{"id":2093377,"date":"2026-08-14T14:39:53","date_gmt":"2026-08-14T11:39:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2093377"},"modified":"2026-08-14T14:39:53","modified_gmt":"2026-08-14T11:39:53","slug":"the-el-nino-ski-season-2026-27-could-be-the-biggest-in-decades","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2093377","title":{"rendered":"The El Ni\u00f1o Ski Season 2026-27 Could Be the Biggest in Decades"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<figure id=\"attachment_420397\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-420397\" style=\"width: 1880px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-420397 lazyload\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAoAAAAFKAQMAAAC3mHwvAAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAADFJREFUeNrtwTEBAAAAwqD1T20ND6AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAgF8DaGoAAXuur9YAAAAASUVORK5CYII=\" alt=\"Average relative sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies (\u00b0C) for July 2026.Anomalies are computed with respect to the 1991-2020 base period monthly means. Data: OISSTv2.1.\" width=\"640\" height=\"330\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SCR-20260814-njhy.png?resize=640%2C330&amp;ssl=1\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SCR-20260814-njhy.png?w=1880&amp;ssl=1 1880w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SCR-20260814-njhy.png?resize=300%2C155&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SCR-20260814-njhy.png?resize=1200%2C619&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SCR-20260814-njhy.png?resize=768%2C396&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SCR-20260814-njhy.png?resize=1536%2C793&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SCR-20260814-njhy.png?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-eio-rwidth=\"640\" data-eio-rheight=\"330\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-420397\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SCR-20260814-njhy.png?resize=640%2C330&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"Average relative sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies (\u00b0C) for July 2026.Anomalies are computed with respect to the 1991-2020 base period monthly means. Data: OISSTv2.1.\" width=\"640\" height=\"330\" data-eio=\"l\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-420397\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Figure 1. Average relative sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies (\u00b0C) for July 2026. Anomalies are computed with respect to the 1991-2020 base period monthly means. Data: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov\/products\/analysis_monitoring\/enso_update\/Monthly_RelSSTA_map-hr.png\">OISSTv2.1<\/a>. | Image: NOAA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-1\" style=\"margin: 8px auto;text-align: center;display: block;clear: both\">\n<!-- GAM 71161633\/SNWBR_snowbrains\/article_hrec_1 --><\/p>\n<div data-fuse=\"article_hrec_1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>The El Ni\u00f1o ski season 2026-27 is shaping up to be historic, with a powerful <a href=\"https:\/\/snowbrains.com\/noaa-enso-blog-how-does-el-nino-influence-snowfall-over-the-united-states\/\">El Ni\u00f1o<\/a> is building rapidly in the Pacific Ocean. <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/snowbrains.com\/category\/weather\/\">Forecasters<\/a> now believe it has a real chance of becoming one of the strongest events ever recorded.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Related: <em><a href=\"https:\/\/snowbrains.com\/noaa-enso-blog-how-does-el-nino-influence-snowfall-over-the-united-states\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">How Does El Ni\u00f1o Influence Snowfall Over the United States?<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>The Climate Prediction Center, part of NOAA, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov\/products\/analysis_monitoring\/enso_advisory\/ensodisc.pdf\">released its latest ENSO update on August 13<\/a>, and the report describes an El Ni\u00f1o that is intensifying faster than many expected just a month ago.<\/strong> Sea surface temperatures in the key Ni\u00f1o-3.4 region reached 1.4 degrees Celsius above normal in July, while the water below the surface has warmed even more dramatically, with anomalies reaching 10 degrees Celsius at depth in the eastern Pacific, a sign of just how much heat has built up beneath the ocean\u2019s surface.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Forecasters now give this event a greater than 90% chance of reaching \u201cvery strong\u201d status by the time fall and winter arrive, and there\u2019s a 69% chance it becomes the strongest El Ni\u00f1o since record-keeping began in 1950.<\/strong> The pattern is expected to peak sometime between October and December before gradually weakening through the early spring months.