12 resorts · 40 winters · 2026–27 outlook
No. El Niño winters here have run a little leaner. El Niño winters have brought Utah's resorts 4% less snow than a typical winter, and 2% more snow in the strongest El Niño winters.
Utah is mostly a wash. Southern Utah catches the southern storm track and gains, while the Wasatch (Alta, Snowbird, Park City) has run a little below average in El Niño winters, with big seasons and lean ones mixed in.
Of 12 resorts, 2 get more snow in most El Niño winters and 10 show no clear effect.
+13% snow in El Niño winters, +10% in strong ones. More snow.
+9% snow in El Niño winters, +9% in strong ones. More snow.
Snowfall in El Niño winters compared with each resort's 40-winter average (mid-mountain, Nov–Apr). The percentage is the average; the color says whether you can count on it.
| # | Resort | El Niñosnow vs. avg | La Niñasnow vs. avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brian HeadUT | +13% | −6% |
| 2 | Eagle PointUT | +9% | −5% |
| 3 | SnowbirdUT | −6% | +5% |
| 4 | Powder MountainUT | −7% | +5% |
| 5 | SundanceUT | −7% | +8% |
| 6 | SnowbasinUT | −7% | +6% |
| 7 | AltaUT | −7% | +6% |
| 8 | BrightonUT | −7% | +6% |
| 9 | Beaver MountainUT | −7% | +5% |
| 10 | SolitudeUT | −7% | +6% |
| 11 | Deer ValleyUT | −7% | +7% |
| 12 | Park CityUT | −7% | +6% |
2026–27 is shaping up as a strong El Niño. Here's how each Utah resort did in the 4 strongest El Niño winters since 1986 (peak index +1.5°C or more), compared with its own average. A handful of winters, so read it as history, not a forecast.
| Resort | 1991–92 | 1997–98 | 2015–16 | 2023–24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brian Head | +14% | +18% | +5% | +2% |
| Eagle Point | −7% | +15% | +13% | +16% |
| Snowbird | −30% | +13% | +4% | +21% |
| Powder Mountain | −35% | +19% | +3% | +16% |
| Sundance | −38% | +21% | +3% | +21% |
| Snowbasin | −33% | +26% | +4% | +18% |
| Alta | −30% | +11% | +4% | +18% |
| Brighton | −30% | +11% | +4% | +18% |
| Beaver Mountain | −30% | +8% | +3% | +7% |
| Solitude | −31% | +11% | +4% | +18% |
| Deer Valley | −35% | +13% | +1% | +19% |
| Park City | −34% | +13% | +2% | +16% |
| Utah average | −27% | +15% | +4% | +16% |
Every North American resort is on the El Niño map and full ranking, with how we measured it: 40 winters of ERA5-Land weather at each resort's mid-mountain elevation, tagged by NOAA's Oceanic Niño Index and checked against 89 SNOTEL snow stations.