Mammoth Mountain is preparing to open on November 13, planning to be the first major California resort to welcome skiers and snowboarders this season. This announcement follows fresh snowfall across the Sierra Nevada, with parts of the Eastern Sierra, including Mammoth, receiving 4 to 6 inches this week. Several mountains have already commenced snowmaking operations as these early signs of winter arrive amid forecasts for a potentially strong El Niño weather pattern.
Local resorts are channeling millions of dollars into improvements for the upcoming 2026-27 season. Mammoth Resorts has allocated nearly $13.5 million for upgrades, with a significant portion dedicated to avalanche safety in the wake of incidents last winter. This investment includes the installation of 15 remotely operated avalanche-control towers at Mammoth Mountain and an additional tower at nearby June Mountain. This technology is designed to enable ski patrol teams to conduct avalanche mitigation operations remotely during severe storms, thereby reducing the need for personnel to enter hazardous terrain. Additionally, five new snowcats will enhance grooming operations across Mammoth Mountain, June Mountain, and Tamarack Cross Country Ski Center.
June Mountain is also expanding its snowmaking infrastructure along the Canyon Ski Back Trail to improve conditions on the route back to the parking area. For families, June Mountain will continue its program offering free season passes to children aged 12 and younger, providing unlimited access throughout the season. Mammoth Mountain is also scheduled to host the Toyota U.S. Alpine Championships from March 31 through April 7, marking the return of the national competition to the mountain for the first time since 2005.
The broader outlook for California’s winter suggests the state could experience an unusually wet season. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Climate Prediction Center projects a greater than 90 percent chance of a very strong El Niño developing in the Pacific Ocean, with forecasters anticipating that all of California will likely see a wetter-than-average winter. This weather pattern typically shifts Pacific storm tracks southward, potentially bringing heavier precipitation across California and the Southwest. OpenSnow forecaster Bryan Allegretto told SFGATE that Mammoth is "more favorably situated" than Tahoe during El Niño winters, as Tahoe sits closer to the northern edge of the storm track.
However, experts caution that an exceptionally strong El Niño does not automatically guarantee exceptional snowfall. Of the four strong El Niño winters since 1970, only two produced above-average snowfall in the Sierra Nevada, Allegretto told KQED. He referenced the 1982-83 winter, which delivered approximately 170% of average snowfall, contrasting it with the disappointing 2015-16 season. Allegretto expressed cautious optimism about the coming winter, indicating that January and February could potentially deliver the strongest snowfall. Daniel McEvoy, a climatologist at the Desert Research Institute's Western Regional Climate Center, additionally cautioned SFGATE that the presence of a very strong El Niño does not assure a specific winter outcome. Temperature remains another key uncertainty, as an unusually warm winter could bring substantial rain to lower elevations even as higher peaks receive heavy snow. Atmospheric rivers are also expected to play a significant role in determining whether the Sierra experiences an exceptional winter. NOAA's latest forecast estimates that the Tahoe area is likely to see above-average temperatures, while areas farther south, such as the Mammoth region, have equal chances of unusually warm or unusually cold temperatures.
Beyond local improvements, several Lake Tahoe mountains have also announced projected opening dates, though all are contingent on weather and snow conditions. Other resorts across California are also making substantial investments. Palisades Tahoe is installing new remotely operated avalanche-control equipment, expanding snowmaking along Mountain Run, and introducing a Beginner Progression Pass. Sugar Bowl is replacing its Village Gondola, redesigning beginner terrain, and upgrading snowmaking technology. Homewood Mountain Resort plans a new eight-passenger gondola and snowmaking improvements, although a firm opening date for the gondola has not yet been announced. Northstar California Resort is introducing a new Fun Forest for younger skiers and ski and snowboard lessons taught by Mandarin-speaking instructors. Mt. Rose has invested nearly $2 million in improvements, including snowmaking upgrades and a new grooming machine. These statewide preparations highlight a collective focus on safety and infrastructure as California anticipates the start of the ski season.