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Related: <em><a href=\"https:\/\/snowbrains.com\/el-nino-2026-27-ski-forecast\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">El Ni\u00f1o 2026-27 Is Accelerating. NOAA\u2019s July Ski Forecast Has New Winners and Clearer Losers<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"attachment_420396\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-420396\" style=\"width: 1418px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-420396 lazyload\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAoAAAALMAQMAAABOmZF3AAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAAE9JREFUeNrtwQENAAAAwqD3T20PBxQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAwI8B4owAAVx53msAAAAASUVORK5CYII=\" alt=\"Time series of area-averaged relative sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies (\u00b0C) inthe Ni\u00f1o regions [Ni\u00f1o-4 (5\u00baN-5\u00baS, 160\u00baE-150\u00baW), Ni\u00f1o-3.4 (5\u00b0N-5\u00b0S, 170\u00b0W-120\u00b0W), Ni\u00f1o-3 (5\u00b0N-5\u00b0S, 150\u00b0W-90\u00b0W), Ni\u00f1o-1+2 (0\u00b0-10\u00b0S, 90\u00b0W-80\u00b0W) minus tropical mean (20\u00b0N-20\u00b0S). The relative indices are re-scaled to match the variance of traditional indices. Anomalies are departures from the 1991-2020 base period monthly means. Data: OISSTv2.1\" width=\"640\" height=\"716\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SCR-20260814-njkn.png?resize=640%2C716&amp;ssl=1\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SCR-20260814-njkn.png?w=1418&amp;ssl=1 1418w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SCR-20260814-njkn.png?resize=268%2C300&amp;ssl=1 268w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SCR-20260814-njkn.png?resize=1073%2C1200&amp;ssl=1 1073w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SCR-20260814-njkn.png?resize=768%2C859&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SCR-20260814-njkn.png?resize=1373%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1373w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SCR-20260814-njkn.png?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-eio-rwidth=\"640\" data-eio-rheight=\"716\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-420396\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SCR-20260814-njkn.png?resize=640%2C716&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"Time series of area-averaged relative sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies (\u00b0C) inthe Ni\u00f1o regions [Ni\u00f1o-4 (5\u00baN-5\u00baS, 160\u00baE-150\u00baW), Ni\u00f1o-3.4 (5\u00b0N-5\u00b0S, 170\u00b0W-120\u00b0W), Ni\u00f1o-3 (5\u00b0N-5\u00b0S, 150\u00b0W-90\u00b0W), Ni\u00f1o-1+2 (0\u00b0-10\u00b0S, 90\u00b0W-80\u00b0W) minus tropical mean (20\u00b0N-20\u00b0S). The relative indices are re-scaled to match the variance of traditional indices. Anomalies are departures from the 1991-2020 base period monthly means. Data: OISSTv2.1\" width=\"640\" height=\"716\" data-eio=\"l\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-420396\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Figure 2. Time series of area-averaged relative sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies (\u00b0C) in the Ni\u00f1o regions [Ni\u00f1o-4 (5\u00baN-5\u00baS, 160\u00baE-150\u00baW), Ni\u00f1o-3.4 (5\u00b0N-5\u00b0S, 170\u00b0W-120\u00b0W), Ni\u00f1o-3 (5\u00b0N-5\u00b0S, 150\u00b0W-90\u00b0W), Ni\u00f1o-1+2 (0\u00b0-10\u00b0S, 90\u00b0W-80\u00b0W) minus tropical mean (20\u00b0N-20\u00b0S). The relative indices are re-scaled to match the variance of traditional indices. Anomalies are departures from the 1991-2020 base period monthly means. Data: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov\/products\/analysis_monitoring\/enso_update\/rel_nino_month-hr.png\">OISSTv2.1<\/a> | Image: NOAA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3><strong>What El Ni\u00f1o Does to Weather<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>El Ni\u00f1o forms when unusually warm water spreads across the equatorial Pacific, and that warmth reshapes the jet stream, the fast-moving river of air high in the atmosphere that steers storms across North America.<\/strong> During El Ni\u00f1o winters, that jet stream typically dips farther south than usual, which tends to mean more storms and more snow, for the southern half of the ski map, while the northern half often gets left comparatively dry.