{"id":2183919,"date":"2026-10-07T15:41:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-07T12:41:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2183919"},"modified":"2026-10-07T15:41:00","modified_gmt":"2026-10-07T12:41:00","slug":"accuweather-el-nino-snow-forecast-atmospheric-rivers-could-drop-feet-of-snow-on-californias-mountains","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2183919","title":{"rendered":"AccuWeather El Ni\u00f1o Snow Forecast: Atmospheric Rivers Could Drop Feet of Snow on California\u2019s Mountains"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<figure id=\"attachment_430012\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-430012\" style=\"width: 1280px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-430012 lazyload\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAoAAAAFoAQMAAAD9\/NgSAAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAADJJREFUeNrtwQENAAAAwqD3T+3sARQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN3HoAAEwzlS7AAAAAElFTkSuQmCC\" alt=\"AccuWeather Winter 2026-27 El Ni\u00f1o Snow Forecast\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/El-Nino-Winter-forecast.jpg?resize=640%2C360&amp;ssl=1\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/El-Nino-Winter-forecast.jpg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/El-Nino-Winter-forecast.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/El-Nino-Winter-forecast.jpg?resize=1200%2C675&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/El-Nino-Winter-forecast.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w\" data-max-width=\"640\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-eio-rwidth=\"640\" data-eio-rheight=\"360\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-430012\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/El-Nino-Winter-forecast.jpg?resize=640%2C360&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"AccuWeather Winter 2026-27 El Ni\u00f1o Snow Forecast\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" data-eio=\"l\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-430012\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">El Ni\u00f1o Winter forecast for the 2026-27 ski season. | Image: AccuWeather<\/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><a href=\"https:\/\/www.accuweather.com\/en\/winter-weather\/winter-forecast-2026-2027-el-nino-to-reshape-snow-cold-in-us\/1940765\">AccuWeather<\/a>\u2018s El Ni\u00f1o snow forecast calls for an early start to the snow season across the Sierra Nevada, Great Basin, and central and southern Rockies in 2026-27.<\/strong> A potentially record-setting El Ni\u00f1o is expected to shape the winter, and the outlook points to a very different winter from last year.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Related: <em><a href=\"https:\/\/snowbrains.com\/old-farmers-almanac-winter-forecast-ski-states\/?_rt=MXwxfGFsbWFuYWN8MTc5MTM4NzQyNQ&amp;_rt_nonce=28f8162a2668aa17a51bf713e190704b636c898210a509a935856ff90026e2d4\" rel=\"bookmark\">Old Farmer\u2019s Almanac Winter Forecast Reveals 2026-27\u2019s Snowiest States<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u201cThis has the potential to be the strongest El Ni\u00f1o on record,\u201d AccuWeather Long-Range Expert Paul Pastelok said.<\/strong> He said it is almost certain to surpass the events of 1982-83 and 1997-98.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Related: <em><a href=\"https:\/\/snowbrains.com\/farmers-almanac-winter-2026-27-forecast-prepare-for-a-winter-of-snow\/?_rt=MnwxfGFsbWFuYWN8MTc5MTM4NzQyNQ&amp;_rt_nonce=17323016f5566edca0345c60aa96e9beb4e3d2aa4878028ecddd46579323c267\" rel=\"bookmark\">Farmers\u2019 Almanac Winter 2026-27 Forecast: Prepare for a Winter of Snow<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>What El Ni\u00f1o Means for Snow<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>El Ni\u00f1o typically strengthens the southern storm track, which favors more precipitation from California through the Gulf Coast.<\/strong> Farther north, warmer-than-average conditions are common, with fewer Arctic air intrusions.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Related: <em><a href=\"https:\/\/snowbrains.com\/el-nino-2026-27-ski-forecast\/?_rt=MXwxfGVsIG5pw7FvfDE3OTEzODc0Mzc&amp;_rt_nonce=3725b615cfca74eaa231a5256ef89b44a6593bb305e624db507ebae49ff9b3da\" rel=\"bookmark\">El Ni\u00f1o 2026-27 Ski Forecast September Update: Colorado Gets an Early-Season Upgrade and California Holds Its Ground<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>The pattern can shift during the season.<\/strong> Other factors can temporarily change storm tracks and bring cold snaps to areas forecast to run warm.<\/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 class=\"sb-trending-label\">Trending on SnowBrains<\/span>\n        <\/div>\n<ol class=\"sb-trending-list\">\n<li class=\"sb-trending-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/snowbrains.com\/mountain-capital-partners-to-offer-9-lift-tickets-at-all-nine-u-s-ski-resorts\/?utm_source=trending_widget&amp;utm_medium=internal&amp;utm_campaign=trending\" class=\"sb-trending-link\" data-trending-title=\"$9 Tickets at All Nine MCP Resorts This Season\" data-trending-position=\"1\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"sb-trending-thumb\">\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAFAAAABAAQMAAAC3CWJ1AAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAAA9JREFUKM9jYBgFo2DoAgACwAABuG9msgAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==\" alt=\"$9 Tickets at All Nine MCP Resorts This Season\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"80\" height=\"64\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/IMG_4799-e1791270231659.