Photo: Big White

Sunny skies at Big White Thursday.

More lifts are spinning at Big White Thursday, following the season's early start last week.

For the first time this season, the Bullet Express Quad chair is running at Big White, opening 14 more green and blue runs.

Kelowna's local ski resort opened a week earlier than planned this year after significant snow fell in early November, with the Ridge Rocket and Plaza chairs opening on Nov. 17.

About 25 cm more snow fell earlier this week, which has allowed for more lifts to open. As of Thursday, the resort has an alpine snow base of 80 cm. To date, 141 cm has fallen at the resort this season.

The good news will keep coming for skiers and riders, with the Black Forest chair scheduled to open on Friday.

Light snow is expected to fall on the mountain Friday, with some more significant accumulation in the forecast for Saturday and Sunday.