How Super El Niño Is Changing Snow Maps for the Season.

The development of a Super El Niño, already identified as a strong temperature anomaly in tropical oceans, is driving the latest updates to snow maps for winter 2026-2027. On September 17, 2026, NOAA released an outlook highlighting significant changes in precipitation and temperature patterns across the United States, while the Snowfall Explorer provides detailed forecasts for specific regions of North America and Europe.

Super El Niño as the Driving Force Behind New Maps

The Super El Niño, characterized by surface anomalies above 6 °C and a strong subsurface Kelvin Wave with more than 9 °C of warming, is reshaping the Pacific jet stream. This reconfiguration favors a more intense southward moisture flow, altering winter storm paths.

Precipitation Forecast for the US Ski Season

NOAA maps indicate above-normal precipitation in southern United States areas, including California, the Southwest, the Southern Rocky Mountains, and the Southeast. Concurrently, regions such as the Northern Rocky Mountains and the Great Lakes basin show signs of below-normal precipitation.

Temperatures That May Limit Snow

While precipitation increases in the aforementioned areas, NOAA's temperature outlook points to widespread warmth in the northern parts of the country. This warming may reduce the conversion of precipitation into snow, especially in the mountainous regions of the Northwest and the Great Lakes.

Snow Maps for North America

The Snowfall Explorer, updated in September, presents seasonal maps highlighting areas of above and below the 30-year average snowfall. In the United States, snow deficits are observed in the Northwest and Northeast, while the central-eastern region shows potential for above-normal snow. In Canada, similar patterns emerge, with deficits in the Northwest and East, but increases in the central plains.

Impacts for Europe

Winter maps for Europe reveal snow deficits in the Northwest, Southern, and North-Central regions, a consequence of milder westerly flow and a high-pressure ridge to the south. Only higher altitude areas may maintain significant snow cover.

How to Use the Maps

Users can access the Snowfall Explorer to view monthly or seasonal forecasts by state, province, or country. The interfaces are optimized for mobile devices, allowing for zooming and viewing snow trends above or below the historical average.

With information from Severe Weather Europe, Unofficial Networks.