AccuWeather's Winter 26/27 Forecast Says Super El Niño Will Bode Well for Some Skiers

Somewhere, in an alternate universe far away, a metaphorical Paul Revere is riding down the cobblestone streets of Boston yelling, “El Niño is coming! El Niño is coming! El Niño is coming!”

As the Pacific Ocean continues to warm, a strong, or even “super” El Niño seems all the more likely this winter. NOAA says a “strong to very strong” El Niño has an 83% chance of taking shape in January-March of 2027; California Governor Gavin Newsom has announced a preemptive state of emergency, and skiers from coast to coast are freaking out.

Will it snow? Will it rain? Will it be cold? Will it be warm? That all depends on location and Mother Nature, but AccuWeather is taking its shot at predicting how the super El Niño will affect Winter 26/27 nationwide.

Tap or click below to watch AccuWeather’s full video forecast. Keep reading for a breakdown.

Accuweather’s Snow Forecast, Winter 26/27

Winners

AccuWeather’s snow forecast for October 2026-April 2027 bodes well for skiers in California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico. This follows a typical El Niño pattern where increased moisture and cool temperatures flood the southwest and great plains.

Losers

AccuWeather’s winter 26/27 forecast is showing below-average snow in Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, Illinois, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, North Carolina, and parts of New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.

AccuWeather’s Temperature Forecast, Winter 26/27

Above-Average

AccuWeather is forecasting above-average temperatures this winter for the northern half of the country. This follows the southerly jet stream that typically occurs during an El Niño. States include Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, and Vermont.

Below-Average

Again, following a typical El Niño pattern, AccuWeather is forecasting cooler temperatures in the southern half of the country. For skiers, this bodes well for resorts in Southern California (Mammoth), Arizona, and New Mexico.

AccuWeather’s Transition To Winter Forecast, Winter 26/27

Faster Transition to Winter

The super El Niño should expedite the transition from fall to winter in the following states, according to Accuweather: California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, and parts of Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.

Slower Transition to Winter

Citing an increase in warm temperatures due to the southerly jet stream, AccuWeather says El Niño is expected to delay the start of winter in the following states with ski resorts: Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, and New Jersey.

Verdict

The super El Niño is legit and will affect how Winter 26/27 shakes out for skiers from coast to coast. Look for colder, snowier conditions in California, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Southern Colorado, and expect warmer weather and less snow in states like Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wisconsin, and Michigan.

But, as we’ve said many times this fall, nobody, not even the best AI weather model dreamed up in Silicon Valley, can predict the weather with 100% accuracy. Things will change, forecasts will vary, norms will be broken, and ultimately, snow will fall.

Tap or click below to read our advice on sorting through the El Niño Winter of 26/27 madness.

Related: Skiers Beware, The El Niño Hype Train Has Officially Left The Station