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Lutsen ski resort
Indy PassBuy pass
Tier E — Deep timing play — aim late winter

📷 Lutsen

North America

Lutsen

Off-season

Closed for the season · reopens Nov 27

Conditions data updated Fri, Aug 28, 10:03 AM UTC · informational only

Off-season

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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Updated: Aug 28, 10:03 AM•Weather at base: 276m

Overview

Lutsen is a ski resort in North America, United States, currently closed for the season (Closed for the season · reopens Nov 27). Conditions last updated 2026-08-28 10:03 UTC.

Resort Guide

Lutsen Mountains is located on Minnesota’s North Shore of Lake Superior and is the largest ski resort in the Midwest, offering four interconnected mountains and over 1,000 acres of skiable terrain. The resort features a mix of beginner to expert runs, scenic gondola rides, and panoramic lake views, creating a relaxed yet adventurous atmosphere. Signature experiences include the Midwest’s only mountain gondola, terrain parks, and a variety of winter activities beyond skiing, such as snowshoeing and Nordic trails. Key amenities include on-mountain dining, ski-in/ski-out lodging, and a family-friendly environment.

Resort Info

Summit514m
Base276m
Vertical238m
Lifts7
Runs95
Skiable Area1000 acres
Average snowfall120 inches / 305 cm
CountryUnited States
Visit Resort Website →Follow on Instagram →View Trail Map →

Season dates

Projected openingNovember 27, 2026

Future dates are operator estimates and may change.

Ski passes

Indy Pass

Buy pass →

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

Top Après Ski

Papa Charlie’s Tavern & Stage – Renowned for its vibrant après-ski scene, Papa Charlie’s offers live music, craft beers, and a welcoming atmosphere, making it the go-to spot for skiers to unwind and enjoy entertainment after a day on the slopes.

Snow Summary

514mECMWF Model

Updated Aug 28, 2026 at 10:03 AM

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24h
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14-Day Forecast
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Prev10d
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Now28
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S29
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S30
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M31
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T3
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Today
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Snowfall Forecast Maps

Great Lakes & Midwest region

Current Conditions

Reported Fri, Aug 28, 10:03 AM UTC

Base

276m

Temp

11.6°C

Wind

4.3km/h

Snow Depth

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14-Day Forecast

0cm

Mid-Mountain

395m

Temp

--°C

Wind

5km/h

Snow Depth

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14-Day Forecast

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Summit

514m

Temp

10.1°C

Wind

4.3km/h

Snow Depth

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14-Day Forecast

0cm

El Niño Outlook · Winter 2026-27

Lutsen El Niño rank & forecast

Lutsen ranks #413 of 488 SnowSure resorts — Tier E, −16% 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.

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

Strong-event signal: −16% vs this resort's 30-yr avg

In the three strongest El Niño winters on record ('97-98, '15-16, '23-24), Lutsen averaged -16% 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 -27%, '15-16 +20%, '23-24 -40%. A pattern, not a promise.

'97-98 −27%'15-16 +20%'23-24 −40%

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

Lutsen Webcam

All Webcams

Lutsen Mountains / Roundshot

1 webcam • 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 Lutsen (rockies), 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 28, 10:03 AM

Hourly Forecast Detail
 
Today
20 / 10
Sat, Aug 29
21 / 12
Sun, Aug 30
22 / 150.9mm
Mon, Aug 31
27 / 173.9mm
Tue, Sep 1
28 / 17
Wed, Sep 2
25 / 15
PeriodAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNight
Snow (cm)000000000000000000
Precip (mm)00000000.30.62.40.41.1000000
Temp (°C)141913162115182217192619202719182418
Wind (km/h)4966959139914131114121069
Gusts (km/h)122614152611193219233230363931283126

14-Day Snow Forecast by Model

Summit elevation (514m)

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

28

☁️

19.6°

9.8°

10 km/h

Sat

29

☁️

21.3°

12.3°

9 km/h

Sun

30

🌧️

22.3°

15.2°

15 km/h

Mon

31

🌧️

27.3°

17°

16 km/h

Tue

1

☁️

27.6°

16.6°

15 km/h

Wed

2

☁️

24.8°

15.2°

13 km/h

Thu

3

⛅

21.1°

13.9°

11 km/h

Fri

4

☁️

21.6°

13.2°

11 km/h

Sat

5

⛈️

22.6°

13.9°

16 km/h

Sun

6

⛈️

25.3°

18.5°

13 km/h

Summit elevation (514m) • ECMWF model

Avalanche

No bulletin for this mountain

Avalanche.org (US avalanche centers)

This resort lies outside every forecast zone published by its national warning service, so no bulletin covers it.

Read the official bulletin ↗

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 Fri, Aug 28, 10:03 AM UTC

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Season Total

This Season to Date

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vs 5-Year Avg

Off-season · 145cm full-season avg

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vs 30-Year Avg

Off-season · 127cm full-season avg

145cm

5-Yr Avg by Now

The last completed season totaled ~139.2 cm. That's 4% below the 5-year average (145 cm). Versus the 30-year baseline: 10% above the 30-year average (127 cm).

Lutsen Snow History

Average annual snowfall is 137cm with an average of 79 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
November18.2cm11 days4cm11cm6.8cm
December29.5cm16 days17cm29cm9cm
January22cm15 days35cm44cm6.5cm
February19.7cm13 days43cm51cm6.3cm
March20.3cm11 days40cm50cm7.6cm
April22.3cm9 days25cm41cm8.6cm
May2.4cm2 days3cm16cm2.1cm

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 Nov 27, 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 Lutsen, ERA5 season snowfall median was 104 cm (41 in), about 18% below 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

104 cm

10 El Niño winters · 18% below median

All-season median

127 cm

Across 30 ERA5 seasons (2026-27)

PhaseSeasonsMedianp25–p75Recent analogs
El Niñocurrent10104 cm87 cm – 152 cm2023, 2019, 2018, 2015, 2014, 2009
La Niña12126 cm112 cm – 146 cm2022, 2021, 2020, 2017, 2011, 2010
ENSO-neutral8147 cm130 cm – 162 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 Lutsen

Where is Lutsen?
Lutsen is a ski resort in the United States.
How high is Lutsen?
Lutsen runs from a base elevation of 276 m (906 ft) to a summit of 514 m (1,686 ft), giving a vertical drop of 238 m (781 ft).
How big is Lutsen?
Lutsen has 1,000 acres (405 hectares) of skiable terrain, 95 marked runs and 7 lifts.
Which ski pass covers Lutsen?
Lutsen is on the Indy Pass. Access terms such as blackout dates and day limits vary by pass tier, so check the pass operator for the current season.
How much snow does Lutsen get in a typical season?
Lutsen averages 120 inches / 305 cm of snowfall in a typical season. Any individual season can run well above or below that.
How will El Niño affect Lutsen in winter 2026-27?
El Niño Signal Rank: #413 of 488 SnowSure resorts · Tier E · strong-event signal -16% vs its own 30-yr average. In the three strongest El Niño winters on record ('97-98, '15-16, '23-24), Lutsen averaged -16% 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 -27%, '15-16 +20%, '23-24 -40%. A pattern, not a promise.