Heavy Snowfall Hammers Whistler Blackcomb
The latest storm to hit Whistler Blackcomb has dumped a whopping 70 centimetres or 28 inches in 24 hours, immersing the resort in deep winter conditions. Although the heavy snow and high winds prevented a number of lifts from opening today, the forecast for clearer skies this afternoon and tomorrow bodes well for weekend skiers and riders.
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“Even with all the snow this year, this latest storm was one of the most intense storms we’ve dealt with in a long time,” says Doug MacFarlane, Whistler Blackcomb’s mountain manager. “Ski Patrol has been conducting extensive avalanche control work, and Operations crews have been working throughout the night and day digging out. For those guests who endured the storm, the rewards were plentiful as there were many fresh tracks to be had. We would have loved to have opened up more terrain today; with the avalanche control work we can get done tonight and tomorrow morning, Saturday will be epic.”
The snowbase is on the verge of reaching three metres or 9.8 feet. With the 2010 Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games now less than a month away, the resort is primed ready to welcome the world to its snowy slopes.
[caption id="attachment_729" align="aligncenter" width="546" caption="Heavy Snowfall Hammers Whistler Blackcomb. Photo Ian Robertson www.coastphoto.com"]
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The five-day forecast is calling for a mix of sun and clouds tomorrow, followed by another strong frontal system that will approach the region late Saturday bringing 20 to 40 centimetres or eight to 15 inches of snow to the resort.