Mt Buller AULIVE
80% of simulated seasons land between 54" and 125". 45% of this season is already locked in by observed snowfall and the 16-day forecast — the simulation only fills in the rest.
10,000 simulated 2026 seasonsENSO-weighted resampling of 36 real seasons (1990–2026) at Mt Buller, tilted by the live seasonal outlook, anchored on snow already on the ground
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
The 2026 season is simulated by resampling Mt Buller'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.
El Niño suppresses cool-season precipitation and raises temperatures across southeast Australia: peak Spencers Creek snow depth runs ~18% below average in El Niño years, and the three very strong events (1982-83, 1997-98, 2015-16) peaked 25-55% below normal (BoM/Weatherzone). Applied as a -7% tilt at partial weight.
45% of the season window is now locked in by observed snowfall and the blended near-term forecast (5" over the next 16 days). Each analog season contributes only what it delivered outside the known windows in its own calendar.
The regional readAustralia · from the 2026-27 outlook
El Niño is the Australian snowpack's worst enemy: peak Spencers Creek depth runs ~35 cm below its 196 cm average in El Niño years, and the three prior very strong events peaked 25-55% below normal. The 2026 season is tracking those analogs — a 22 cm opening base on June 6, near-bare slopes by July 1, salvation via a July 2-4 cold front. Expect a below-average peak, an early spring melt-out, and the best conditions in the late-July-to-mid-August window at high, snowmaking-rich terrain. Ski it in the heart of winter or not at all.
Month by monthENSO-conditioned analog medians vs a typical month — when this season should deliver
Prime window: Jul–Aug — the deepest contiguous stretch of the conditioned season. Aim the trip there.
The analog poolEvery season since 1990 at Mt Buller (ERA5, calibrated to the resort's reported average), colored by ENSO phase
Next 16 days, model by modelDaily snowfall (inches) at mid-mountain from four global models — fetched 2026-07-10
| Model | 7/10 | 7/11 | 7/12 | 7/13 | 7/14 | 7/15 | 7/16 | 7/17 | 7/18 | 7/19 | 7/20 | 7/21 | 7/22 | 7/23 | 7/24 | 7/25 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GFS (NOAA) | — | 4.9 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | 0.2 | 0.1 | — | — | 0.1 | 0.3 | — | 6.7" |
| ECMWF IFS | — | 1.2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0.8 | 4.1 | 0.3 | — | — | — | — | 6.4" |
| ICON (DWD) | — | 2.1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2.1" |
| GEM (Canada) | — | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0.1" |
| PassCast blend | — | 2.1 | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0.3 | 2.1 | 0.1 | — | — | 0.2 | — | 5.1" |
Pass math for Mt Buller
Verdicts run the full simulated snow distribution through breakeven math at ~$168/day window prices. Add trip legs on the home page to compare passes across your whole season.
- Breakeven is 6.3 days at ~$168/day window tickets; you plan 10.
- Covers Mt Buller (2d +50% off after).
- Snow-adjusted across the simulated seasons, expect ~10.2 covered days; the pass beats window tickets in 100% of 10,000 simulated seasons (mean saving $323).
- Covers Mt Buller (5d).
- Snow-adjusted across the simulated seasons, expect ~10.2 covered days; the pass beats window tickets in 0% of 10,000 simulated seasons (mean shortfall $179).
- At this plan, window tickets or a cheaper product wins.
- Covers Mt Buller (7d).
- Snow-adjusted across the simulated seasons, expect ~10.2 covered days; the pass beats window tickets in 0% of 10,000 simulated seasons (mean shortfall $273).
- At this plan, window tickets or a cheaper product wins.
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.