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Bansko ski resort
Tier E — Deep timing play — aim late winter

📷 Bansko

Europe

Bansko

Closed for the season

Season ended April 12, 2026

Conditions data updated Sat, Aug 29, 01:02 PM UTC · informational only

Closed for the season — closed April 12

Weather data is still collected for informational purposes.

Last Snowfall

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Past 24 Hours

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Past 48 Hours

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Past 10 Days

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14-Day Forecast

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Snow Depth

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🎿

Powder Days

5

2026–27 season

Updated: Aug 29, 1:02 PM•Weather at base: 990m

Overview

Bansko is a ski resort in Europe, Bulgaria, currently closed for the season (Season ended April 12, 2026). Conditions last updated 2026-08-29 13:02 UTC.

Resort Guide

Bansko is a prominent ski resort located in southwestern Bulgaria at the foot of the Pirin Mountains, offering over 70 kilometers of marked ski runs suitable for all levels. The resort features modern lift infrastructure, a lively après-ski scene, and a blend of traditional town charm with contemporary amenities. Signature experiences include extensive snowmaking, a long ski season, and access to cultural attractions in the historic town of Bansko. The resort stands out for its combination of affordable skiing, scenic alpine landscapes, and vibrant local culture.

Resort Info

Summit2560m
Base990m
Vertical1570m
Lifts18
Runs18
Skiable Area1495 acres
Average snowfall59 inches / 150 cm
CountryBulgaria
Visit Resort Website →Follow on Instagram →

Season dates

Season endedApril 12, 2026
Projected openingDecember 7, 2026

Future dates are operator estimates and may change.

Ski passes

No ski pass found

Access tiers change by season — confirm benefits on the pass operator's site.

Top Après Ski

Happy End – A legendary après-ski bar at the base of the gondola, Happy End is renowned for its energetic live music, DJ parties, and spacious dance floor, making it the go-to spot for lively post-ski celebrations in Bansko.

Snow Summary

2560mECMWF Model

Updated Aug 29, 2026 at 1:02 PM

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24h
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Past 10d
14-Day Forecast
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Prev10d
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Now29
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S30
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M31
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T1
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W2
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T3
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F4
Past
Today
Forecast

Snowfall Forecast Maps

Balkans region

Current Conditions

Reported Sat, Aug 29, 01:02 PM UTC

Base

990m

Temp

26.6°C

Wind

9.1km/h

Snow Depth

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14-Day Forecast

0cm

Mid-Mountain

1775m

Temp

--°C

Wind

10km/h

Snow Depth

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14-Day Forecast

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Summit

2560m

Temp

16.4°C

Wind

9.1km/h

Snow Depth

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14-Day Forecast

0cm

El Niño Outlook · Winter 2026-27

Bansko El Niño rank & forecast

Bansko ranks #450 of 488 SnowSure resorts — Tier E, −21% in strong El Niño winters.

Tier E — Deep timing play — aim late winter: Strong El Niño winters ran clearly below this resort’s own baseline (≤ −8%). Still skiable — schedule late season; one storm cycle can beat the climatology.

#450 of 488Tier E — Deep timing play — aim late winter

Strong-event signal: −21% vs this resort's 30-yr avg

In the three strongest El Niño winters on record ('97-98, '15-16, '23-24), Bansko averaged -21% versus its own 30-year snowfall baseline. Historically this is a timing play rather than a reason to stay home: aim for late winter (February–March) in winter 2026-27. Analog winters: '97-98 -21%, '15-16 -56%, '23-24 +16%. A pattern, not a promise.

'97-98 −21%'15-16 −56%'23-24 +16%

Signal = average snowfall in the three strongest El Niño winters since 1996 ('97-98, '15-16, '23-24) vs this resort's own 30-year ERA5 baseline. n=3 — a lean, not a law. Updated monthly against measured snowfall Dec–Mar.

Full El Niño report →

Live Conditions

Bansko Webcams

All Webcams

Resort Webcam

Resort Webcam

Resort Webcam

Resort Webcam

Resort Webcam

Resort Webcam

6 webcams • Click to expand

Local Reports

0 reports
SnowSure™ Forecast Range

Daily Snowfall Forecast by Model

Black line = verified SnowSure™ blend (not a simple average). Weights update weekly from measured snowfall at SNOTEL stations and resort reports.

SnowSure™ blend — verified model weighting

The black line is not a simple average. For Bansko (alps), we combine seven global weather models using weights learned from daily forecast verification — comparing each model's prediction to measured snowfall (SNOTEL, resort reports, ERA5).

  • 1.Horizon buckets: days 1–3, 4–7, and 8–14 each get separate weights — short-range skill differs from long-range.
  • 2.Regional calibration: weights come from verified error in this geography (Rockies, Alps, Japan, etc.), recalculated weekly.
  • 3.Ground truth only: we never grade a forecast against another model — only against measured snow.

Building verification history for this resort.

