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Purgatory Resort ski resort
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Tier C — ENSO-proof

📷 Purgatory Resort

North America

Purgatory Resort

Closed for the season

Season ended April 5, 2026 · reopens November 27, 2026

Conditions data updated Fri, Aug 28, 09:04 AM UTC · informational only

Closed for the season — closed April 5

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, 9:04 AM•Weather at base: 2743m

Overview

Purgatory Resort is a ski resort in North America, United States, currently closed for the season (Season ended April 5, 2026 · reopens November 27, 2026). Conditions last updated 2026-08-28 09:04 UTC.

Resort Guide

Purgatory Resort is located in the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado, just north of Durango. The resort features over 1,600 skiable acres, 105 trails, and a mix of terrain suitable for all abilities, with a reputation for family-friendly skiing and scenic alpine views. Signature experiences include snowcat skiing, terrain parks, and a vibrant base area with dining, lodging, and winter activities. Purgatory stands out for its laid-back atmosphere, diverse terrain, and convenient access to both adventure and amenities.

Resort Info

Summit3293m
Base2743m
Vertical550m
Lifts12
Runs107
Skiable Area1635 acres
Average snowfall260 inches / 660 cm
CountryUnited States
Visit Resort Website →Follow on Instagram →View Trail Map →

Season dates

Season endedApril 5, 2026 · reopens November 27, 2026
Projected openingNovember 27, 2026

Future dates are operator estimates and may change.

Ski passes

Power Pass

Buy pass →

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

Top Après Ski

Purgy’s Slopeside Restaurant & Bar – Known for its welcoming atmosphere and prime location at the base of the slopes, Purgy’s is the go-to après-ski spot at Purgatory Resort, offering craft cocktails, local brews, hearty fare, and frequent live music that draws both locals and visitors for post-ski relaxation and socializing.

Snow Summary

3293mECMWF Model

Updated Aug 28, 2026 at 9:04 AM

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24h
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Past 10d
14-Day Forecast
0
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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T1
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W2
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T3
Past
Today
Forecast

Snowfall Forecast Maps

Rockies & Southwest region

Current Conditions

Reported Fri, Aug 28, 09:04 AM UTC

Depth by source

every reading we have
  • SNOTELBase 0cm

The headline depth uses the most trusted available source. We show every reading so you can judge for yourself.

Base

2743m

Temp

8.4°C

Wind

4.8km/h

Snow Depth

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14-Day Forecast

0cm

Mid-Mountain

3018m

Temp

--°C

Wind

5km/h

Snow Depth

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14-Day Forecast

0cm

Summit

3293m

Temp

4.1°C

Wind

2.5km/h

Snow Depth

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14-Day Forecast

0cm

El Niño Outlook · Winter 2026-27

Purgatory Resort El Niño rank & forecast

Purgatory Resort ranks #194 of 488 SnowSure resorts — Tier C, +2% in strong El Niño winters.

Tier C — ENSO-proof: Strong El Niño winters looked like a normal year here — within about ±3% of this resort’s own 30-year snowfall average. Not a jackpot, not a bust: a hedge if you’re planning around El Niño.

#194 of 488Tier C — ENSO-proof

Strong-event signal: +2% vs this resort's 30-yr avg

In the three strongest El Niño winters on record ('97-98, '15-16, '23-24), Purgatory Resort averaged +2% versus its own 30-year snowfall baseline. El Niño has historically made little difference here — this is an ENSO-proof mountain, for winter 2026-27 as in past events. Analog winters: '97-98 +1%, '15-16 +13%, '23-24 -9%. A pattern, not a promise.

'97-98 +1%'15-16 +13%'23-24 −9%

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

Purgatory Resort Webcams

All Webcams

Purgatory Resort

Purgatory Resort

Purgatory Resort / Brownrice

3 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 Purgatory Resort (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, 9:04 AM

Hourly Forecast Detail
 
Today
18 / 40.6mm
Sat, Aug 29
15 / 83.6mm
Sun, Aug 30
17 / 62.1mm
Mon, Aug 31
14 / 410.8mm
Tue, Sep 1
15 / 20.6mm
Wed, Sep 2
14 / 43.3mm
PeriodAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNight
Snow (cm)000000000000000000
Precip (mm)00.50.10.82.30.50.60.70.83.44.430.20.400.42.70.2
Temp (°C)11178111499168612671469148
Wind (km/h)4103583514428241536153
Gusts (km/h)153815243620234321143727214231244032

14-Day Snow Forecast by Model

Summit elevation (3293m)

