Your excitement grows the moment you smell the Whistler air. Rubbing your eyes, you take your first glimpse of your dream vacation. Then it happens. You feel a rain drop... and then another. You get that dreaded sinking feeling you hoped to avoid.
"I didn't expect this," you moan, "now what will I do?"
Whistler's weather is responsible for the good and the mucky of Whistler vacation enjoyment. What to wear, when the most snow falls, and how many layers to bring are important questions to address before traveling to Whistler. Whether you ski, snowboard, mountain bike, or sightsee and spa-hop, you will benefit from being prepared for the weather in Whistler.
When To Go To Whistler - Past Whistler Weather Conditions
While weather conditions are constantly changing, past Whistler weather conditions give a good idea of what to expect for your future Whistler vacation.
Average Whistler Temperatures
Well-documented average temperatures let you ensure you bring suitable clothing on your vacation:
Alpine Averages:
Dec-Feb: Low of -12°C/11°F, High of -5°C/23°F
Mar-May: Low of -8°C/19°F, High of 5°C/42°F
Whistler Village Averages:
Dec-Feb: Low of -5°C/21°F, High of 0°C/32°F
Mar-May: Low of 3°C/36°F, High of 12°C/53°F
Jun-Sep: Low of 10°C/50°F, High of 24°C/74°F
Oct-Nov: Low of 3°C/34°F, High of 11°C/51°F
Whistler Snow Fall
Snow conditions are most important in determining when to go to Whistler during the winter. Although Whistler snowfall varies, the Whistler Blackcomb snow base is usually around 10.22 metres, or 33.5 feet, at the summit.
Checking online to see which ski lifts and runs are open during the year is a good indicator of snow conditions in Whistler. Early season high alpine lift openings indicate great snow conditions that are likely to stick around. Generally, the Whistler snow base is largest with the freshest snow from the end of December to the beginning of April.
Weather Trends - El Nino vs. La Nina
Weather in Whistler is determined by the cycle of La Nina replacing El Nino, and vice versa. El Nino causes fairly warm and dry winters. Defined as a sea-surface temperature increase greater than 0.5°C, El Nino creates relatively unfavorable ski and snowboard conditions. La Nina has the opposite effect as El Nino. Occurring when normal trade wind circulation patterns in the Pacific Ocean increase, La Nina decreases sea-surface temperature by more than 0.5°C.
Due to El Nino, the new millennium began with a steady trend of warm and dry weather in Whistler. However, with the return of La Nina to western Canada, Whistler has seen cooler weather, with much more snow from 2006 - 2008.
The Bottom Line - How To Avoid Unpleasant Whistler Weather
Regardless of when you travel to Whistler, travel in layers. Be prepared to add or lose a layer and adjust to the conditions.
General trends and averages of Whistler's past weather conditions give an impression of what to expect but it's no guarantee. Nothing prevents that dreaded sinking feeling of an unfavourable twist in the weather like a suitcase full of layer-worthy, fabric solutions.
Devon O'Malley is a staff writer for AlluraDirect - a vacation rentals website offering powerful search and instant booking features. To get more information on Whistler weather, check out AlluraDirect's comprehensive Whistler weather forecasts and snow predictions hub. AlluraDirect lists over 600 Whistler accommodation options that can be booked directly with owners to avoid middle agent fees and charges. Vacation homeowners pay a flat yearly subscription fee to join the AlluraDirect owner community. Subscriptions include a property listing, access to online payment processing, reservation management tools and consultation services. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Devon_O'Malley |  |
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