What to Expect with an El Niño Winter

by Grace Reichard

With winter on the way, many are wondering what is in store for the upcoming ski and snowboard season.

This season will be a bit different than last year’s because of El Niño—a weather event that often makes winters in the Pacific Northwest warmer (El Niña, accordingly, makes winters colder).

During El Niño winters, trade winds die down, and warm water is pushed towards the West Coast. Because of this change, the northern U.S. and Canada are expected to be dryer and warmer than usual—not ideal conditions for skiing.

With such little snow this far into winter, we can already see how El Niño has been affecting the weather.

Comparatively, the east coast and Midwest can expect warmer temperatures but more snowfall—at least, more snowfall than we are expecting on this side of the Rocky Mountains. According to NOAA, there is 50-60% chance temperatures are going to be above average this winter, and a 40-50% chance that precipitation is below average.

Curiously, some sources like Powder.com are predicting “Cold and snowy” conditions this coming winter. Nonetheless, several local mountains have pushed their opening date back or have opened with limited lifts, displaying the early effects of an El Niño winter.

Happy skiing and snowboarding!