The Old Farmer's Almanac Predicts How El Niño Will Affect Canada's 2026-27 Winter
It’s that time of year again.
Yes, it’s still broiling in many places, but winter’s no longer so far off. Skiers are speculating about the weather—a national pastime for our silly little clique—and if next season could bring some powder turns or two or three. No one has the answers. The best we can do right now is, truly, an educated guess, if that.
Regardless, the Old Farmer’s Almanac, a time-honored and vaguely mystical tome, has arrived to add its contribution, further fuelling the hype that pre-season atmospheric debates often bring.
The book offers a glimpse of how the 2026-27 ski season could shake out in Canada, breaking the country into regional chunks. Before we get ahead of ourselves, have a look at the map below for a broad overview.
You can also check out the Old Farmer’s Almanac hard copies for the full scoop if you prefer the page to the screen. (Another note: the Old Farmer’s Almanac shouldn’t be confused with its competitor, the Farmers’ Almanac.)
Old Farmer's Almanac
Western Canada Winter Ski Forecast
In western Canada, one keyword skiers will pick up on is the “mild” descriptor in both southern British Columbia and southern Alberta, where the bulk of popular ski resorts, like Whistler Blackcomb, Kicking Horse, and Lake Louise, are. That gets the freezing level senses tingling—precipitation doesn’t mean much for skiers if it’s too warm.
Still, the Old Farmer’s Almanac isn’t predicting a dramatic snow drought. In southern Alberta, they’re calling for between near and below normal snowfall, which isn’t too bad. In southern BC, the prognosis is better: the Old Farmer’s Almanac expects above-normal snowfall.
Further north, where you’ll find more heli ski ops than established ski resorts, this winter could be a good one, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, with “cold” and “snowy” weather. Sign us up.
Central and Eastern Canada Winter Ski Forecast
With “mild” and “dry” weather, Manitoba and Saskatchewan’s southern reaches aren’t slotted in for a big year, snowfall-wise. Moving east, the outlook improves in southern Ontario, where skiers can expect a snowier-than-usual season, although temperatures depend on which part of this region you live in. The west of this region is leaning “mild” while the east is leaning “cold.”
In Southern Quebec—home to ski areas including Tremblant and Mont Saint Anne—the momentum stops again with above-normal temperatures and below-normal precipitation, per the Old Farmer’s Almanac. However, skiers shouldn’t completely lose faith. Despite low precipitation, the book forecasts near to slightly above normal snowfall.
Meanwhile, above-normal precipitation and temperatures are coming to Atlantic Canada, the Old Farmer’s Almanac said, with snowfall hovering near or above normal. That snow, should it stack up, might be a boon for Cape Smokey, the little Nova Scotia ski area with a sizable terrain expansion in the works.
Old Farmer’s Almanac Winter 26/27 Forecasts
- United States: Winter 26/27 Forecast
- Canada: Winter 26/27 Forecast
- West Coast: Winter 26/27 Forecast
- East Coast: Winter 26/27 Forecast
- Intermountain West (Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, etc.): Winter 26/27 Forecast
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