Mountains / Interior BC

RED Mountain BC

3,8886,808 ft · long-term average 300" per season · window ticket ~$100 · prime window Dec–Jan

PassCast reseeded 2026-07-10 · season 2026-27

The short answer: PassCast projects a median of 256" at RED Mountain for 2026-2788% of a typical season — with a skiability rating of 53/100, ~12 powder days, and Dec–Jan as the prime window. Updated daily from 10,000 simulations.

53SKIABILITY / 100Solid skiing expected
Snow quantity 35%64
Season lean 30%36
Powder days 20%48
Bust risk 15%67
Median sim
256" (88% of typical)
P(above typical)
28%
Powder days
~12 (6"+ days)

80% of simulated seasons land between 180" and 356". 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 Mountain, tilted by the live seasonal outlook

200"300"400"500"600"P10 180"P50 256"P90 356"typical 291"

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 RED 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.

Regional ENSO signal: unfavorable (moderate)

El Niño displaces the Pacific storm track south of BC and raises freezing levels; strong La Niña months out-snow strong El Niño months by ~30% at La Niña-favored interior areas, though Sun Peaks and Red are nearly ENSO-neutral. Applied as a -4% 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 readInterior BC · from the 2026-27 outlook

Interior BC skis best in La Niña, and a strong El Niño sends the storm track south while raising freezing levels — strong La Niña months out-snow strong El Niño months by ~30% at favored spots, though Sun Peaks and Red are nearly ENSO-neutral. 2023-24's thin, warm early winter at Revelstoke is a plausible template. Expect below-average totals, more mid-elevation rain events, and the safest bets in high-alpine terrain from February onward. A down year, not a disaster.

Full global outlook →

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

Nov77%Dec95%Jan102%Feb76%Mar86%Apr84%
Typical month (median)ENSO-conditioned lean, wetENSO-conditioned lean, dry

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

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

125"275"400"525"1990-91: 264" (ONI +0.4)1991-92: 206" (ONI +1.7)1992-93: 209" (ONI +0.1)1993-94: 259" (ONI +0.1)1994-95: 297" (ONI +1.0)1995-96: 280" (ONI -0.9)1996-97: 368" (ONI -0.5)1997-98: 268" (ONI +2.2)1998-99: 443" (ONI -1.6)1999-00: 328" (ONI -1.7)2000-01: 165" (ONI -0.7)2001-02: 306" (ONI -0.1)2002-03: 247" (ONI +0.9)2003-04: 239" (ONI +0.4)2004-05: 205" (ONI +0.6)2005-06: 324" (ONI -0.8)2006-07: 286" (ONI +0.7)2007-08: 296" (ONI -1.6)2008-09: 227" (ONI -0.8)2009-10: 234" (ONI +1.5)2010-11: 339" (ONI -1.3)2011-12: 299" (ONI -0.7)2012-13: 286" (ONI -0.3)2013-14: 261" (ONI -0.3)2014-15: 167" (ONI +0.7)2015-16: 285" (ONI +2.6)2016-17: 400" (ONI -0.2)2017-18: 494" (ONI -0.8)2018-19: 276" (ONI +0.9)2019-20: 296" (ONI +0.6)2020-21: 333" (ONI -0.9)2021-22: 357" (ONI -0.8)2022-23: 409" (ONI -0.5)2023-24: 410" (ONI +1.9)2024-25: 429" (ONI -0.5)2025-26: 306" (ONI -0.4)19901995200020052010201520202025
La Niña winterNeutralEl Niño winterTypical winter (median)

Pass math for RED Mountain

Verdicts run the full simulated snow distribution through breakeven math at ~$100/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$519expected vs ticketsbreakeven days
  • Covers RED Mountain (5d).
  • Snow-adjusted across the simulated seasons, expect ~9.5 covered days; the pass beats window tickets in 0% of 10,000 simulated seasons (mean shortfall $519).
  • 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$749expected vs ticketsbreakeven days
  • Covers RED Mountain (7d).
  • Snow-adjusted across the simulated seasons, expect ~9.5 covered days; the pass beats window tickets in 0% of 10,000 simulated seasons (mean shortfall $749).
  • 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.

RED Mountain 2026-27: straight answers

How much snow will RED Mountain get in the 2026-27 season?
PassCast's latest 10,000-run simulation (reseeded 2026-07-10) puts the median at 256 inches — 88% of a typical season at RED Mountain — with 80% of outcomes between 180 and 356 inches. The forecast blends RED 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 Mountain in 2026-27?
RED Mountain is on Ikon Pass, Ikon Base 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 Mountain in 2026-27?
Dec–Jan is the prime window — the deepest contiguous stretch of the ENSO-conditioned season at RED Mountain. Month-by-month medians are charted on this page.
How reliable will the snow be at RED Mountain this season?
The simulation gives RED Mountain a 28% chance of beating its typical season and a median of about 12 six-inch-plus powder days. Its skiability rating is 53/100 (“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.