Stoneham QC
The short answer: PassCast projects a median of 125" at Stoneham for 2026-27 — 85% of a typical season — with a skiability rating of 37/100, ~4 powder days, and Jan–Feb as the prime window. Updated daily from 10,000 simulations.
80% of simulated seasons land between 95" and 168". 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 Stoneham, 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 Stoneham'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.
Quebec's El Niño signal is thermal — strong events run 2-4°C mild, converting marginal storms to rain (1997-98 was 'the winter El Niño cancelled' per Environment Canada). The juiced subtropical jet can still land big synoptic storms when cold air holds. Applied as a -5% tilt at partial weight.
The 51-member SEAS5 seasonal forecast puts Nov–Jan snowfall at this grid point at 82% of its ERA5 normal (ensemble mean 67", spread 49–87"). Applied as a -5% tilt — experimental, heavily shrunk and clamped because seasonal models and reanalysis have different biases.
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 readEastern Canada · from the 2026-27 outlook
Quebec's strong-El Niño problem is warmth more than storm count: 1997-98 — the winter Environment Canada says El Niño 'cancelled' — brought Quebec City its mildest winter on record, and 2015-16 repeated the trick at Tremblant. The wildcard is the El Niño-fueled subtropical jet, which can still land heavyweight synoptic snowstorms on the St. Lawrence when cold air cooperates. Expect a below-average, snowmaking-dependent season with a compressed mid-January-to-early-March core.
Month by monthENSO-conditioned analog medians vs a typical month — when this season should deliver
Prime window: Jan–Feb — the deepest contiguous stretch of the conditioned season. Aim the trip there.
The analog poolEvery season since 1990 at Stoneham (ERA5, calibrated to the resort's reported average), colored by ENSO phase
Pass math for Stoneham
Verdicts run the full simulated snow distribution through breakeven math at ~$81/day window prices. Add trip legs on the home page to compare passes across your whole season.
- Covers Stoneham (7d).
- Snow-adjusted across the simulated seasons, expect ~9.4 covered days; the pass beats window tickets in 0% of 10,000 simulated seasons (mean shortfall $552).
- At this plan, window tickets or a cheaper product wins.
Stoneham 2026-27: straight answers
- How much snow will Stoneham get in the 2026-27 season?
- PassCast's latest 10,000-run simulation (reseeded 2026-07-10) puts the median at 125 inches — 85% of a typical season at Stoneham — with 80% of outcomes between 95 and 168 inches. The forecast blends Stoneham's own 36-season ENSO analog record with NOAA's seasonal outlook and the ECMWF SEAS5 ensemble.
- Is a season pass worth it for Stoneham in 2026-27?
- Stoneham is on Epic 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 Stoneham in 2026-27?
- Jan–Feb is the prime window — the deepest contiguous stretch of the ENSO-conditioned season at Stoneham. Month-by-month medians are charted on this page.
- How reliable will the snow be at Stoneham this season?
- The simulation gives Stoneham a 25% chance of beating its typical season and a median of about 4 six-inch-plus powder days. Its skiability rating is 37/100 (“Selective — time it well”), 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.