8") at Kicking Horse, 18 cm (7") at Revelstoke, and 13 cm (5") at Silver Star.

Snow has continued to fall since the early AM reports were released, too. Check out the Gnorm snow stake cam (27 cm tall) at Revelstoke, which is buried as of 7am.

Forecast for Tuesday:

Across the Coast Range, snow showers will continue during the day before tapering off on Tuesday night. Additional snowfall will range from 5-10 cm (2-4") at Whistler and 7-15 cm (3-6") at Grouse Mountain. Snow levels will range from 450-600 meters (1,500-2,000 feet), which is below the bases of both of these resorts.

Across the Interior, snow will also continue through the daytime hours before gradually tapering off on Tuesday night. The focus of the heaviest snowfall will shift into the Southern Interior where most resorts are closed. 

Kootenay Pass and surrounding areas will pick up another 15-30 cm (6-12") on Tuesday with snow levels of 1,050-1,350 meters (3,500-4,500 feet), while Fernie will see lighter totals in the 2-10 cm (1-4") range due to the later changeover from rain to snow at mid-mountain and above.

Snow levels at Fernie are projected to drop to 1,500 meters (5k feet) by around midday Tuesday and to 1,200 meters (4k feet) by the end of the day. Eventually, snow levels will dip to near the base of Fernie on Tuesday evening but snowfall will be tapering off by this point.

Further north, additional snowfall during the day on Tuesday and into early Tuesday evening will range from 5-13 cm (2-5") at Revelstoke, Kicking Horse, and Rogers Pass, and a trace to 8 cm (trace-3") at Panorama and Silver Star. Late-season conditions will be excellent at both Revy and KH throughout the day on Tuesday.

Snow levels across these northern zones will range from 750-1,050 meters (2,500-3,500 feet) during the day on Tuesday. 

Forecast for Wednesday to Friday:

The pattern will start to quiet down a bit during this period with more sunshine compared to prior days, but enough lingering moisture along with daytime instability (sun heating the lower atmosphere while temperatures remain very cold aloft) will result in additional light snow showers and flurries.

On Wednesday, snow shower activity will primarily be confined to the Interior during the afternoon hours with snow totals ranging anywhere from zero to a few centimeters.

On Thursday, a weak disturbance will move across Southern BC with snow showers possible across both the Coast Range and the Interior. Activity will still be fairly scattered in nature with most of the action occurring during the afternoon hours. Snow totals will range from zero to 5 cm.

On Friday, isolated snow showers/flurries will develop across the Interior during the afternoon hours once again, with some light activity also possible over Vancouver Island. Southwest BC including Whistler and Grouse Mountain should stay dry.

Snow levels are going to be low throughout this period, generally near ski resort base areas. Temperatures will also be below average for this time of year, but given the stronger April sun, spring skiing conditions can still be expected.

On Saturday (April 15), dry and sunny conditions will prevail across the Interior along with warmer temperatures as highs will be a few degrees above freezing at mid-mountain elevations. It should be a beautiful spring skiing day for the remaining open areas.

A storm system will set up off the Coast on Saturday with southwest flow transporting moisture into Southwest and West Central BC. As a result, snow is projected to return to Whistler on Saturday and into Saturday night, while Grouse Mountain will be right on the southern edge of this moisture plume initially. Snow levels are projected to range from 900-1,200 meters (3,000-4,000 feet) at Whistler on Saturday and Saturday night.

On Sunday, the storm will slowly start to work its way onshore with the potential for heavy snow at Whistler along with lowering snow levels. Grouse Mountain could see heavy snow as well, but it may be more of a borderline setup depending on snow levels. 

Light rain and snow showers could also reach the Interior during the day on Sunday with snow levels currently projected to be around mid-mountain elevations. A cold front is then expected to move through the Interior on Sunday night with heavier snow along with lowering snow levels.

However, this will be after the remaining Interior resorts have already closed for the season. Rogers Pass, Kootenay Pass, and other backcountry zones could see some freshies by Monday morning, though.

Keep in mind, we are still several days away from this weekend pattern so a lot can still change between now and then. 

Looking further out, a generally unsettled spring pattern is expected to continue through the week of April 17th with periods of rain/snow showers moving through on a relatively frequent basis with short breaks in between. Temperatures are also expected to be below average. 

Thanks so much for reading! Next update on Thursday (April 13).

ALAN SMITH

I have transitioned over to "spring hours" now that the season is starting to wind down. I will be posting forecasts on Tuesdays-Thursdays-Saturdays moving forward with my final post of the season on Saturday, April 15th. 

Projected Ski Resort Closing Dates:

CLOSED (as of April 11):

Manning Park

Sasquatch Mountain

Apex

Red Mountain

Whitewater

Mt. Seymour

Mt. Washington

Shames Mountain

Big White

Sun Peaks

Kimberley 

Powder King

April 16th:

Revelstoke

Panorama

Kicking Horse

Fernie

Silver Star

April 23rd:

Hudson Bay Mountain

May 14th:

Grouse Mountain

May 22nd:

Whistler