<\/p>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-15\" style=\"margin: 8px auto;text-align: center;display: block;clear: both\">\n<div class=\"sb-trending-widget\">\n<div class=\"sb-trending-header\">\n            <span class=\"sb-trending-icon\">\ud83d\udd25<\/span><br \/>\n            <span 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Switzerland\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"80\" height=\"64\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Screenshot-2026-08-13-at-21.43.20.jpeg?resize=200%2C125&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"lazyload\" data-eio-rwidth=\"80\" data-eio-rheight=\"64\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Screenshot-2026-08-13-at-21.43.20.jpeg?resize=200%2C125&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"Tourists Ignore No Access Signs at Grindelwald, Switzerland\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"80\" height=\"64\" data-eio=\"l\">\n                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"sb-trending-text\">\n                        <span class=\"sb-trending-num\">3<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"sb-trending-right\">\n                            <span class=\"sb-trending-title\">Tourists Ignore No Access Signs at Grindelwald, Switzerland<span class=\"sb-trending-arrow\"> \u2192<\/span><\/span>\n                        <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>                <\/a>\n            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.sb-trending-icon {<br \/>\n        font-size: 18px;<br \/>\n        line-height: 1;<br \/>\n        flex-shrink: 0;<br \/>\n    }<br \/>\n    .sb-trending-label {<br \/>\n        font-size: 15px;<br \/>\n        font-weight: 700;<br \/>\n        color: #1a1a1a;<br \/>\n        line-height: 1.3;<br \/>\n        text-transform: uppercase;<br \/>\n        letter-spacing: 0.04em;<br \/>\n    }<br \/>\n    .sb-trending-list {<br \/>\n        list-style: none;<br \/>\n        margin: 0;<br \/>\n        padding: 0;<br \/>\n    }<br \/>\n    .sb-trending-item {<br \/>\n        border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e8e8;<br \/>\n        padding: 9px 0;<br \/>\n        border-radius: 3px;<br \/>\n        transition: background 0.1s;<br \/>\n    }<br \/>\n    .sb-trending-item:last-child {<br \/>\n        border-bottom: none;<br \/>\n        padding-bottom: 4px;<br \/>\n    }<br \/>\n    .sb-trending-item:active {<br \/>\n        background: #fef0f2;<br \/>\n    }<br \/>\n    .sb-trending-link {<br \/>\n        display: flex;<br \/>\n        align-items: center;<br \/>\n        gap: 10px;<br \/>\n        text-decoration: none;<br \/>\n        color: inherit;<br \/>\n        padding: 2px 4px;<br \/>\n    }<br \/>\n    .sb-trending-thumb {<br \/>\n        flex-shrink: 0;<br \/>\n    }<br \/>\n    .sb-trending-thumb img {<br \/>\n        display: block;<br \/>\n        width: 80px;<br \/>\n        height: 64px;<br \/>\n        object-fit: cover;<br \/>\n        border-radius: 3px;<br \/>\n    }<br \/>\n    .sb-trending-text {<br \/>\n        display: flex;<br \/>\n        align-items: center;<br \/>\n        gap: 8px;<br \/>\n        flex: 1;<br \/>\n        min-width: 0;<br \/>\n    }<br \/>\n    .sb-trending-num {<br \/>\n        font-size: 22px;<br \/>\n        font-weight: 700;<br \/>\n        color: #ea2e49;<br \/>\n        line-height: 1;<br \/>\n        min-width: 22px;<br \/>\n        flex-shrink: 0;<br \/>\n    }<br \/>\n    .sb-trending-right {<br \/>\n        flex: 1;<br \/>\n        min-width: 0;<br \/>\n    }<br \/>\n    .sb-trending-title {<br \/>\n        font-size: 14px;<br \/>\n        font-weight: 500;<br \/>\n        color: #1a1a1a;<br \/>\n        line-height: 1.45;<br \/>\n        text-align: left;<br \/>\n        transition: color 0.15s;<br \/>\n        display: inline;<br \/>\n    }<br \/>\n    .sb-trending-arrow {<br \/>\n        font-size: 14px;<br \/>\n        color: #ea2e49;<br \/>\n        font-weight: 700;<br \/>\n        white-space: nowrap;<br \/>\n        display: inline;<br \/>\n    }<br \/>\n    .sb-trending-link:hover .sb-trending-title {<br \/>\n        color: #ea2e49;<br \/>\n    }<br \/>\n    .sb-trending-link:active .sb-trending-title {<br \/>\n        color: #ea2e49;<br \/>\n    }<\/p><\/div>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Related: <em><a href=\"https:\/\/snowbrains.com\/opensnow-predicts-record-super-el-nino-winter-with-massive-southwest-powder-potential-and-high-temperature-risk\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">OpenSnow Predicts Record \u201cSuper El Ni\u00f1o\u201d Winter with Massive Southwest Powder Potential and High Temperature Risk<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>None of this guarantees a specific outcome at any single resort, since local terrain, elevation, and short-term weather patterns still matter enormously.<\/strong> But it does tilt the broader odds in a fairly predictable direction, one that skiers and snowboarders have seen play out in past El Ni\u00f1o winters.