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\/10\/IMG_4799-e1791270231659.jpeg?resize=200%2C125&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"$9 Tickets at All Nine MCP Resorts This Season\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"80\" height=\"64\" data-eio=\"l\">\n                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"sb-trending-text\">\n                        <span class=\"sb-trending-num\">1<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"sb-trending-right\">\n                            <span class=\"sb-trending-title\">$9 Tickets at All Nine MCP Resorts This Season<span class=\"sb-trending-arrow\"> \u2192<\/span><\/span>\n                        <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li class=\"sb-trending-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/snowbrains.com\/el-nino-snow-forecast-2026-27\/?utm_source=trending_widget&amp;utm_medium=internal&amp;utm_campaign=trending\" class=\"sb-trending-link\" data-trending-title=\"El Ni\u00f1o Snow Forecast 2026-27: Early Snow in the West\" data-trending-position=\"2\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"sb-trending-thumb\">\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAFAAAABAAQMAAAC3CWJ1AAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAAA9JREFUKM9jYBgFo2DoAgACwAABuG9msgAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==\" alt=\"El Ni\u00f1o Snow Forecast 2026-27: Early Snow in the West\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"80\" height=\"64\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/El-Nino-Winter-forecast.jpg?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\/10\/El-Nino-Winter-forecast.jpg?resize=200%2C125&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"El Ni\u00f1o Snow Forecast 2026-27: Early Snow in the West\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"80\" height=\"64\" data-eio=\"l\">\n                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"sb-trending-text\">\n                        <span class=\"sb-trending-num\">2<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"sb-trending-right\">\n                            <span class=\"sb-trending-title\">El Ni\u00f1o Snow Forecast 2026-27: Early Snow in the West<span class=\"sb-trending-arrow\"> \u2192<\/span><\/span>\n                        <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li class=\"sb-trending-item\">\n              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src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Sander-Hadley-Corbets-Couloir.jpg?resize=200%2C125&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"World&apos;s Hardest In-Bounds Ski Runs, According to Readers\" 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\">World&#8217;s Hardest In-Bounds Ski Runs, According to Readers<span class=\"sb-trending-arrow\"> \u2192<\/span><\/span>\n                        <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li class=\"sb-trending-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/snowbrains.com\/tips-tricks-to-make-most-of-for-skiing-in-your-retirement\/?utm_source=trending_widget&amp;utm_medium=internal&amp;utm_campaign=trending\" class=\"sb-trending-link\" data-trending-title=\"Tips for Skiing in Your Retirement\" data-trending-position=\"4\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"sb-trending-thumb\">\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAFAAAABAAQMAAAC3CWJ1AAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAAA9JREFUKM9jYBgFo2DoAgACwAABuG9msgAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==\" alt=\"Tips for Skiing in Your Retirement\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"80\" height=\"64\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/IMG_3875.jpg?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\/06\/IMG_3875.jpg?resize=200%2C125&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"Tips for Skiing in Your Retirement\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"80\" height=\"64\" data-eio=\"l\">\n                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"sb-trending-text\">\n                        <span class=\"sb-trending-num\">4<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"sb-trending-right\">\n                            <span class=\"sb-trending-title\">Tips for Skiing in Your Retirement<span class=\"sb-trending-arrow\"> \u2192<\/span><\/span>\n                        <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li class=\"sb-trending-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/snowbrains.com\/massive-rockfall-tears-loose-from-tofana-di-dentro-in-the-italian-dolomites\/?utm_source=trending_widget&amp;utm_medium=internal&amp;utm_campaign=trending\" class=\"sb-trending-link\" data-trending-title=\"Massive Rockfall at Tofana die Dentro in the Dolomites\" data-trending-position=\"5\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"sb-trending-thumb\">\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAFAAAABAAQMAAAC3CWJ1AAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAAA9JREFUKM9jYBgFo2DoAgACwAABuG9msgAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==\" alt=\"Massive Rockfall at Tofana die Dentro in the Dolomites\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"80\" height=\"64\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/IMG_4796.webp?