Farmers’ Almanac Forecasts Mountain Snow Across Western Canada

The Farmers’ Almanac winter forecast 2026-27 is giving skiers reason for optimism, with mountain snow, Pacific storms, Arctic outbreaks and periods of heavy winter weather forecast across Western Canada.

The newly released Canadian outlook describes the coming season as “Snow, Sleet, and Surprises,” with frequent weather changes, sharp temperature swings and an active storm track.

For powder skiers, the important part of the forecast is what happens in the mountains.

The Farmers’ Almanac expects Pacific storms moving inland to create repeated opportunities for significant mountain snowfall, specifically identifying the Coast Mountains, Columbia Mountains and Rockies as areas that could experience heavy snow, blowing snow and stormy periods.

Farther east through Western Canada, the forecast calls for periodic Arctic outbreaks, strong winds, blowing snow and possible blizzard conditions, particularly when cold northern air pushes south and collides with milder Pacific air.

That combination — Pacific moisture, mountain terrain and recurring injections of cold air — gives Western Canadian ski country plenty of opportunity for snow.

The outlook isn’t calling for continuous cold or nonstop snowfall. Milder periods and Chinook influence will interrupt winter at times, while lower elevations and the Pacific coast can experience rain and thaws.

But ski conditions are determined in the mountains, not at sea level or out on the Prairies.

And the mountain forecast is considerably more encouraging.

The biggest uncertainty remains the strengthening El Niño.

NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center reported August 13 that El Niño is strengthening, with a greater than 90% chance of becoming a very strong event during the Northern Hemisphere fall and winter of 2026-27.

El Niño can shift the Pacific storm track and often favours warmer conditions across parts of Western Canada. But it doesn’t determine the weather on every mountain or during every storm.

The Farmers’ Almanac instead sees a winter of contrasts, with Pacific systems, Arctic outbreaks and rapidly changing weather rather than one dominant pattern.

For skiers, an active pattern means opportunities.

No August forecast can tell us how deep the snowpack will be next February.

Western Canada is also far too large and mountainous for a single seasonal forecast to predict conditions everywhere. Individual storms, elevation, aspect and local mountain weather will ultimately determine where the deepest snow falls.

Even in a lower-snow year, Western Canada delivers excellent skiing. Its huge range of elevations and climates means good snow can almost always be found somewhere — particularly for backcountry, cat-skiing and heli-skiing operations able to move to the best terrain and conditions.

We won’t know what kind of winter 2026-27 really was until next spring.

For now, however, the Farmers’ Almanac outlook contains plenty for powder skiers to like: an active storm track, mountain snow and a Western Canadian winter that could deliver plenty of powder!

Editor