Warm, wet weather forces Vancouver Island ski resorts to delay season openings

Vancouver Island’s two ski hills are postponing the start of their winter seasons, citing poor snow conditions after weeks of warm, wet weather along B.C.’s coast.

Mount Washington Alpine Resort announced it will not open its lifts this weekend as originally planned, despite ongoing snowmaking efforts. Resort officials say temperatures and precipitation have not aligned to produce enough usable snow.

“Despite our team’s best efforts — snowmaking whenever possible and working with every patch Mother Nature has given us — the weather just hasn’t co-operated,” the resort said in a social media update.

While lift operations are on hold, Mount Washington says it will still move ahead with some planned weekend activities and may be able to offer its “Learn Free Discovery Days” program if conditions allow. Guests are being advised to check the resort’s website for updates.

Farther north, Mount Cain Ski Area is facing similar challenges. The community-run hill had initially planned to open last weekend, pushed the date to this Saturday, and has now delayed again.

“We had high hopes,” said Mount Cain communications manager Lucas Smith. “We were hoping for a wetter and maybe cooler winter, but at the moment it just hasn’t materialized.”

Smith noted that December openings are often unpredictable, especially for coastal ski areas, and delays are not unusual.

The postponements come as much of B.C.’s South Coast has been hit by successive atmospheric rivers, bringing rain and mild temperatures rather than snow. Meteorologists say the broader winter outlook remains uncertain, with no clear indication yet of when sustained cold conditions may arrive.

For now, both ski resorts remain in a holding pattern, waiting for colder weather that could finally allow the season to begin.