Mountains / Western Canada

Grouse Mountain BC

2,8874,085 ft · long-term average 300" per season · window ticket ~$81 · prime window Dec–Jan

PassCast reseeded 2026-07-10 · season 2026-27
50SKIABILITY / 100Solid skiing expected
Snow quantity 35%63
Season lean 30%34
Powder days 20%48
Bust risk 15%55
Median sim
250" (86% of typical)
P(above typical)
28%
Powder days
~12 (6"+ days)

80% of simulated seasons land between 158" and 343". Reseeded daily as ENSO observations, CPC outlooks, and SEAS5 runs update.

10,000 simulated 2026-27 seasonsENSO-weighted resampling of 36 real seasons (1990–2026) at Grouse Mountain, tilted by the live seasonal outlook

100"200"300"400"500"600"P10 158"P50 250"P90 343"typical 290"

Highlighted bars span the middle half of outcomes (P25–P75). The yellow dashed line is a typical season — the median of the last 36 at this mountain.

What's driving this forecast

ENSO: El Niño favored (99%)

The 2026-27 season is simulated by resampling Grouse Mountain's historical seasons weighted toward El Niño analog years. NOAA CPC El Niño Advisory (June 11, 2026): El Niño conditions are present and expected to strengthen into winter 2026-27, with a 63% chance of a very strong event (Niño3.4 ≥ +2.0°C) during Nov-Jan. CPC DJF strength odds: very strong 46%, strong 33%, moderate 16%. IRI (June 22) concurs at 98% El Niño for DJF.

Regional ENSO signal: unfavorable (strong)

Whistler's seasonal MEI correlation is -48.5% — squarely La Niña-favored terrain. El Niño winters run warmer with rain risk at the village level. Applied as a -6% tilt at partial weight.

Pre-season: climate drivers only

Day-to-day weather models have no skill this far out, so the near-term forecast contributes 0% weight today. The simulation leans entirely on ENSO-conditioned climatology — exactly what an honest seasonal outlook should do in summer. Weighting shifts toward live forecasts as opening day approaches.

The regional readWestern Canada · from the 2026-27 outlook

Whistler carries the worst El Niño exposure in Canada — a -48.5% seasonal swing between phases at the coast, with village-level rain the recurring failure mode in warm winters. The alpine, 2,000 m up, weathers it far better. Treat 2026-27 as below average with a high-altitude escape hatch.

Full global outlook →

Month by monthENSO-conditioned analog medians vs a typical month — when this season should deliver

Nov72%Dec87%Jan100%Feb86%Mar80%Apr98%
Typical month (median)ENSO-conditioned lean, wetENSO-conditioned lean, dry

Prime window: Dec–Jan — the deepest contiguous stretch of the conditioned season. Aim the trip there.

The analog poolEvery season since 1990 at Grouse Mountain (ERA5, calibrated to the resort's reported average), colored by ENSO phase

150"275"425"575"1990-91: 284" (ONI +0.4)1991-92: 211" (ONI +1.7)1992-93: 193" (ONI +0.1)1993-94: 264" (ONI +0.1)1994-95: 296" (ONI +1.0)1995-96: 213" (ONI -0.9)1996-97: 334" (ONI -0.5)1997-98: 262" (ONI +2.2)1998-99: 505" (ONI -1.6)1999-00: 290" (ONI -1.7)2000-01: 195" (ONI -0.7)2001-02: 298" (ONI -0.1)2002-03: 217" (ONI +0.9)2003-04: 258" (ONI +0.4)2004-05: 175" (ONI +0.6)2005-06: 293" (ONI -0.8)2006-07: 359" (ONI +0.7)2007-08: 308" (ONI -1.6)2008-09: 225" (ONI -0.8)2009-10: 263" (ONI +1.5)2010-11: 369" (ONI -1.3)2011-12: 345" (ONI -0.7)2012-13: 290" (ONI -0.3)2013-14: 209" (ONI -0.3)2014-15: 98" (ONI +0.7)2015-16: 260" (ONI +2.6)2016-17: 428" (ONI -0.2)2017-18: 531" (ONI -0.8)2018-19: 290" (ONI +0.9)2019-20: 320" (ONI +0.6)2020-21: 444" (ONI -0.9)2021-22: 432" (ONI -0.8)2022-23: 397" (ONI -0.5)2023-24: 321" (ONI +1.9)2024-25: 368" (ONI -0.5)2025-26: 256" (ONI -0.4)19901995200020052010201520202025
La Niña winterNeutralEl Niño winterTypical winter (median)

Pass math for Grouse Mountain

Grouse Mountain isn't on a multi-resort pass — but you can still see what a season here is worth.

10days

No multi-resort pass covers these mountains — window tickets are the play.

Sources: ERA5 reanalysis & multi-model forecasts via Open-Meteo · NOAA CPC ONI, ENSO advisory & seasonal outlook · ECMWF SEAS5 · pass prices verified July 2026. See methodology for the honest fine print.