Following the recent release of Open Snow’s long-range winter forecast, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has issued its own outlook for the 2025-’26 ski season.
NOAA anticipates a neutral winter pattern, a scenario that aligns closely with one of two possibilities presented by Open Snow last month. The projections from both organizations are largely similar, though with a few key differences.
According to NOAA’s forecast, the northern Rockies are expected to receive higher-than-average precipitation this winter, pointing to a promising season for resorts like Big Sky, Whitefish, Jackson Hole, and Grand Targhee, along with ski areas in eastern Idaho. The Midwest and Great Lakes regions are also favored for above-average snowfall, which would benefit skiers at Boyne, Crystal Mountain, Mt. Bohemia, and resorts in Ohio.
In contrast, NOAA predicts an average winter for New England, including Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire. This differs slightly from Open Snow’s neutral forecast, which suggests the storm track benefiting the Rockies and Midwest could also extend into northern New England, bringing potentially higher snow totals to that area.
Both NOAA and Open Snow are forecasting a drier-than-average winter for the Tahoe region, Arizona, New Mexico, and the southern portions of Colorado and Utah. Meanwhile, central and northern Colorado and Utah are expected to experience average snowfall according to both outlooks.
While long-range forecasts are subject to change and should not be considered definitive, they offer an early glimpse into potential weather patterns as skiers look ahead to the coming season.
Source link