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

🌧️

17.7°

3.9°

11 km/h

Sat

29

🌧️

14.8°

7.5°

9 km/h

Sun

30

🌧️

16.6°

5.8°

15 km/h

Mon

31

🌧️

14.2°

4.1°

11 km/h

Tue

1

🌧️

14.9°

1.7°

16 km/h

Wed

2

🌧️

14°

4.2°

17 km/h

Thu

3

🌧️

16.7°

3.4°

11 km/h

Fri

4

🌧️

16.8°

6.2°

16 km/h

Sat

5

☀️

17.8°

6.7°

17 km/h

Sun

6

🌤️

18.3°

6.6°

16 km/h

Summit elevation (3293m) • ECMWF model

Avalanche

Off-season — no rating published

Colorado Avalanche Information Center

Watch for signs of unstable snow such as recent avalanches, cracking in the snow, and audible collapsing. Avoid traveling on or under similar slopes.

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.

Getting There

Drive times & access

Last updated 9:47 AM

1 sensor nearby

Official map ↗

Drive conditions

Quiet — No winter restrictions — typical off-season pavement

No chain controls or closures on the highways SnowSure watches near Purgatory Resort. Nearest roadside sensor (US 550 MP 070.65 NB : 0.2 miles N of CO 110 in Silverton, 23.2 km): Above freezing, air 5°C. Late-season / summer readings are not a winter forecast. The resort road status and the official DOT map are authoritative — re-check before you drive.

SnowSure take from the live sensors. Not the resort's road status.

Roadside weather sensors

US 550 MP 070.65 NB : 0.2 miles N of CO 110 in Silverton

23.2 km · CDOT

Above freezing

Air
5°C
Wind
4 km/h
Precip
no precipitation

Updated 9:47 AM

Live highway sensors & cameras within ~30–40 km, via CDOT. Conditions on the drive, not the mountain — the resort's own road status is authoritative. Always re-check before a winter drive.

Season vs Historic

Updated Fri, Aug 28, 09:04 AM UTC

0cm

Season Total

This Season to Date

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vs 5-Year Avg

Off-season · 244cm full-season avg

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vs 30-Year Avg

Off-season · 284cm full-season avg

244cm

5-Yr Avg by Now

The last completed season totaled ~163.5 cm. That's 33% below the 5-year average (244 cm). Versus the 30-year baseline: 42% below the 30-year average (284 cm).

Purgatory Resort Snow History

Average annual snowfall is 365cm with an average of 118 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
November38.6cm11 days17cm33cm12.7cm
December48.3cm15 days41cm62cm11.9cm
January49.4cm15 days63cm83cm11.9cm
February50.9cm16 days80cm101cm12cm
March52.9cm17 days91cm109cm11.1cm
April50cm16 days84cm101cm11.2cm
May28.2cm11 days48cm75cm8.1cm

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 Purgatory Resort, ERA5 season snowfall median was 384 cm (151 in), about 3% 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

384 cm

10 El Niño winters · 3% above median

All-season median

372 cm

Across 30 ERA5 seasons (2026-27)

PhaseSeasonsMedianp25–p75Recent analogs
El Niñocurrent10384 cm341 cm – 404 cm2023, 2019, 2018, 2015, 2014, 2009
La Niña12356 cm311 cm – 413 cm2022, 2021, 2020, 2017, 2011, 2010
ENSO-neutral8318 cm267 cm – 402 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 Purgatory Resort

Where is Purgatory Resort?
Purgatory Resort is a ski resort in the United States.
How high is Purgatory Resort?
Purgatory Resort runs from a base elevation of 2,743 m (8,999 ft) to a summit of 3,293 m (10,804 ft), giving a vertical drop of 550 m (1,804 ft).
How big is Purgatory Resort?
Purgatory Resort has 1,635 acres (662 hectares) of skiable terrain, 107 marked runs and 12 lifts.
Which ski pass covers Purgatory Resort?
Purgatory Resort is on the Power 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 Purgatory Resort?
Purgatory Resort 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 Purgatory Resort get in a typical season?
Purgatory Resort averages 260 inches / 660 cm of snowfall in a typical season. Any individual season can run well above or below that.
How will El Niño affect Purgatory Resort in winter 2026-27?
El Niño Signal Rank: #194 of 488 SnowSure resorts · Tier C · strong-event signal +2% vs its own 30-yr average. In the three strongest El Niño winters on record ('97-98, '15-16, '23-24), Purgatory Resort averaged +2% versus its own 30-year snowfall baseline. El Niño has historically made little difference here — this is an ENSO-proof mountain, for winter 2026-27 as in past events. Analog winters: '97-98 +1%, '15-16 +13%, '23-24 -9%. A pattern, not a promise.