Skip to main content
Nakiska ski resort
Epic PassView resorts
Tier D — Late bloomer — aim Feb–Mar

📷 Nakiska

North America

Nakiska

Off-season

Last season ended April 19, 2026

Conditions data updated Fri, Aug 28, 10:04 AM UTC · informational only

Off-season — closed April 19

Weather data is still collected for informational purposes.

Last Snowfall

--

Past 24 Hours

0cm

Past 48 Hours

0cm

Past 10 Days

0cm

14-Day Forecast

1.8cm

Snow Depth

--

🎿

Powder Days

5

2026–27 season

Updated: Aug 28, 10:04 AM•Weather at base: 1525m

Overview

Nakiska is a ski resort in North America, Canada, currently closed for the season (Last season ended April 19, 2026). The 14-day ensemble forecast across seven weather models (ECMWF, GFS, GEM, JMA, ICON, Météo-France, Met Norway) calls for ~2 cm (0.8 in) of new snow. Conditions last updated 2026-08-28 10:04 UTC.

Resort Guide

Nakiska is a ski resort located in Kananaskis Country, Alberta, Canada, designed as the host site for alpine events during the 1988 Winter Olympics. The resort features over 1,000 acres of skiable terrain, modern lift infrastructure, and a focus on family-friendly experiences with extensive beginner and intermediate runs. Nakiska is known for its reliable snowmaking system, early season openings, and convenient access from Calgary, making it a popular choice for both locals and visitors seeking a relaxed, approachable mountain atmosphere. Key amenities include a day lodge, equipment rentals, ski school, and on-mountain dining options.

Resort Info

Summit2258m
Base1525m
Vertical733m
Lifts6
Runs71
Skiable Area1021 acres
Average snowfall100 inches / 254 cm
CountryCanada
Visit Resort Website →Follow on Instagram →View Trail Map →

Season dates

Last season endedApril 19, 2026
Projected openingNovember 7, 2026

Ski passes

Epic Pass

Epic Pass

View resorts →

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

Top Après Ski

Finish Line Lounge – Located at the base of Nakiska, the Finish Line Lounge is celebrated for its relaxed atmosphere, mountain views, and welcoming après-ski environment, making it a favorite spot for skiers to unwind with drinks and casual fare after a day on the slopes.

Snow Summary

2258mECMWF Model

Updated Aug 28, 2026 at 10:04 AM

0cm
24h
2cm
Past 10d
14-Day Forecast
0
Prev10d
—
Now28
—
S29
0.4
S30
—
M31
—
T1
—
W2
—
T3
Past
Today
Forecast

Snowfall Forecast Maps

Pacific Northwest & BC region

Current Conditions

Reported Fri, Aug 28, 10:04 AM UTC

Base

1525m

Temp

9.4°C

Wind

4km/h

Snow Depth

--

14-Day Forecast

0.1cm

Mid-Mountain

1892m

Temp

--°C

Wind

4km/h

Snow Depth

--

14-Day Forecast

1.8cm

Summit

2258m

Temp

4.7°C

Wind

4km/h

Snow Depth

--

14-Day Forecast

0.2cm

El Niño Outlook · Winter 2026-27

Nakiska El Niño rank & forecast

Nakiska ranks #305 of 488 SnowSure resorts — Tier D, −7% 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.

#305 of 488Tier D — Late bloomer — aim Feb–Mar

Strong-event signal: −7% vs this resort's 30-yr avg

In the three strongest El Niño winters on record ('97-98, '15-16, '23-24), Nakiska averaged -6% 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 -25%, '15-16 -15%, '23-24 +21%. A pattern, not a promise.

