El Niño Outlook · Winter 2026-27
Mt. Hood Meadows El Niño rank & forecast
Mt. Hood Meadows ranks #323 of 488 SnowSure resorts — Tier D, −8% in strong El Niño winters.
Tier D — Late bloomer — aim Feb–Mar: Often a bit lighter early (−3% to −8% vs normal). History favors waiting for peak-depth months (often Feb–Mar) rather than skipping the resort.
Strong-event signal: −8% vs this resort's 30-yr avg
In the three strongest El Niño winters on record ('97-98, '15-16, '23-24), Mt. Hood Meadows averaged -8% versus its own 30-year snowfall baseline. Not a warning — a scheduling note. El Niño winters here tend to start slower and reward the late-winter core, when the base peaks and the El Niño headlines have pushed the crowds elsewhere. Aim February–March for winter 2026-27. Analog winters: '97-98 -40%, '15-16 -35%, '23-24 +52%.
