Super El Niño Boosts Forecast for Record Snowfall Across California and Nevada

OpenSnow released its 2026-2027 Winter Forecast Preview, projecting a markedly snowy season for California and Nevada as a super El Niño pattern takes shape. The model suggests that the Central Sierra will experience the greatest likelihood of snow totals far exceeding the norm, putting locations like Mammoth Mountain and China Peak in the forecast’s focal zone. Meanwhile, northern parts of the state and the Tahoe basin are anticipated to see above-average temperatures, though not to the extreme levels recorded last season.

Alan Smith, a meteorologist with OpenSnow, explained that the combination of historic strong El Niño winters, oceanic and atmospheric data, and climate models underpins the prediction, which also foresees heightened precipitation across the West Coast, Southwest, and beyond. Although strong El Niños do not guarantee record snow everywhere, the outlook positions the Southwest as a premier snow destination for the 2026-2027 season.