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_420400\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-420400\" style=\"width: 1402px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-420400 lazyload\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAoAAAAE5AQMAAAA6LgNAAAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAAC9JREFUeNrtwTEBAAAAwqD1T20JT6AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADgYGMJAAFrCXg5AAAAAElFTkSuQmCC\" alt=\"Figure 3. Area-averaged upper-ocean (0-300m) temperature anomaly (\u00b0C) in the equatorialPacific (5\u00b0N-5\u00b0S, 180\u00ba-100\u00baW). The temperature anomaly is computed as the departure from the 1991-2020 base period pentad means. Data: GODAS\" width=\"640\" height=\"313\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SCR-20260814-nlpx.png?resize=640%2C313&amp;ssl=1\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SCR-20260814-nlpx.png?w=1402&amp;ssl=1 1402w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SCR-20260814-nlpx.png?resize=300%2C147&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SCR-20260814-nlpx.png?resize=1200%2C587&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SCR-20260814-nlpx.png?resize=768%2C376&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SCR-20260814-nlpx.png?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-eio-rwidth=\"640\" data-eio-rheight=\"313\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-420400\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SCR-20260814-nlpx.png?resize=640%2C313&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"Figure 3. Area-averaged upper-ocean (0-300m) temperature anomaly (\u00b0C) in the equatorialPacific (5\u00b0N-5\u00b0S, 180\u00ba-100\u00baW). The temperature anomaly is computed as the departure from the 1991-2020 base period pentad means. Data: GODAS\" width=\"640\" height=\"313\" data-eio=\"l\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-420400\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Figure 3. Area-averaged upper-ocean (0-300m) temperature anomaly (\u00b0C) in the equatorial Pacific (5\u00b0N-5\u00b0S, 180\u00ba-100\u00baW). The temperature anomaly is computed as the departure from the 1991-2020 base period pentad means. Data: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov\/products\/analysis_monitoring\/enso_update\/heat-last-year-hr.png\">GODAS<\/a> | Image: NOAA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-2\" style=\"margin: 8px auto;text-align: center;display: block;clear: both\">\n<!-- GAM 71161633\/SNWBR_snowbrains\/article_hrec_2 --><\/p>\n<div data-fuse=\"article_hrec_2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3><strong>Where the El Ni\u00f1o Ski Season 2026-27 Delivers the Most Snow<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Early outlooks favor above-normal snowfall across California, Arizona, New Mexico, and southern Colorado this season, and forecasters see a real possibility that Utah could benefit too, particularly during storms that track through the Great Basin on their way east.<\/strong> A strengthening El Ni\u00f1o raises the odds of active storm cycles across those states, along with possible benefits for Utah when storms track through the Great Basin.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Related: <em><a href=\"https:\/\/snowbrains.com\/what-causes-el-nino\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">What Actually Causes El Ni\u00f1o \u2014 And Why It Changes Winter Everywhere<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"attachment_420399\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-420399\" style=\"width: 1418px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-420399 lazyload\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAoAAAAEyAQMAAABQ6fODAAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAAC9JREFUeNrtwTEBAAAAwqD1T+1vBqAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADeAGDSAAHBTjzQAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC\" alt=\"Figure 4. Depth-longitude section of equatorial Pacific upper-ocean (0-300m) temperatureanomalies (\u00b0C) centered on the pentad of 4 August 2026. Anomalies are departures from the 1991-2020 base period pentad means. Data: GODAS\" width=\"640\" height=\"306\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SCR-20260814-nlrm.png?resize=640%2C306&amp;ssl=1\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SCR-20260814-nlrm.png?w=1418&amp;ssl=1 1418w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SCR-20260814-nlrm.png?resize=300%2C143&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SCR-20260814-nlrm.png?resize=1200%2C574&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SCR-20260814-nlrm.png?resize=768%2C367&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SCR-20260814-nlrm.png?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-eio-rwidth=\"640\" data-eio-rheight=\"306\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-420399\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SCR-20260814-nlrm.png?resize=640%2C306&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"Figure 4. Depth-longitude section of equatorial Pacific upper-ocean (0-300m) temperatureanomalies (\u00b0C) centered on the pentad of 4 August 2026. Anomalies are departures from the 1991-2020 base period pentad means. Data: GODAS\" width=\"640\" height=\"306\" data-eio=\"l\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-420399\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Figure 4. Depth-longitude section of equatorial Pacific upper-ocean (0-300m) temperature anomalies (\u00b0C) centered on the pentad of 4 August 2026. Anomalies are departures from the 1991-2020 base period pentad means. Data: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov\/products\/analysis_monitoring\/enso_update\/zlon_last-hr.png\">GODAS<\/a> | Image: NOAA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Colorado\u2019s southern mountains, in particular, look well-positioned heading into the season.