LOCAL LINGO “FREEZING LEVEL”
If you come from a relatively flat region, you may not be familiar with the term “freezing level.” However, if you live and play in the mountains, you know how crucial it can be to your outdoor winter activities. The freezing level, in fact, is as important as temperature, wind and precipitation.
“Generally speaking, the freezing level refers to the elevation at which the temperature reaches 0.0 degrees Celsius [below which the temperature is above 0.0, and above which the temperature is below 0.0],” says Anton Horvath, Whistler Blackcomb weather forecaster.
During warmer spells in the wintertime, the freezing level can become a huge factor in planning your ski day as it defines at what elevation on the mountains you will get rain or snow. For example, if the freezing level is at 1,850 metres, it will be snowing from the Roundhouse and Rendezvous lodges up throughout the alpine, but raining on the slopes below.
Thankfully, with so much alpine terrain, there’s almost always a stash of good snow somewhere at Whistler Blackcomb. Knowing the freezing level can really help narrow down your hunt for powder. For more weather information, read our full story on how Whistler Blackcomb creates its weather forecasts on page 28.