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Vail ski resort

Part of Vail Valley · 2 ski areas

Beaver Creek
View all Vail Valley conditions →
Epic PassView resorts
Tier C — ENSO-proof

📷 Vail

North America

Vail

Closed for the season

Season ended April 19, 2026 · reopens November 13, 2026

Conditions data updated Fri, Aug 28, 10:01 AM UTC · informational only

Closed for the season — closed April 19

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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🎿

Powder Days

6

2026–27 season

Updated: Aug 28, 10:01 AM•Weather at base: 2475m

Overview

Vail is a ski resort in North America, United States, currently closed for the season (Season ended April 19, 2026 · reopens November 13, 2026). Conditions last updated 2026-08-28 10:01 UTC.

Resort Guide

Vail is a premier ski resort located in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, offering over 5,300 acres of skiable terrain across seven legendary back bowls and a vibrant alpine village atmosphere. The resort features a diverse range of trails for all abilities, world-class grooming, and signature experiences such as the expansive Blue Sky Basin. Guests enjoy modern amenities including luxury accommodations, fine dining, and a comprehensive ski school, making Vail notable for its blend of vast terrain, upscale services, and lively après-ski scene.

Resort Info

Summit3527m
Base2475m
Vertical1052m
Lifts32
Runs195
Skiable Area5317 acres
Average snowfall354 inches / 899 cm
CountryUnited States
Visit Resort Website →Follow on Instagram →View Trail Map →

Season dates

Season endedApril 19, 2026 · reopens November 13, 2026
Projected openingNovember 13, 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

Garfinkel’s – A Vail institution, Garfinkel’s is celebrated for its spacious deck overlooking the slopes, relaxed atmosphere, and lively après-ski scene featuring hearty pub fare, local beers, and a welcoming crowd of skiers and snowboarders.

Snow Summary

3527mECMWF Model

Updated Aug 28, 2026 at 10:01 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, 10:01 AM UTC

Depth by source

every reading we have
  • SNOTELSummit 3cm

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

Base

2475m

Temp

12.2°C

Wind

4km/h

Snow Depth

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14-Day Forecast

0cm

Mid-Mountain

3001m

Temp

8.7°C

Wind

4km/h

Snow Depth

--

14-Day Forecast

0cm

Summit

3527m

Temp

5.3°C

Wind

4km/h

Snow Depth

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14-Day Forecast

0cm

El Niño Outlook · Winter 2026-27

Vail El Niño rank & forecast

Vail ranks #220 of 488 SnowSure resorts — Tier C, −1% 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.

#220 of 488Tier C — ENSO-proof

Strong-event signal: −1% vs this resort's 30-yr avg

In the three strongest El Niño winters on record ('97-98, '15-16, '23-24), Vail averaged -1% versus its own 30-year snowfall baseline — effectively ENSO-proof. Vail has held within a few percent of normal across every phase of the Pacific cycle, making it one of the safest bets of a record El Niño winter 2026-27. Analog winters: '97-98 -23%, '15-16 -2%, '23-24 +24%.

'97-98 −23%'15-16 −2%'23-24 +24%

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

Vail Webcams

All Webcams

Vail Ski Resort

Vail Ski Resort

Vail / Brownrice

Vail / Brownrice

4 webcams • Click to expand

Snow Stake Cam

All Snow Stake Cams

Vail Ski Resort

1 snow stake cam • 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 Vail (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, 10:01 AM

Hourly Forecast Detail
 
Today
18 / 53.3mm
Sat, Aug 29
17 / 66.2mm
Sun, Aug 30
12 / 44.9mm
Mon, Aug 31
14 / 43.6mm
Tue, Sep 1
13 / 20.9mm
Wed, Sep 2
14 / 30.6mm
PeriodAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNight
Snow (cm)000000000000000000
Precip (mm)0.22.50.60.20.95.10.92.81.21.31.40.90.20.60.10.20.40
Temp (°C)11178101688126612561257136
Wind (km/h)715691771015667571459145
Gusts (km/h)295526405833435526234432304536374736

14-Day Snow Forecast by Model

Summit elevation (3527m)

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

🌧️

17.6°

5°

17 km/h

Sat

29

🌧️

16.5°

5.5°

18 km/h

Sun

30

🌧️

12.2°

3.9°

18 km/h

Mon

31

🌧️

13.5°

3.7°

9 km/h

Tue

1

🌧️

13.1°

2.4°

15 km/h

Wed

2

🌧️

13.7°

2.5°

16 km/h

Thu

3

🌧️

15°

3.1°

10 km/h

Fri

4

☁️

17.4°

3.6°

13 km/h

Sat

5

⛅

16.6°

4.3°

18 km/h

Sun

6

🌧️

15.3°

5.3°

21 km/h

Summit elevation (3527m) • 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 11:30 AM