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\/10\/IMG_4796.webp?resize=200%2C125&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"Massive Rockfall at Tofana die Dentro in the Dolomites\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"80\" height=\"64\" data-eio=\"l\">\n                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"sb-trending-text\">\n                        <span class=\"sb-trending-num\">5<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"sb-trending-right\">\n                            <span class=\"sb-trending-title\">Massive Rockfall at Tofana die Dentro in the Dolomites<span class=\"sb-trending-arrow\"> \u2192<\/span><\/span>\n                        <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>                <\/a>\n            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src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAoAAAAFoAQMAAAD9\/NgSAAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAADJJREFUeNrtwQENAAAAwqD3T+3sARQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN3HoAAEwzlS7AAAAAElFTkSuQmCC\" alt=\"AccuWeather Winter 2026-27 El Ni\u00f1o Snow Forecast\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Snow-forecast-winter-2026-2027.jpg?resize=640%2C360&amp;ssl=1\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Snow-forecast-winter-2026-2027.jpg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Snow-forecast-winter-2026-2027.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Snow-forecast-winter-2026-2027.jpg?resize=1200%2C675&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Snow-forecast-winter-2026-2027.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w\" data-max-width=\"640\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-eio-rwidth=\"640\" data-eio-rheight=\"360\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-430011\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Snow-forecast-winter-2026-2027.jpg?resize=640%2C360&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"AccuWeather Winter 2026-27 El Ni\u00f1o Snow Forecast\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" data-eio=\"l\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-430011\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Snow forecast winter 2026-27. | Image: AccuWeather<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3><strong>El Ni\u00f1o Snow Forecast for the Rockies and Great Basin<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Forecasters expect a parade of storms, including several atmospheric rivers, to move in from the Pacific Ocean.<\/strong> California is the main target. The storm focus may start across Central and Northern California, then shift south toward the Los Angeles and San Diego areas as winter goes on.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u201cThe southern storm track is generally stronger, more active and can produce flooding rain, landslides and heavy mountain snow for parts of the nation,\u201d AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Chad Merrill said.<\/strong> Individual storms could drop feet of snow in the mountains. Lower elevations face flooding, landslides, high winds and coastal erosion.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The snow season should also start early across the Great Basin and the central and southern Rockies.<\/strong> That would help ski resorts after a poor season last winter. By February, the Four Corners region is forecast to run cooler than average with above-average precipitation.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Salt Lake City measured only 3.7 inches of snow last winter, <a href=\"https:\/\/snowbrains.com\/winter-collapsed-colorado-and-utah-just-logged-their-worst-snowpack-ever\/?_rt=MXwxfHV0YWggY29sb3JhZG8gd29yc3R8MTc5MTM4NzUxNA&amp;_rt_nonce=42300aff0b812494b32c712dc7d7000988aef5a24865e9b55df44cb55be41c7d\">its least snowy season since records began in the 1880s<\/a>.<\/strong> AccuWeather forecasts 50 to 65 inches this winter, slightly above the historical average.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Colorado River Basin Still Needs Several Wet Winters<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>The extra snow would be welcome in the Colorado River Basin.<\/strong> The Bureau of Reclamation said the basin recorded its lowest snowpack on record last winter. Combined water storage in Lake Powell and Lake Mead fell below levels seen before Lake Powell began filling in 1963. Several wet winters would be needed to refill the reservoirs.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>El Ni\u00f1o Snow Forecast for the Northeast and Midwest<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>The Northwest is forecast to see below-average snow.<\/strong> Snowy periods may be interrupted by long dry stretches because the main Pacific storm track often focuses farther south. Shifts in the West Coast storm track could still send occasional storms into the Pacific Northwest and northern Rockies.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_430009\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-430009\" style=\"width: 1280px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-430009 lazyload\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAoAAAAFoAQMAAAD9\/NgSAAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAADJJREFUeNrtwQENAAAAwqD3T+3sARQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN3HoAAEwzlS7AAAAAElFTkSuQmCC\" alt width=\"640\" height=\"360\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Temperature-forecast-winter-2026-2027.jpg?resize=640%2C360&amp;ssl=1\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Temperature-forecast-winter-2026-2027.jpg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Temperature-forecast-winter-2026-2027.