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El Niño Forecast Is ‘Off the Charts.’ What Could This Mean for Ski Season?
KQED • • nation
Key Points:
- Meteorologist Alan Smith from OpenSnow reports that ocean temperature readings for this year’s El Niño are “off the charts,” indicating a potentially very strong and record-setting event.
- Strong El Niño conditions typically increase the odds of above-average snowfall in the Sierra Nevada, offering hope for a better ski season after last year’s poor snowfall.
- While seasonal models project a wet winter for California, Smith cautions that El Niño winters tend to be warmer overall and that exact snowfall timing and amounts remain uncertain.
- Forecast updates will continue through summer and autumn, but current signals are strong enough that major changes to the overall outlook are unlikely.
- Skiers and snowboarders are advised not to make firm plans based solely on this forecast, as weather can fluctuate significantly week to week despite the overall trend toward wetter conditions.
