Press Release

El Nino Declared by NOAA for 2009-10 Season; Good News for Big Sky

BIG SKY, Mont. —The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has confirmed  El Nino, the warming of equatorial Pacific water which sets up a weather pattern in North America, has set up again.  Historically, data indicates that Big Sky Resort receives more than average snowfall during El Nino years.

The last two identified El Nino years were 1995/96 and 2005/06, respectively those years received 498 inches and 509 inches of snow on the upper mountain.  Over a 35 year average the upper mountain received between 400-450 inches of snow.

El Nino is an oscillation of the ocean-atmosphere system in the tropical Pacific having important consequences for weather around the globe is defined by sustained differences in Pacific-Ocean surface temperatures when compared with the average value.  To provide necessary data, NOAA operates a network of buoys which measure temperature, currents and winds in the equatorial band. These buoys daily transmit data which are available to researchers and forecasters around the world in real time.

During the last two most recent El Nino years Big Sky Resort received approximately 15% more snow than average. Big Sky and southwestern Montana trend with the Rocky Mountain weather patterns while north western Montana weather patterns are heavily influenced by the Pacific Northwest.  NOAA data reinforces this pattern and shows that traditionally in El Nino systems the Northern Rocky Mountains receive less snowfall while the Rockies receive more than average snow.

“While El Nino years do not guarantee great snow, the recent data does indicate that we could expect an excellent winter,” said Dax Schieffer, Big Sky Resort Public Relations Director.  “Big Sky is in a unique geographical spot when it comes to traditional weather patterns, but the snow data shows we’ve been on the winning end of El Nino.” 

Big Sky Resort will begin reporting snow conditions daily, November 26, Thanksgiving Day which is the scheduled opening day for mountain operations at Big Sky Resort.  Visit www.bigskyresort.com for current conditions.