Red Lodge Mountain MT
The short answer: PassCast projects a median of 195" at Red Lodge Mountain for 2026-27 — 90% of a typical season — with a skiability rating of 49/100, ~8 powder days, and Mar–Apr as the prime window. Updated daily from 10,000 simulations.
80% of simulated seasons land between 147" and 323". 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 Red Lodge Mountain, tilted by the live seasonal outlook
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 2026-27 season is simulated by resampling Red Lodge 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. Latest observed ONI (AMJ 2026): +1.0.
Jackson Hole and Big Sky are La Niña-favored (seasonal MEI correlation ~-47%); El Niño winters trend warmer with below-normal precipitation. Applied as a -5% tilt at partial weight.
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 readNorthern Rockies · from the 2026-27 outlook
Jackson, Big Sky, and the Idaho panhandle are La Niña country, and a strong El Niño typically strands them on the dry, warm side of a southward-displaced storm track — strong La Niña months out-snow strong El Niño months by 30% or more at inland areas. 1997-98 and 2023-24 both brought below-average, late-starting seasons here. Plan on 80-90% of normal snowfall, cold enough at elevation to preserve quality, with the best stretch arriving February onward.
Month by monthENSO-conditioned analog medians vs a typical month — when this season should deliver
Prime window: Mar–Apr — the deepest contiguous stretch of the conditioned season. Aim the trip there.
The analog poolEvery season since 1990 at Red Lodge Mountain (ERA5, calibrated to the resort's reported average), colored by ENSO phase
Pass math for Red Lodge Mountain
Verdicts run the full simulated snow distribution through breakeven math at ~$92/day window prices. Add trip legs on the home page to compare passes across your whole season.
- Covers Red Lodge Mountain (2d).
- Snow-adjusted across the simulated seasons, expect ~9.8 covered days; the pass beats window tickets in 0% of 10,000 simulated seasons (mean shortfall $185).
- At this plan, window tickets or a cheaper product wins.
Red Lodge Mountain 2026-27: straight answers
- How much snow will Red Lodge Mountain get in the 2026-27 season?
- PassCast's latest 10,000-run simulation (reseeded 2026-07-10) puts the median at 195 inches — 90% of a typical season at Red Lodge Mountain — with 80% of outcomes between 147 and 323 inches. The forecast blends Red Lodge Mountain's own 36-season ENSO analog record with NOAA's seasonal outlook and the ECMWF SEAS5 ensemble.
- Is a season pass worth it for Red Lodge Mountain in 2026-27?
- Red Lodge Mountain is on Indy Pass for 2026-27, but with day caps at this mountain the pass only pays off combined with days at its other resorts — the simulator on this page runs that math for your plan.
- When is the best time to ski Red Lodge Mountain in 2026-27?
- Mar–Apr is the prime window — the deepest contiguous stretch of the ENSO-conditioned season at Red Lodge Mountain. Month-by-month medians are charted on this page.
- How reliable will the snow be at Red Lodge Mountain this season?
- The simulation gives Red Lodge Mountain a 36% chance of beating its typical season and a median of about 8 six-inch-plus powder days. Its skiability rating is 49/100 (“Solid skiing expected”), updated daily.
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.