La Niña is coming this winter!
Although the first flake has yet to materialize in our humble hamlet, we do have the season’s first prediction of what’s in store for this winter. Local meteorologists are predicting a strong La Niña winter. The last time we had one of those, records were shattered and Steamboat was buried again, and again to the tune of 489 inches!
For all you weather geeks: a La Niña is characterized by unusually cold temperatures in the Pacific Ocean around the equator. For all of you who keep score: La Niña favors the Northern Rockies and Steamboat is just far enough to the north to reap the benefits.
I’m no meteorologist, but I can forecast what you are about to ask: “When should we come to Steamboat? When does it get the most snow?” I just pulled down Steamboat’s snowfall statistics off my wall (some of the only numbers I enjoy gazing at) to see what La Niña looks like in accumulation.
As I look back at the last time La Niña came to Steamboat in 2007/08 - our snowiest winter EVER - I can tell you that January just barely topped the list as the snowiest month at 129 inches. Trailing by a mere three inches (126″) was December, followed by February at 104 inches. March was a little dry, but still a respectful 79 inches.
This could be you
You be the judge, I don’t think you can go wrong, except by missing it entirely. We hope you will join La Niña in Steamboat this winter - I can hear the powder hounds howling already!
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