<\/strong> The San Juan range, home to Wolf Creek, Telluride, and Silverton, sits in the zone most likely to benefit from this pattern.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_420398\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-420398\" style=\"width: 1448px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-420398 lazyload\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAoAAAAEfAQMAAADr2+VrAAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAAC1JREFUeNrtwYEAAAAAw6D5U5\/gBlUBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAwDVazwABaEUZ0AAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==\" alt=\"Figure 5. Average outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) anomalies (W\/m2) for the period 14 July\u2013 8 August 2026. OLR anomalies are computed as departures from the 1991-2020 base period pentad means. Data: CBOv1\" width=\"640\" height=\"287\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SCR-20260814-nlss.png?resize=640%2C287&amp;ssl=1\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SCR-20260814-nlss.png?w=1448&amp;ssl=1 1448w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SCR-20260814-nlss.png?resize=300%2C135&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SCR-20260814-nlss.png?resize=1200%2C539&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SCR-20260814-nlss.png?resize=768%2C345&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SCR-20260814-nlss.png?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-eio-rwidth=\"640\" data-eio-rheight=\"287\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-420398\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SCR-20260814-nlss.png?resize=640%2C287&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"Figure 5. Average outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) anomalies (W\/m2) for the period 14 July\u2013 8 August 2026. OLR anomalies are computed as departures from the 1991-2020 base period pentad means. Data: CBOv1\" width=\"640\" height=\"287\" data-eio=\"l\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-420398\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Figure 5. Average outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) anomalies (W\/m2) for the period 14 July \u2013 8 August 2026. OLR anomalies are computed as departures from the 1991-2020 base period pentad means. Data: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov\/products\/analysis_monitoring\/enso_update\/olra_last30days-hr.png\">CBOv1<\/a> | Image: NOAA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-3\" style=\"margin: 8px auto;text-align: center;display: block;clear: both\">\n<!-- GAM 71161633\/SNWBR_snowbrains\/article_hrec_4 --><\/p>\n<div data-fuse=\"article_hrec_4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3><strong>Losers: The Pacific Northwest and Northern Rockies<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>The picture looks considerably tougher farther north, where a warmer and less reliable pattern appears increasingly likely to define the season.<\/strong> Skiers and snowboarders across Idaho, Oregon, and Washington should plan for a warmer, drier, and more variable season, with El Ni\u00f1o pushing the odds away from deep midwinter powder. The Northern Rockies face a similar risk, since El Ni\u00f1o tends to pull the jet stream toward the southern U.S. and away from the north, leaving fewer storms to reach those mountains.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Why the El Ni\u00f1o Ski Season 2026-27 Runs Warm in the Northwest<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Warmth, more than a simple lack of moisture, appears to be the bigger threat in some of these areas.<\/strong> Even where overall snowfall totals hold up reasonably well, forecasters expect more precipitation to fall as rain rather than snow at lower and mid elevations, especially across Washington and Montana, which could undercut base depths even in years with decent storm activity.