Skiing Above The Clouds

The weather in the Canadian Rockies can be quite unpredictable, making skiing and riding at Sunshine Village a one-of-a-kind experience with unique weather wonders.

One moment you’re carving up a perfect blue bird day at Banff Sunshine and the next minute, a rush of Canada’a Best Snow hits the slopes. Prepare for all kinds of conditions during your visit at one of our retail stores at the resort.

It might sound bizarre, but in the Canadian Rockies, there's a weather phenomenon called a cloud inversion that makes your ski adventure an unforgettable experience.

Typically, as you ascend a mountain while skiing, temperatures drop due to the change in altitude.

But in some circumstances, the weather at the top of the chair lift can be warmer than when you get on at the bottom. This is due to a cloud inversion.

In this weather phenomenon, as clouds roll into valleys or lower altitudes, the warm air settles above the cloud, and cooler air traps beneath the cloud. Warmer air settles on top of cooler air, just like a cozy blanket on a bed - keeping it closer to the ground and making higher altitudes surprisingly warmer than the valleys below.

The cloud acts like a lid, preventing the warmer air from rising further and keeping it closer to the ground.

The Rockies' weather patterns, tall peaks and valleys are the perfect recipe for cloud inversions. Plus, they look pretty cool, making for the perfect picturesque moment during your ski day at Banff Sunshine!

Experience the thrill of skiing in warmer temperatures as you ascend, witnessing breathtaking views that seem straight out of a dream – a must see phenomenon for the naked eye!

Next time you’re skiing Sunshine, ride Angel Express or Divide Express, turn around to look at the Monarchs and try to spot a cloud inversion in the Valley!

Keep warm on cooler days by lapping Teepee Town on Canada’s only heated chair lift and warm up during your ski break with a bowl of ramen from Sunshine's newest restaurant – Nikko Ramen!