LOCAL LINGO

aid you know that sometimes it’s actually warmer on toé of the mountain than it is at the bottom? This weather condition is known as an ‘ inversion’I and it happens regularly at Whistler Blackcomb. Typically as you travel to higher elevations the ambient temperature drops, but under the right conditions the temperatures will flip ( or invert) and the air is actually warmer higher up. po what causes this to haééen? Anton eorvathI thistler Blackcomb’s avalanche forecaster, explains the science behind inversions. “Inversions or thermal layers occur most often when a warm, less dense air mass moves over a denser, colder air mass. Quite frequently in our region this will occur after a cold snap, when warmer air aloft traps the colder air in the valley bottoms,” says Horvath. Often during inversions, skiers will find sunny clear conditions at higher elevations, as the clouds are trapped below. This doesn’t happen every time, but it’s worth heading upwards to find out, especially if you’ve never had the unique experience of skiing above the clouds!