Mountains / Northeast

Loon Mountain NH

9513,051 ft · long-term average 150" per season · window ticket ~$175 · prime window Jan–Feb

PassCast reseeded 2026-07-10 · season 2026-27
41SKIABILITY / 100Selective — time it well
Snow quantity 35%43
Season lean 30%41
Powder days 20%24
Bust risk 15%60
Median sim
142" (93% of typical)
P(above typical)
40%
Powder days
~6 (6"+ days)

80% of simulated seasons land between 86" and 194". 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 Loon Mountain, tilted by the live seasonal outlook

50"100"150"200"250"P10 86"P50 142"P90 194"typical 153"

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 Loon 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 (weak-moderate)

Northern New England saw below-average snow in >90% of moderate-to-strong El Niño winters; the warm signal is more reliable than the snow signal, and coastal storm tracks can flip individual winters. 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 readNortheast · from the 2026-27 outlook

Strong El Niño is a torch for New England: 2015-16 was the warmest, least-snowy winter in modern Northeast ski history, and 2023-24 wasn't much kinder. The counterweight is the amped subtropical jet, which can detonate coastal bombs when cold air is available — the hope is a 2009-10-style big-storm pattern rather than a 2015-16 washout. Plan for below-average natural snowfall and heavy snowmaking reliance, with genuine boom-or-bust nor'easter upside: one 30-inch weekend can rescue a lean year.

Full global outlook →

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

Nov100%Dec80%Jan98%Feb102%Mar89%Apr114%
Typical month (median)ENSO-conditioned lean, wetENSO-conditioned lean, dry

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

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

50"125"175"225"1990-91: 105" (ONI +0.4)1991-92: 101" (ONI +1.7)1992-93: 145" (ONI +0.1)1993-94: 157" (ONI +0.1)1994-95: 106" (ONI +1.0)1995-96: 172" (ONI -0.9)1996-97: 191" (ONI -0.5)1997-98: 149" (ONI +2.2)1998-99: 124" (ONI -1.6)1999-00: 121" (ONI -1.7)2000-01: 186" (ONI -0.7)2001-02: 131" (ONI -0.1)2002-03: 148" (ONI +0.9)2003-04: 110" (ONI +0.4)2004-05: 126" (ONI +0.6)2005-06: 91" (ONI -0.8)2006-07: 175" (ONI +0.7)2007-08: 193" (ONI -1.6)2008-09: 140" (ONI -0.8)2009-10: 161" (ONI +1.5)2010-11: 159" (ONI -1.3)2011-12: 94" (ONI -0.7)2012-13: 120" (ONI -0.3)2013-14: 138" (ONI -0.3)2014-15: 158" (ONI +0.7)2015-16: 73" (ONI +2.6)2016-17: 189" (ONI -0.2)2017-18: 210" (ONI -0.8)2018-19: 206" (ONI +0.9)2019-20: 192" (ONI +0.6)2020-21: 148" (ONI -0.9)2021-22: 184" (ONI -0.8)2022-23: 181" (ONI -0.5)2023-24: 199" (ONI +1.9)2024-25: 164" (ONI -0.5)2025-26: 157" (ONI -0.4)19901995200020052010201520202025
La Niña winterNeutralEl Niño winterTypical winter (median)

Pass math for Loon Mountain

Verdicts run the full simulated snow distribution through breakeven math at ~$175/day window prices. Add trip legs on the home page to compare passes across your whole season.

10days
Ikon Base$1,019
SKIP
0%seasons it pays off$144expected vs ticketsbreakeven days
  • Covers Loon Mountain (5d).
  • Snow-adjusted across the simulated seasons, expect ~9.6 covered days; the pass beats window tickets in 0% of 10,000 simulated seasons (mean shortfall $144).
  • At this plan, window tickets or a cheaper product wins.
Unlimited at a smaller Alterra set and 5 days at most partners, with peak-holiday blackouts. Excludes Jackson Hole, Alta, Snowbasin, and Deer Valley.
Ikon Pass$1,449
SKIP
0%seasons it pays off$224expected vs ticketsbreakeven days
  • Covers Loon Mountain (7d).
  • Snow-adjusted across the simulated seasons, expect ~9.6 covered days; the pass beats window tickets in 0% of 10,000 simulated seasons (mean shortfall $224).
  • At this plan, window tickets or a cheaper product wins.
Unlimited at ~18 Alterra destinations, 7 days each at partners (Jackson Hole, Alta, Big Sky, Aspen...). No blackouts; some partners need reservations.

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.