Jackson Hole mountain resort in the USA has already received 49 inches (122 cm) of snow so far this season making it the snowiest October in the last 16 winters! The resort is already looking like the middle of winter but is currently set to open on 24th November.
Jackson Hole - 20/10/2016
It's not just North America with a fantastic first snowfall, ski resorts in the Alps have already seen up to 1 metre of snow already!
Dolomites - 21/10/2016
Les 2 Alpes - 18/10/2016
View more about snow in the Alps in our latest snow report
Will 2016/17 be a La Nina season?
Resorts in North America had an excellent season last year with the El Nino conditions; the start of the season was particularly impressive with intense storms hitting the northwest generating 6-8 feet of snow. 2015/16 was the third strongest El Nino on record and ski resorts recording a record high snowfall included Alyeska, Big White, Keystone and Sun Peaks.
This winter a La Nina has been predicted for winter 2016/17 and temperatures are already lower than average. La Nina will bring wetter than normal conditions at the Great Lakes, the northern Rockies and western Alaska and cooler temperatures to the northern regions of the US which should create better than average snow conditions.
The NOAA has issued a press release predicting a climate phenomenon to develop in late Autumn/early fall. La Nina winters tend to favour above average snowfall around the Great Lakes and in the northern Rockies and below average snowfall in the mid-Atlantic.
Which resorts will get the best snow?
Best Snow has suggested that the ski resorts strongly favoured by La Nina will include:
Could this be the perfect time for a ski holiday in North America? Take a look at ski deals to USA and ski deals to Canada.