El Niño Outlook · Winter 2026-27
Arizona Snowbowl El Niño rank & forecast
Arizona Snowbowl ranks #22 of 488 SnowSure resorts — Tier A, +17% in strong El Niño winters.
Tier A — Prime El Niño terrain: Historically snowed much more than normal in strong El Niño winters (≥ +8% vs this resort’s own 30-year average).
Strong-event signal: +17% vs this resort's 30-yr avg
In the three strongest El Niño winters on record ('97-98, '15-16, '23-24), Arizona Snowbowl averaged +17% versus its own 30-year snowfall baseline. The pattern has historically been a friend here. With a record-strength event forecast for winter 2026-27, Arizona Snowbowl sits on the favorable side of the ledger. Analog winters: '97-98 +30%, '15-16 -25%, '23-24 +46%. A pattern, not a promise.






