What is La Niña?

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is predicting a 79% chance of La Niña forming during Winter '24/'25, but what does that mean, and more specifically, what does it mean for skiers?

We've created this article to help you plan your upcoming ski trips, and to better understand how meteorologists make predictions regarding La Niña.

What is La Niña?

North America's weather is largely influenced by the water temperature in the central and east-central equatorial Pacific Ocean. This is due to the ever-present jet stream that typically moves from West to East over the Pacific Ocean.

The term La Niña is used to define the phenomenon in which the water temperature of the Pacific Ocean periodically cools and produces a measurable shift in the weather pattern. El Niño is the opposite and refers to when the temperature of the Pacific Ocean increases.

What happens during a typical La Niña?

During La Niña, the cooler waters of the Pacific Ocean force the jet stream northwards, changing the average precipitation and temperature of each region.

The most dramatic impacts can be felt on the west coast. The American Southwest typically experiences drier and warmer weather while the Pacific Northwest experiences wetter and colder weather.

Elsewhere in North America, the northern Rockies and Great Plains typically see colder temperatures with even chances for snowfall. The Midwest and Northeast can expect a wetter winter, but there's an increased chance for above-average temperatures.

La Niña can lead to heavy snowstorms in the Northwest, droughts in the South, and a more severe hurricane season on the east coast.

Where can I find information about La Niña?

We will continue to keep you covered here at POWDER about how La Niña will affect the ski season , but the best primary resources for information are NOAA , and NASA . Check in regularly to keep up to date with the latest information.

Which ski resorts will benefit from La Niña?

Based on the observation of previous La Niña winters, the Pacific Northwest, Coastal Mountains of British Columbia, and northern mountains of Idaho and Montana should be favored during Winter '24/'25.

Our picks for big snow years include: Mt. Baker, WA; Alyeska Resort, AK; Whistler Blackcomb, BC; and Timberline Loge, OR.

Which ski resorts will suffer from La Niña?

It's impossible to determine how La Niña will actually shake out, and while there always exceptions to the rules, there are a few regions we can expect to have below-average seasons in terms of snowfall.

Notably, resorts in Southern California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Nevada could suffer if the warm temps and dry skies occur as they do in a typical La Niña.

Related: La Niña Is Coming: Winter '24/'25 Outlook

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