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_420395\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-420395\" style=\"width: 1384px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-420395 lazyload\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAoAAAAG+AQMAAAA5mycgAAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAADlJREFUeNrtwQENAAAAwqD3T+3sARQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAwA2NHgABrnk1cgAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==\" alt=\"Figure 6. Official ENSO outlook (\u00b0C) for the Ni\u00f1o-3.4 relative sea surface temperature index\" width=\"640\" height=\"446\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SCR-20260814-nkcb.png?resize=640%2C446&amp;ssl=1\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SCR-20260814-nkcb.png?w=1384&amp;ssl=1 1384w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SCR-20260814-nkcb.png?resize=300%2C209&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SCR-20260814-nkcb.png?resize=1200%2C836&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SCR-20260814-nkcb.png?resize=768%2C535&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SCR-20260814-nkcb.png?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-eio-rwidth=\"640\" data-eio-rheight=\"446\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-420395\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SCR-20260814-nkcb.png?resize=640%2C446&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"Figure 6. Official ENSO outlook (\u00b0C) for the Ni\u00f1o-3.4 relative sea surface temperature index\" width=\"640\" height=\"446\" data-eio=\"l\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-420395\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Figure 6. Official ENSO outlook (\u00b0C) for the Ni\u00f1o-3.4 relative sea surface temperature index (5\u00b0N-5\u00b0S, 170\u00b0W -120\u00b0W) minus tropical mean (20\u00b0N-20\u00b0S). The relative index is re-scaled to match the variance of the traditional index. Figure updated 13 August 2026. | Image: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov\/products\/analysis_monitoring\/enso\/roni\/outlook\/\">NOAA<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3><strong>The Northeast: No Clear Signal<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>New England skiers shouldn\u2019t expect much useful guidance from El Ni\u00f1o this time around, at least not compared with what the pattern offers forecasters trying to read the West.<\/strong> The outlook for that region remains fairly neutral, without a strong signal pointing toward either a wetter or drier storm track than usual. That leaves the Northeast largely dependent on shorter-range forecasting once the season actually begins, rather than on the broader seasonal signal El Ni\u00f1o provides elsewhere.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>How the El Ni\u00f1o Ski Season 2026-27 Compares to Japan\u2019s Snow Window<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>One detail may work in favor of Western resorts relative to some popular international destinations.<\/strong> Japan\u2019s ski season depends heavily on a fairly narrow climatological window, typically running from mid-December through mid-February, during which the overwhelming majority of its snow tends to fall, with totals dropping off substantially before and after that stretch. The western United States doesn\u2019t operate under quite the same constraints, since big, season-defining storms there can still arrive as late as March or even early April, giving Rocky Mountain and Sierra resorts a longer runway to make up ground even if December and January turn out leaner than hoped.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_420394\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-420394\" style=\"width: 1432px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-420394 lazyload\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAoAAAAF7AQMAAAB4vqgnAAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAADRJREFUeNrtwQEBAAAAgiD\/r25IQAEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAwLUBd+sAASKF95sAAAAASUVORK5CYII=\" alt=\"Figure 7. Official ENSO probabilities for the Ni\u00f1o-3.4 relative sea surface temperature index\" width=\"640\" height=\"379\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SCR-20260814-nkdj.png?resize=640%2C379&amp;ssl=1\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SCR-20260814-nkdj.png?w=1432&amp;ssl=1 1432w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SCR-20260814-nkdj.png?resize=300%2C178&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SCR-20260814-nkdj.png?resize=1200%2C711&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SCR-20260814-nkdj.png?resize=768%2C455&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SCR-20260814-nkdj.png?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-eio-rwidth=\"640\" data-eio-rheight=\"379\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-420394\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SCR-20260814-nkdj.png?resize=640%2C379&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"Figure 7. Official ENSO probabilities for the Ni\u00f1o-3.4 relative sea surface temperature index\" width=\"640\" height=\"379\" data-eio=\"l\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-420394\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Figure 7. Official ENSO probabilities for the Ni\u00f1o-3.4 relative sea surface temperature index (5\u00b0N-5\u00b0S, 170\u00b0W -120\u00b0W) minus tropical mean (20\u00b0N-20\u00b0S). The relative index is re-scaled to match the variance of the traditional index. Figure updated 13 August 2026. | Image: <a href=\"https:\/\/cpc.ncep.noaa.gov\/products\/analysis_monitoring\/enso\/roni\/probabilities\/\">NOAA<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3><strong>What to Watch Next<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>NOAA updates its outlook every month, and the next ENSO Diagnostic Discussion is scheduled for release on September 10.