Even when you're on a ski resort, there can still be weather conditions that you need to watch out and be prepared for. Here are some things to consider: 

Temperature

Extremely cold temperatures are often associated with hazards including frostbite or hypothermia. In addition, wind chill can make a temperature feel much colder than it actually is (due to the wind). At temperatures of about -10°C or below, make sure to bring additional layers, wear warm gloves or mittens as well as covering up your face and neck! You may also consider putting chemical warmers in your boots and gloves.

On the other hand, warm temperatures can result in dehydration, hyperthermia or heat stroke, even when surrounded by snow. You should be prepared to wear a minimal number of layers, preferably non-cotton materials as cotton holds moisture and can freeze if temperature drops or if you climb to an elevation where it's colder. If sunny conditions are expected, make sure to apply and reapply sunscreen with high SPF and to stay hydrated! Temperatures above 0°C or above can cause snow to melt which becomes a factor for avalanche danger.

It's important to check and monitor current and forecast temperatures for your ski day so that you can be prepared.

Visibility

Visibility is important to look out for when skiing. At a ski resort, there are markers, signs, and ropes to mark off boundaries, so that you will remain in a safe area. If you are unable to see these signs, it can lead to potential hazards.

Heavy snowfall reduces visibility by a lot for long periods of time. Blowing snow is another hazard in which snow that's falling and blowing gets lifted up from the ground due to the wind and starts moving around. If the wind is strong enough, visibility may be limited to only a few meters. As there is snowing blowing around, make sure to wear proper snow goggles.

Clouds also block visibility. If a cloud lowers to where you are on the hill, it becomes fog which limits your visibility severely. You also can't see mountain hazards and there have been unfortunate cases where people have walked off cliffs due to poor visibility. Flat light happens when sunlight is strongly diffused - due to clouds - which makes it difficult to see the texture of the snow and you may run into a mogul, cornice, or cat track without knowing, leading to potential falls. 

Finally, low visibility can potentially get your group separated which can become dangerous if someone gets injured or lost. 

Photo by: Natalie Yu

Snowpacks

A weakly-bonded snow layer within a snowpack tends to be lower density and be less cohesive. This means that the snowpack is more likely to collapse. If the snowpack is unstable or weak, it can be dangerous to ski in as they bring avalanche risks. 

Upside-down snow is higher-density snow that is overlying lower-density snow in a snowpack. This type of snow is difficult to ski in and your ski tips want to dive down under the snow, making it hard to keep your skis above the surface. Using fat skis will make it easier to ski in. Upside-down snow also brings avalanche risks as high-density snow overlying low-density snow is unstable. 

Avalanche

Avalanches are accumulations of snow that move down a mountain and if big enough, they are extremely dangerous and can kill people. There are 2 main things that make up an avalanche: a pre-existing weak layer and a trigger. The trigger can be from new snow or from a skier or snowboarder (who are adding weight to the snowpack). There are also 2 types of avalanche: loose-snow (or sluff) avalanche and slab avalanche.

Loose-snow/sluff avalanches are made up of surface and/or new-surface snow that is loosely-bonded. They often knock skiers off their feet and push them downhill. This can be dangerous if it carries them into trees, cliffs, or into a terrain trap. Loose-snow avalanches do not usually bury people but it is possible for them to do so.

Slab avalanches, however, are larger, more destructive, and are more likely to bury a person. This type of avalanche occurs when a layer beneath the surface collapses and all the cohesive layers above, break and slide downhill.

As avalanches are so dangerous, it is important to check avalanche and snow conditions for your location to check if it is safe to ski!