Figure 1 compares Big White, Silver Star, Sun Peaks, and Revelstoke ski resorts in terms of winter mean temperature. Two lines are shown for each resort showing the change in winter mean temperature with elevation: the average for 1991 to 2020 and the future forecast for 2090 based on the SSP5-8.5 emission scenario. Please note that the SSP5-8.5 is considered the worst-case emission scenario. Big White, Sun Peaks, and Silver Star ski resorts are predicted to change by around 3.5°C,  3.5°C, and 3.3°C, respectively, at all elevations.  Revelstoke ski resorts is predicted to change by around 2.7°C at all elevations. 

            Figure 2 compares Red, Whitewater, Panorama, Sunshine, and Fernie ski resorts in terms of winter mean temperature change between the 1991 to 2020 average and the future forecast for 2090 based on the SSP5-8.5 emission scenario. For all of these resorts, temperature change with elevation is roughly constant. Red, Whitewater, Panorama, Sunshine, and Fernie ski resorts are predicted to change by around 3.8°C, 3.5°C, 3.1°C, 2.9°C, and 3.4°C, respectively.

            Figure 3 compares Big White, Silver Star, Sun Peaks, and Revelstoke ski resorts in terms of winter snowfall. Two lines are shown for each resort, showing the change in winter snowfall with elevation: the average for 1991 to 2020 and the future forecast for 2090 based on the SSP5-8.5 emission scenario. At their peak elevation, snowfall will not change (Silver Star) or increase by 2 to 6% between the two time periods. Big White’s snowfall will gradually decline from the peak and will decrease by about 22% at the resort’s base elevation. Snowfall at Silver Star, Sun Peaks, and Revelstoke will also gradually decline with a drop in elevation reaching a decrease by about 31%, 27%, and 26% at the base of these resorts.

            Figure 4 compares Red, Whitewater, Panorama, Sunshine, and Fernie ski resorts in terms of winter snowfall change between the 1991 to 2020 average and the future forecast for 2090 based on the SSP5-8.5 emission scenario. At Red ski resort snowfall is predicted to decrease by 54% at the base, 38% at mid-elevation, and 18% at the top of the resort. Snowfall in the future at Whitewater will decline by 25% at the base, 17% at mid-elevation, and 9% at the resort peak. Panorama ski resort is projected to experience a significant increase in snowfall by 2090. The base of the resort is expected to see a 16% increase, while the mid-elevation area is projected to experience a 19% increase, and the top of the resort is expected to see a 21% increase. Sunshine ski resort is also projected to see a significant increase in snowfall by 2090. The increase at Sunshine will be 37% at the base, 45% at mid-elevation, and 50% at the resort peak. Finally, Fernie snowfall is predicted to decrease by 24% at the base, increase slightly by 2% at mid-elevation, and a 24% increase at the top of the resort.

            Figure 5 presents a comparative future analysis of winter rainfall at Big White, Silver Star, Sun Peaks, and Revelstoke ski resorts.  Two lines are presented for each resort, illustrating the variation in winter rainfall with elevation. The first line represents the average rainfall from 1991 to 2020, while the second line projects the future rainfall for 2090 based on the SSP5-8.5 emission scenario. Big White will experience an increase in rainfall by 113 mm for its base, 113 mm for mid-elevation, and 100 mm for the peak. Rainfall will increase at Silver Star by 118 mm at the resort bottom, 120 mm at the resort middle, and 102 mm at the resort top. Sun Peaks will experience an increase in rainfall of 108 mm at its base, 104 mm for mid-elevationand 82 mm at its peak. Finally, Revelstoke rainfall is predicted to increase by a much greater amount with the base receiving 173 mm at the base, 176 mm at mid-elevation, and 148 mm at the top of the resort.

            Figure 6 compares Red, Whitewater, Panorama, Sunshine, and Fernie ski resorts in terms of winter rainfall change between the 1991 to 2020 average and the future forecast for 2090 based on the SSP5-8.5 emission scenario. At Red ski resort rainfall is predicted to increase by 166 mm at the base, 166 mm at mid-elevation, and 131 mm at the top of the resort. Rainfall in the future at Whitewater will increase significantly by 273 mm at the base, 243 mm at mid-elevation, and 206 mm at the resort peak. Panorama ski resort is projected to experience a smaller increase in rainfall by 2090 then Red and Whitewater. The base of the Panorama is expected to see a 46 mm increase, while the mid-elevation area is projected to experience a 44 mm increase, and the top of the resort is expected to see a 42 mm increase. Sunshine ski resort is also projected to see a smaller increase in rainfall by 2090. The increase at Sunshine will be 53 mm at the base, 36 mm at mid-elevation, and 23 mm at the resort peak. Finally, Fernie rainfall is predicted to increase by 155 mm at the base, 147 mm at mid-elevation, and a 103 mm increase at the top of the resort.

Figure 1  Change in winter mean temperature (°C) with elevation for Big White, Silver Star, Sun Peaks, and Revelstoke ski resorts. Solid lines indicate the 1991-2020 average. Dotted lines are future forecasts generated by ClimateBC for 2090 based on the SSP5-8.5 emission scenario and an eight-member climate model ensemble with an equilibrium climate sensitivity of 3.4°C.      

Figure 2  Change in winter mean temperature (°C) with elevation for Red, Whitewater, Panorama, Sunshine, and Fernie ski resorts. Solid lines indicate the 1991-2020 average. Dotted lines are future forecasts generated by ClimateBC for 2090 based on the SSP5-8.5 emission scenario and an eight-member climate model ensemble with an equilibrium climate sensitivity of 3.4°C.      

Figure 3  Change in winter snowfall (mm water equivalent) with elevation for Big White, Silver Star, Sun Peaks, and Revelstoke ski resorts.  Solid lines indicate the 1991-2020 average. Dotted lines are future forecasts generated by ClimateBC for 2090 based on the SSP5-8.5 emission scenario and an eight-member climate model ensemble with an equilibrium climate sensitivity of 3.4°C.        

Figure 4  Change in winter snowfall (mm water equivalent)  with elevation for Red, Whitewater, Panorama, Sunshine, and Fernie ski resorts. Solid lines indicate the 1991-2020 average. Dotted lines are future forecasts generated by ClimateBC for 2090 based on the SSP5-8.5 emission scenario and an eight-member climate model ensemble with an equilibrium climate sensitivity of 3.4°C.        

Figure 5  Change in winter rainfall (mm) with elevation for Big White, Silver Star, Sun Peaks, and Revelstoke ski resorts. Solid lines indicate the 1991-2020 average. Dotted lines are future forecasts generated by ClimateBC for 2090 based on the SSP5-8.5 emission scenario and an eight-member climate model ensemble with an equilibrium climate sensitivity of 3.4°C.    

Figure 6  Change in winter rainfall (mm) with elevation for Red, Whitewater, Panorama, Sunshine, and Fernie ski resorts Solid lines indicate the 1991-2020 average. Dotted lines are future forecasts generated by ClimateBC for 2090 based on the SSP5-8.5 emission scenario and an eight-member climate model ensemble with an equilibrium climate sensitivity of 3.4°C.