NOAA publishes 'winter outlook' showing what to expect for 2024-2025 ski season

The National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have released their outlook for the 2024-2025 winter season, which can be used to help set some expectations for winter sport enthusiasts headed to Colorado.

The outlooks that get released capture three-month periods, with the first covering December through February and a second covering March through May.

During this first portion of Colorado's snow season, most of the state has a likelihood of getting lower-than-normal precipitation, with the southeastern half of the state likely to see above-normal temperatures.

This can be seen represented on the map below:

Heading into March and stretching through May, above-normal temperatures are expected to be more widespread, with drier conditions in the southwest corner of the state having potential to persist.

It's also worth noting that during fall, the same forecasters have also called for a likelihood of hotter and drier conditions compared to the norm.

While snow is inevitable in Colorado come winter, if these probabilities hold true, it might not bode well for ski season of massive amounts of powder. Obviously, less moisture and warmer temperatures might mean below-norm snow totals. Plus, the warmer temperatures of fall may mean waiting a bit longer for full coverage on local mountains.

Those in the American West looking to hit ample fresh snow may want to plan a trip to Washington's slopes, with above-normal precipitation expected in this region for the first portion of winter and below-normal temperatures also expected for much of the season.

Find additional outlook updates from the NWS Climate Prediction Center here .

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