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Temperature-forecast-winter-2026-2027.jpg?resize=1200%2C675&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Temperature-forecast-winter-2026-2027.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w\" data-max-width=\"640\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-eio-rwidth=\"640\" data-eio-rheight=\"360\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-430009\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Temperature-forecast-winter-2026-2027.jpg?resize=640%2C360&amp;ssl=1\" alt width=\"640\" height=\"360\" data-eio=\"l\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-430009\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Temperature forecast winter 2026-27. | Image: AccuWeather<\/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>Plains, Midwest and East<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>The southern storm track will leave many parts of the Plains without snow early in the season.<\/strong> The pattern is expected to change in January and February, giving the Plains more chances for snow. The Southeast and southern Appalachians also have opportunities for snow.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Much of the Northeast and Midwest is forecast to receive less-than-average snow.<\/strong> The southern Appalachians and northern New England have a better chance of finishing near or above average. Boston recorded 62.8 inches last winter and is forecast to receive 15 to 30 inches.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Great Lakes Face a Slow Start<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Lake-effect snow may be less frequent around the Great Lakes early in winter because of the lack of Arctic outbreaks.<\/strong> December is expected to start warm across the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes, with temperatures forecast to run above normal for the season.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>El Ni\u00f1o Snow Forecast Leaves Room for a Big East Coast Storm<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>A below-average forecast does not rule out a big storm in the East.<\/strong> \u201cIt only takes one storm to flip the script, especially for the East Coast cities,\u201d Pastelok said. Forecasters will watch late January and February most closely. They are also monitoring water temperatures in Baffin Bay, west of Greenland. Little sea ice there could open the door to bigger East Coast storms.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>One Wild Card for California<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Unusually warm Pacific water stretches from southeast of Hawaii toward Baja California and Southern California.<\/strong> The warmth could alter the path of Pacific storms. A similar setup in 2015-16 produced a drier California than a strong El Ni\u00f1o typically brings, with more precipitation farther north.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Meteorological winter begins December 1.<\/strong> Astronomical winter starts with the solstice at 3:50 p.m. ET on December 21.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_430008\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-430008\" style=\"width: 1280px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-430008 lazyload\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAoAAAAFoAQMAAAD9\/NgSAAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAADJJREFUeNrtwQENAAAAwqD3T+3sARQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN3HoAAEwzlS7AAAAAElFTkSuQmCC\" alt=\"AccuWeather Winter 2026-27 El Ni\u00f1o Snow Forecast\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Winter-transition.jpg?resize=640%2C360&amp;ssl=1\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Winter-transition.jpg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Winter-transition.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Winter-transition.jpg?resize=1200%2C675&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Winter-transition.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w\" data-max-width=\"640\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-eio-rwidth=\"640\" data-eio-rheight=\"360\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-430008\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Winter-transition.jpg?resize=640%2C360&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"AccuWeather Winter 2026-27 El Ni\u00f1o Snow Forecast\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" data-eio=\"l\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-430008\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Winter transition in to ski season. | Image: AccuWeather<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><!-- CONTENT END 1 -->\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>El Ni\u00f1o Winter forecast for the 2026-27 ski season. | Image: AccuWeather AccuWeather\u2018s El Ni\u00f1o snow forecast calls for an early start to the snow season across the Sierra Nevada, Great Basin, and central and southern Rockies in 2026-27. A potentially record-setting El Ni\u00f1o is expected to shape the winter, and the outlook points to [&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-2183919","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\/2183919","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=2183919"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2183919\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2183919"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2183919"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2183919"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}