Western Canadian ski resorts keeping fingers crossed for better snow season

Some western Canadian ski resorts are worried about snow conditions this winter, but there is reason to hope for a good season that improves upon last year’s tough one.

“At this juncture I would be cautiously optimistic,” David Lynn, president and CEO of Canada West Ski Areas Association, tells Yahoo Canada News. “When we do get warmer-than-average temperatures, there’s a lot of variation as you move across western Canada because of microclimate systems and dramatic changes in elevations, slope orientation and latitude.”

Early reports indicated that temperatures would be warmer than expected due to an El Nino weather system, Lynn says. But recent updates from the University of British Columbia indicate that temperatures should be just a degree or two above average this year, he says.

“That certainly would be a lot cooler than what we experienced last year,” Lynn says. “It’s more of an issue for a low-elevation ski resort, specifically some on the coast.”

B.C. resorts had a tough year in 2014-2015, due in part to warmer temperatures resulting from a “blob” system in the Pacific Ocean off the province’s coast. That weather system involved a body of warm water in the ocean that was protected by a resilient low-pressure ridge, he says, and resulted in a warmer-than-average winter that affected snow levels at western B.C. resorts. Photos taken of the Horstman Glacier on Blackcomb in July showed that its snowfields were smaller than usual for the summer, for example.

“That system is now breaking down, so it will not be a factor for the coming season,” Lynn says.

As well, there’s been some early season snowfall, he says, which is driving a build-up of snow and helping the ski season get off to an early start.

“We want it throughout the season but it’s critically important leading up to the Christmas break,” Lynn says of snowfall at the resorts. If he had to choose a period of the year to get less snow, he’d go with the end of the season instead of the start. Early snowfall both allows the resorts to get a good base of snow early on, and creates enthusiasm for the ski season well ahead of their December holidays.

“It certainly suggests we’ll have a much better year than last year, which was very difficult for a lot of ski areas,” Lynn says.

Data from the Canada West Ski Areas Association (CWSAA) showed that skier visits for the 2014-15 were 7.4 million, down 14 per cent. A lack of snow is thought to be a major contributing factor to the decline. CWSAA covers resorts in B.C., Alberta and the Yukon.

Planning for the future

Despite the reasons for optimism, resorts are looking into snow-making equipment that can help them ensure there’s enough snow on the slopes, particularly at the beginning and end of the ski seasons. Both Whistler-Blackcomb and Grouse Mountain in B.C. upgraded their snow-making equipment over the summer, The Province reports.

And as record-high temperatures continue to be set in North America, the need for snow-making power isn’t likely to decrease for Canadian ski resorts.

“Global warming is real and it will impact ski resorts over time,” Lynn says.

But because the effects are gradual, resorts do have time to adapt, he says. Part of that will be continuing investment in snow-making equipment, improving summer grooming and finding ways for ski resorts to be used year round.

Resorts and ski associations are also working with experts to look ahead.

“We’re doing research in partnership with the scientific community,” Lynn says.

CWSAA is working with Michael Pidwirny at UBC on custom climate change reports, he says, and the association has a climate change policy in place.

Ski clubs in Ontario and Quebec have yet to open for the season, and their regional ski associations were unavailable for comment. Weather in much of Ontario has been rainy in November, including an unseasonably warm stretch at the beginning of the month.