<\/strong> Skiers hoping to track how the season is developing, region by region, should keep an eye on the Ni\u00f1o-3.4 index itself along with the CPC\u2019s evolving seasonal outlook maps, which together tend to offer the clearest available read on where the odds are shifting as the calendar moves toward opening day.<\/p>\n<p><strong>For now, the message for skiers and riders is fairly straightforward, even if the details will keep sharpening in the months ahead:<\/strong> the Southwest and southern Rockies have genuine reason for optimism, the Pacific Northwest and northern Rockies face a considerably harder road, and most everywhere else sits somewhere in between. Nothing about this winter is locked in yet, and El Ni\u00f1o, however historic it may turn out to be, only sets the odds. It doesn\u2019t decide the outcome.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_420393\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-420393\" style=\"width: 1428px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-420393 lazyload\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAoAAAAF1AQMAAABCtMlXAAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAADRJREFUeNrtwYEAAAAAw6D5U5\/gBlUBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHANdgUAAf6\/ZkoAAAAASUVORK5CYII=\" alt=\"Figure 8. ENSO strength probabilities for the Ni\u00f1o-3.4 relative sea surface temperature index(5\u00b0N-5\u00b0S, 170\u00b0W-120\u00b0W) minus tropical mean (20\u00b0N-20\u00b0S). The relative index is re-scaled to match the variance of the traditional index. Figure updated 13 August 2026.\" width=\"640\" height=\"373\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SCR-20260814-nkff.png?resize=640%2C373&amp;ssl=1\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SCR-20260814-nkff.png?w=1428&amp;ssl=1 1428w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SCR-20260814-nkff.png?resize=300%2C175&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SCR-20260814-nkff.png?resize=1200%2C699&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SCR-20260814-nkff.png?resize=768%2C447&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SCR-20260814-nkff.png?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-eio-rwidth=\"640\" data-eio-rheight=\"373\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-420393\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SCR-20260814-nkff.png?resize=640%2C373&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"Figure 8. ENSO strength probabilities for the Ni\u00f1o-3.4 relative sea surface temperature index(5\u00b0N-5\u00b0S, 170\u00b0W-120\u00b0W) minus tropical mean (20\u00b0N-20\u00b0S). The relative index is re-scaled to match the variance of the traditional index. Figure updated 13 August 2026.\" width=\"640\" height=\"373\" data-eio=\"l\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-420393\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Figure 8. ENSO strength probabilities for the Ni\u00f1o-3.4 relative sea surface temperature index (5\u00b0N-5\u00b0S, 170\u00b0W-120\u00b0W) minus tropical mean (20\u00b0N-20\u00b0S). The relative index is re-scaled to match the variance of the traditional index. Figure updated 13 August 2026. | Image: <a href=\"https:\/\/cpc.ncep.noaa.gov\/products\/analysis_monitoring\/enso\/roni\/strengths\/\">NOAA<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><!-- CONTENT END 1 -->\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Figure 1. Average relative sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies (\u00b0C) for July 2026. Anomalies are computed with respect to the 1991-2020 base period monthly means. Data: OISSTv2.1. | Image: NOAA The El Ni\u00f1o ski season 2026-27 is shaping up to be historic, with a powerful El Ni\u00f1o is building rapidly in the Pacific Ocean. Forecasters [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,267],"class_list":["post-2093377","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-snowbrains-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2093377","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2093377"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2093377\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2093377"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2093377"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2093377"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}