'97-98 −25%'15-16 −15%'23-24 +21%

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

Nakiska Webcams

All Webcams

Nakiska / RCR

Nakiska / RCR

Nakiska / RCR

Nakiska / RCR

Nakiska / RCR

Nakiska / RCR

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 Nakiska (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, 10:04 AM

Hourly Forecast Detail
 
Today
14 / 40.3mm
Sat, Aug 29
14 / 22.1mm
Sun, Aug 30
9 / 00.5cm9.9mm
Mon, Aug 31
14 / 1
Tue, Sep 1
18 / 2
Wed, Sep 2
14 / 52.1mm
PeriodAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNight
Snow (cm)0000000.40.10000000000
Precip (mm)00.20.1011.14.14.810000001.20.70.2
Temp (°C)71487135263414571787136
Wind (km/h)513525356561056104595
Gusts (km/h)254328122615222922233633314636233030

14-Day Snow Forecast by Model

Summit elevation (2258m)

ECMWF
0.4cm
GFS
0.2cm
GEM
0cm
JMA
6.7cm
ICON
0cm
Météo-Fr
0cm
SnowSure™
1.8cm

10-Day Forecast

Today

28

🌧️

14°

4°

14 km/h

Sat

29

🌧️

14.1°

1.6°

6 km/h

Sun

30

❄️

9°

0°

0.4cm

10 km/h

Mon

31

🌤️

14.3°

0.5°

12 km/h

Tue

1

☁️

17.6°

2°

11 km/h

Wed

2

🌧️

13.5°

4.5°

9 km/h

Thu

3

☁️

12.7°

2.1°

11 km/h

Fri

4

🌧️

11.6°

3.3°

10 km/h

Sat

5

🌧️

6.5°

3.1°

4 km/h

Sun

6

☁️

14°

0.9°

10 km/h

Summit elevation (2258m) • ECMWF model

Avalanche

No bulletin for this mountain

Avalanche Canada

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, 10:04 AM UTC

0cm

Season Total

This Season to Date

—

vs 5-Year Avg

Off-season · 126cm full-season avg

—

vs 30-Year Avg

Off-season · 147cm full-season avg

126cm

5-Yr Avg by Now

The last completed season totaled ~166.3 cm. That's 32% above the 5-year average (126 cm). Versus the 30-year baseline: 13% above the 30-year average (147 cm).

Nakiska Snow History

Average annual snowfall is 235cm with an average of 132 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
November26.8cm16 days22cm34cm7.6cm
December20.1cm16 days41cm52cm5.4cm
January18.9cm15 days54cm64cm5.5cm
February18.9cm14 days62cm73cm5.1cm
March31.4cm19 days70cm81cm6.7cm
April36cm17 days67cm81cm8.9cm
May32.9cm12 days30cm61cm10.1cm

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 7, 2026

Through Apr 19, 2027

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 Nakiska, ERA5 season snowfall median was 228 cm (90 in), about 1% 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

228 cm

10 El Niño winters · 1% below median

All-season median

231 cm

Across 30 ERA5 seasons (2026-27)

PhaseSeasonsMedianp25–p75Recent analogs
El Niñocurrent10228 cm212 cm – 240 cm2023, 2019, 2018, 2015, 2014, 2009
La Niña12221 cm198 cm – 244 cm2022, 2021, 2020, 2017, 2011, 2010
ENSO-neutral8255 cm239 cm – 277 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 Nakiska

Where is Nakiska?
Nakiska is a ski resort in Canada.
How high is Nakiska?
Nakiska runs from a base elevation of 1,525 m (5,003 ft) to a summit of 2,258 m (7,408 ft), giving a vertical drop of 733 m (2,405 ft).
How big is Nakiska?
Nakiska has 1,021 acres (413 hectares) of skiable terrain, 71 marked runs and 6 lifts.
Which ski pass covers Nakiska?
Nakiska is on the Epic Pass. 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 Nakiska?
Nakiska typically operates from November 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 Nakiska get in a typical season?
Nakiska averages 100 inches / 254 cm of snowfall in a typical season. Any individual season can run well above or below that.
How will El Niño affect Nakiska in winter 2026-27?
El Niño Signal Rank: #305 of 488 SnowSure resorts · Tier D · strong-event signal -6% vs its own 30-yr average. In the three strongest El Niño winters on record ('97-98, '15-16, '23-24), Nakiska averaged -6% 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 -25%, '15-16 -15%, '23-24 +21%. A pattern, not a promise.