Whistler Breaks Snow Record in January

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE…

WHISTLER BLACKCOMB BREAKS 25 year RECORD FOR SNOWIEST MONTH

January 2006 officially becomes Whistler Blackcomb’s Snowiest Month on Record at 461 cm (181.5 inches)

WHISTLER, BC, January 31, 2006 – As of 10am this morning, Whistler broke the record for the snowiest month the mountains have seen since weather data collection began 25 years ago. With 46 centimetres (18 inches) of snow in the past 36 hours, January’s snowfall accumulation so far is 461 centimetres (181.5 inches). The snowiest month previously was January 1992 at 459 centimetres (180.7 inches.)

“The continuous snowfall this month has been phenomenal,” says Sara Aldridge from Whistler Blackcomb’s snow and weather communications office. “Most mornings this month we’ve woken up to fresh snow; we’ve been experiencing perpetual powder days. This is classic Whistler weather – system after system lined up, one after the other, dumping snow on the resort. The locals are in heaven and our visitors are ecstatic.”

This month Whistler received fifteen 10+ centimetre (4 inch) snow days. Of those; one was a 50+ centimetre (23 inch) day, three were 40+ centimetre (16 inch) days, four were 30+ centimetre (12 inch) days and one was a 20+ centimetre (8 inch) day. The snowiest day this month was January 13 with 58 centimetres (or 23 inches) of snow.

“I've lost track of all the great lines I've had this month; it has been outrageously good," says Leslie Anthony, Editorial/Creative Director of SKIER Magazine and Whistler resident. "I've experienced this type of weather pattern before but in smaller spurts. This is why I moved to Whistler."

With the record already broken, there’s still more snow on the way. Environment Canada is forecasting a possible 20 centimetres (8 inches) over the next several hours.