It doesn’t quite feel like another ski season is nearing until we’ve talked about El Ni\u00f1o and La Ni\u00f1a. These two major weather patterns can greatly influence global climate, and especially temperatures and snowfall across North America. And as the 2025-26 ski season approaches, La Ni\u00f1a is approaching along with it.<\/p>\n
Before talking about El Ni\u00f1o and La Ni\u00f1a, however, it’s important to have some context and understand what defines normal conditions. As the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) writes<\/a>, “During normal conditions in the Pacific Ocean, trade winds blow west along the equator, taking warm water from South America towards Asia.” Cold water then rises from the depths to replace that warm water. This is known as “upwelling.” The cold water then cools the air in the region. This is why San Francisco is known for its cool, foggy summers. As the NOAA continues, “El Ni\u00f1o and La Ni\u00f1a are two opposing climate patterns that break these normal conditions.”<\/p>\n