Where will it snow in 2017?

Despite initial uncertainty, the winter has already indicated, thanks to abundant snowfall patterns, that we're in the midst of a La Niña year. This means above-average snowfall will continue for coastal resorts and, generally, status-quo snowfall for the interior. Read on to learn what forecasters are saying about where it will snow in 2017.

In order to determine if this season will be a powder-packed one, we have to take a few steps back and look at multiple factors, which include the temperature, elevation/slope, frequency, type of snowfall and location. Location, location, location. It's the most important thing when it comes to forecasting long-range snowfall during a La Niña year, as this weather event tends to affect the same, specific regions whenever its in play.

Expect big snowfall along the Northern Coasts of the U.S. and Canada

This season, Joel Gratz, the founder of OpenSnow.com and a meteorologist based out of Boulder, Co. said the “[Pacific Ocean] water temperatures are significantly cooler than average” and there will be more moisture in the Pacific Northwest and northern U.S.

“Given that the air temperature and moisture content matter when considering the snowpack and likelihood that it will snow, we tend to look at the absolute genesis of those systems,” said David Engdahl, a snow-safety forecaster at Copper Mountain. Winter forecasting goes back to the root of it all, or the “genesis," i.e. ocean waters and its temperature.

“Locations closer to the ocean will generally receive heavier, wetter, denser snow,” says Gratz. This means that it’s very common for resorts like Mt. Bachelor and Whistler Blackcomb to get wet, heavy and ample snow (great for base-building). Will Borg, the forecaster for Big Sky Resort in Montana, agrees. “Maritime regions like Alaska, British Colombia and the Cascades receive greater amounts of snowfall. This snow is dense and heavy, yet those areas also run the risk of receiving rain because it is too warm- that’s not great for skiing.”

Intermountain resorts to receive normal snowfall + East Coast resorts should enjoy above-normal snowfall

Although, the intermountain resorts in the Colorado Rockies, Wasatch and Tetons, are expected to receive normal or slightly above normal snowfall, it will be drier and fluffier than their coastal counterparts. Also, La Nina means colder temperatures and ample snow for Northeast resorts, like Stowe and Mount Tremblant, resulting in above-average snowfall.

Of course, snow forecasting isn’t exact science and there always a lot of factors at play, but if Mother Nature fails, snowmaking will succeed! Plus, a base made of man-made snow typically lasts longer.

Resorts that typically make out best for La Nina season

Source: http://www.onthesnow.com/news/a/621227/forecast-update--winter-16-17-la-ni%C3%B1a-lite