Let’s be honest. This ski season felt more like a lukewarm cup of cocoa with some stale marshmallows floating around, than a steaming mug piled high with whipped cream and peppermint sprinkles.
After a winter that kept us checking forecasts with cautious optimism (and, occasionally, mild disbelief), it’s time to bid farewell to La Niña - the climate pattern that helped shape this year’s snow story across most of the ski resorts in the West.
A day on the mountain is still better than a day in the office. There were first tracks with good powder and bluebird sky days spent cruising perfectly groomed corduroy. And we still had our share of fun – parties and après and concerts at the base areas.
But, if we’re being honest, it wasn’t one of those winters where everyone walked away saying: “That was an all-time season!”
And that’s okay...because mountain winters rarely repeat themselves.
Much of our winter weather is influenced by a climate pattern in the Pacific Ocean called ENSO, better known as El Niño and La Niña.
Think of it as a giant atmospheric “see-saw” that shifts storm tracks across North America.
When La Niña is in control, Pacific Ocean temperatures are cooler than average. This typically pushes storm tracks farther north, often favoring the Pacific Northwest while leaving Colorado a bit drier than we’d like.
When El Niño shows up, warmer ocean temperatures shift the jet stream south, increasing the likelihood of more frequent, moisture-rich storms reaching the Rockies and boosting Colorado’s snow totals.
In other words, if La Niña keeps us guessing, El Niño tends to keep the snow reports coming.
Here’s the thing locals know: snow years swing.
Some winters are steady and deep. Some arrive late and finish strong. Others keep us guessing.
But one softer year doesn’t predict the next one. In fact, historically, Colorado has followed quieter winters with some truly legendary ones.
Long-range forecasts always come with a bit of fine print, but early signs point to a transition away from La Niña, with the potential for El Niño to take shape in the coming season. The shift alone is enough to spark cautious optimism.
So, as this season winds down and skis and snowboards are stored and bikes and paddleboards are dusted off, we keep our powder dreams alive because this past winter was like nothing we’d seen in recent memory…and Mother Nature appears to be prepping for an apology tour.
