While snowfall in Metro Vancouver created chaotic road conditions for shoppers on Boxing Day, atop the mountains on the South Coast it further solidified what has been one of the strongest early winter ski seasons in many years.
One week into the official start of winter, some local mountains are already near or at the halfway point of their seasonal snowfall average. For instance, Cypress Mountain is already reporting a mid-mountain snow base of nearly 10 feet.
There have been reports late this morning of people being turned away at Cypress Mountain as the parking lots being filled to capacity.
Anyone who is heading up to the mountains is warned to stay within boundaries due to hazardous conditions, including a high avalanche risk.
North Shore Rescue have been searching Cypress Mountain for three missing individuals since the Christmas weekend. One snowboarder has already been safely rescued from a steep gully, but two hikers remain missing.
Here are the snow accumulations for the local mountains:
Cypress Mountain
- 24 hour snow: 33 cm
- 7 day snow: 118 cm
- Current mid-mountain snow depth: 288 cm
- Season snow to date: 399 cm
- Average season snow: 622 cm
Grouse Mountain
- 24 hour snow: 23 cm
- 7 day snow: 89 cm
- Current snow depth: 210 cm at base; 257 cm at summit
- Season snow to date: 365 cm
- Average season snow: 869 cm
Mount Seymour
- 24 hour snow: 45 cm
- 7 day snow: 81 cm
- Current snow depth: 209 cm at base; 277 cm at summit
- Season snow to date: 532 cm
- Average season snow: 1,000 cm
Whistler Blackcomb
- 24 hour snow: 23 cm
- 7 day snow: 40 cm
- Current mid-mountain snow depth: 188 cm
- Season snow to date: 440 cm
- Average season snow: 1,170 cm