6 cameras · 3 sensors nearby

Official map ↗

Drive conditions

Quiet — No winter restrictions — typical off-season pavement

No chain controls or closures on the highways SnowSure watches near Vail. Nearest roadside sensor (I-70 MP 171.10 EB at Dowd Junction, 7.4 km): Above freezing, air 12°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

I-70 MP 171.10 EB at Dowd Junction

7.4 km · CDOT

Above freezing

Road surface
15°C
Air
12°C
Wind
12 km/h
Precip
no precipitation

Updated 11:27 AM

I-70 182.15 Eastbound : 2.2 mile East of Big Horn Road Vail

8.4 km · CDOT

Above freezing

Road surface
15°C
Air
11°C
Wind
11 km/h
Precip
no precipitation

Updated 11:30 AM

I-70 187.25 Westbound : 2.6 mile West of Vail Pass Summit

14.3 km · CDOT

Above freezing

Air
7°C
Wind
10 km/h
Precip
other

Updated 11:27 AM

Highway cameras near Vail

I-70 MP 175.85 WB : 0.3 miles W of Vail Rd road camera
I-70 MP 175.85 WB : 0.3 miles W of Vail Rd0.9 km · CDOT
I-70 MP 175.30 EB : 1.0 mile W of Vail Rd road camera
I-70 MP 175.30 EB : 1.0 mile W of Vail Rd1.7 km · CDOT
I-70 MP 173.65 WB : 0.4 miles E of Charmonix Rd in Vail road camera
I-70 MP 173.65 WB : 0.4 miles E of Charmonix Rd in Vail3.8 km · CDOT
I-70 MP 172.85 WB : 0.6 miles W of Charmonix Rd in Vail road camera
I-70 MP 172.85 WB : 0.6 miles W of Charmonix Rd in Vail4.9 km · CDOT
I-70 MP 179.90 WB at Big Horn Rd in Vail road camera
I-70 MP 179.90 WB at Big Horn Rd in Vail5.3 km · CDOT
I-70 MP 172.10 WB : 1.0 mile E of Dowd Junction road camera
I-70 MP 172.10 WB : 1.0 mile E of Dowd Junction6.1 km · CDOT

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, 10:01 AM UTC

0cm

Season Total

This Season to Date

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vs 5-Year Avg

Off-season · 262cm full-season avg

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vs 30-Year Avg

Off-season · 245cm full-season avg

262cm

5-Yr Avg by Now

The last completed season totaled ~196.5 cm. That's 25% below the 5-year average (262 cm). Versus the 30-year baseline: 20% below the 30-year average (245 cm).

Vail Snow History

Average annual snowfall is 316cm with an average of 129 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
November33.2cm13 days17cm31cm7.8cm
December39cm18 days42cm59cm8cm
January40.6cm17 days67cm83cm8.2cm
February40.7cm18 days84cm99cm7.8cm
March43.5cm17 days93cm107cm8.4cm
April51.7cm18 days94cm109cm10.2cm
May27.8cm12 days69cm98cm8.1cm

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 13, 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 Vail, ERA5 season snowfall median was 310 cm (122 in), about 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

310 cm

10 El Niño winters · ≈ long-term median

All-season median

310 cm

Across 30 ERA5 seasons (2026-27)

PhaseSeasonsMedianp25–p75Recent analogs
El Niñocurrent10310 cm295 cm – 355 cm2023, 2019, 2018, 2015, 2014, 2009
La Niña12315 cm281 cm – 366 cm2022, 2021, 2020, 2017, 2011, 2010
ENSO-neutral8321 cm253 cm – 351 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 Vail

Where is Vail?
Vail is a ski resort in the United States.
How high is Vail?
Vail runs from a base elevation of 2,475 m (8,120 ft) to a summit of 3,527 m (11,572 ft), giving a vertical drop of 1,052 m (3,451 ft).
How big is Vail?
Vail has 5,317 acres (2,152 hectares) of skiable terrain, 195 marked runs and 32 lifts.
Which ski pass covers Vail?
Vail 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 Vail?
Vail 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 Vail get in a typical season?
Vail averages 354 inches / 899 cm of snowfall in a typical season. Any individual season can run well above or below that.
How will El Niño affect Vail in winter 2026-27?
El Niño Signal Rank: #220 of 488 SnowSure resorts · Tier C · strong-event signal -1% vs its own 30-yr average. In the three strongest El Niño winters on record ('97-98, '15-16, '23-24), Vail averaged -1% versus its own 30-year snowfall baseline — effectively ENSO-proof. Vail has held within a few percent of normal across every phase of the Pacific cycle, making it one of the safest bets of a record El Niño winter 2026-27. Analog winters: '97-98 -23%, '15-16 -2%, '23-24 +24%.