How we verify forecasts →

Hourly Forecast Detail

AM / PM / Night breakdown with wind and freezing level

NWP models refresh up to 4× daily · Last synced Aug 29, 1:02 PM

Hourly Forecast Detail
 
Today
17 / 71.2mm
Sun, Aug 30
15 / 85.4mm
Mon, Aug 31
15 / 81.2mm
Tue, Sep 1
16 / 72.1mm
Wed, Sep 2
15 / 92.1mm
Thu, Sep 3
11 / 612.3mm
PeriodAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNight
Snow (cm)000000000000000000
Precip (mm)010.20.83.11.500.70.50.21.50.40.31.10.74.95.22.2
Temp (°C)1117101115101115101115101215109108
Wind (km/h)493332141342242223
Gusts (km/h)323726192115132110141912132118132318

14-Day Snow Forecast by Model

Summit elevation (2560m)

ECMWF
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GFS
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GEM
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JMA
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ICON
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Météo-Fr
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SnowSure™
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10-Day Forecast

Today

29

🌧️

17.3°

7.4°

10 km/h

Sun

30

🌧️

15.3°

8.4°

5 km/h

Mon

31

🌧️

14.9°

7.5°

5 km/h

Tue

1

🌧️

16°

7.3°

4 km/h

Wed

2

🌧️

15.2°

9°

4 km/h

Thu

3

🌦️

10.5°

5.7°

6 km/h

Fri

4

⛅

13.2°

3.1°

10 km/h

Sat

5

☀️

16.2°

5.9°

8 km/h

Sun

6

☀️

18.2°

8.9°

3 km/h

Mon

7

☀️

19.5°

10.2°

4 km/h

Summit elevation (2560m) • ECMWF model

Avalanche

No bulletin for this mountain

No official warning service is mapped for this resort’s country yet (v1 covers the United States, Canada and Switzerland). A bulletin may still be published locally.

SnowSure relays the official avalanche bulletin and does not issue avalanche forecasts. Read the full bulletin at the issuer’s link and make your own terrain decisions. Not a substitute for avalanche education, equipment, or local knowledge.

Season vs Historic

Updated Sat, Aug 29, 01:02 PM UTC

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Season Total

This Season to Date

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vs 5-Year Avg

Off-season · 269cm full-season avg

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vs 30-Year Avg

Off-season · 212cm full-season avg

269cm

5-Yr Avg by Now

The last completed season totaled ~274.4 cm. That's near the 5-year average (269 cm). Versus the 30-year baseline: 29% above the 30-year average (212 cm).

Bansko Snow History

Average annual snowfall is 231cm with an average of 68 snowfall days per season. The table below shows monthly averages across 30 seasons of archive data (modeled snowpack at mid-elevation).

Average monthly snowfall history
MonthAvg SnowfallSnowfall DaysAvg Base DepthMax Base DepthBiggest Snowfall
November17.8cm6 days2cm11cm10cm
December45cm12 days12cm27cm14.3cm
January50.5cm13 days27cm44cm16cm
February44.4cm13 days39cm55cm12.5cm
March43.6cm13 days34cm51cm13cm
April21.5cm8 days11cm28cm8.4cm
May2.1cm1 days0cm10cm3.2cm

Source: SnowSure archive · Open-Meteo ERA5 reanalysis at mid-elevation. Depth is modeled, not resort-reported.

Season at a Glance

Next season(2026-27)

Opens Dec 7, 2026

Multi-season averages will appear once SnowSure has tracked more than one full season.

ENSO seasonal analog

History · not a forecast

In 10 past El Niño winters at Bansko, ERA5 season snowfall median was 222 cm (87 in), about 11% above this resort’s long-term median. This is a historical analog from reanalysis — not a prediction of this winter’s storm track.

Prevailing ONI

El Niño

MJJ 2026 · ANOM +1.39°C

Analog season median

222 cm

10 El Niño winters · 11% above median

All-season median

200 cm

Across 30 ERA5 seasons (2026-27)

PhaseSeasonsMedianp25–p75Recent analogs
El Niñocurrent10222 cm179 cm – 265 cm2023, 2019, 2018, 2015, 2014, 2009
La Niña12201 cm163 cm – 368 cm2022, 2021, 2020, 2017, 2011, 2010
ENSO-neutral8184 cm162 cm – 225 cm2025, 2024, 2016, 2013, 2012, 2003

Season snowfall from Open-Meteo ERA5 reanalysis (~9 km). ENSO phase from NOAA CPC Oceanic Niño Index. Relative phase differences are more trustworthy than absolute cm totals. Source: NOAA CPC Oceanic Niño Index + Open-Meteo ERA5 via SnowSure season archive.

Best Months to Visit

February

Peak Season

January

Peak Season

March

Good

December

Good

Note: Based on typical ski season patterns for this region.

Back to All Destinations

Frequently asked questions about Bansko

Where is Bansko?
Bansko is a ski resort in Bulgaria.
How high is Bansko?
Bansko runs from a base elevation of 990 m (3,248 ft) to a summit of 2,560 m (8,399 ft), giving a vertical drop of 1,570 m (5,151 ft).
How big is Bansko?
Bansko has 1,495 acres (605 hectares) of skiable terrain, 18 marked runs and 18 lifts.
Which ski pass covers Bansko?
Bansko is on the No ski pass found. Access terms such as blackout dates and day limits vary by pass tier, so check the pass operator for the current season.
When is ski season at Bansko?
Bansko typically operates from December to April. Exact opening and closing dates shift each year with snowfall — check the resort's current season dates before booking.
How much snow does Bansko get in a typical season?
Bansko averages 59 inches / 150 cm of snowfall in a typical season. Any individual season can run well above or below that.
How will El Niño affect Bansko in winter 2026-27?
El Niño Signal Rank: #450 of 488 SnowSure resorts · Tier E · strong-event signal -21% vs its own 30-yr average. In the three strongest El Niño winters on record ('97-98, '15-16, '23-24), Bansko averaged -21% versus its own 30-year snowfall baseline. Historically this is a timing play rather than a reason to stay home: aim for late winter (February–March) in winter 2026-27. Analog winters: '97-98 -21%, '15-16 -56%, '23-24 +16%. A pattern, not a promise.