El Niño Outlook · Winter 2026-27
Donner Ski Ranch El Niño rank & forecast
Donner Ski Ranch ranks #82 of 488 SnowSure resorts — Tier A, +10% 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).
#82 of 488Tier A — Prime El Niño terrain
Strong-event signal: +10% vs this resort's 30-yr avg
In the three strongest El Niño winters on record ('97-98, '15-16, '23-24), Donner Ski Ranch averaged +10% 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, Donner Ski Ranch sits on the favorable side of the ledger. Analog winters: '97-98 +28%, '15-16 -4%, '23-24 +4%. A pattern, not a promise.
'97-98 +28%'15-16 −4%'23-24 +4%
