Our city-by-city winter of 2026-27 snowfall predictions

Every year around this time, Climatologist Cliff Harris and I issue our annual city-by-city snowfall predictions for North Idaho and surrounding areas of the Inland Northwest.

Last season, our seasonal snowfall total in Coeur d’Alene was only 32.4 inches, which is well below the average of 69.8 inch normal. The previous season, 2024-25, was another tough year for snow as 36.1 inches was measured. The 2023-24 season ended up at 51.2 inches, so there have been three seasons in-a-row with less than average snowfall totals in Coeur d’Alene and surrounding regions. The last time Coeur d’Alene and other nearby areas had above normal snowfall was during the 2022-23 season. At Cliff Harris’s station, 83.8 inches of snow was measured.

With the super-strong El Nino in the waters of the south-central Pacific Ocean, the chances are currently higher than average that we’ll have a fourth year in a row with below normal snowfall across much of the Inland Northwest. However, snowfall totals may be higher this season when compared to the previous one as some of the long-range computer models are indicating the possibility of early weakening of the circumpolar vortex.

The circumpolar vortex, also called the polar vortex, is a large area of cold, low-pressure air circulating around Antarctica and the Arctic. When the polar vortex becomes disrupted, the jet stream can become more amplified, allowing colder Arctic air to move southward into the U.S.

An early polar vortex disruption or weakening often creates the potential for colder weather across portions of North America, particularly the eastern United States. However, some computer models indicate that colder outbreaks could occur farther to the west this winter season. The developing El Nino may modify some of that frigid air, but we could see some interesting winter storms in the northwestern U.S. if this pattern develops.

Based on the strong warmer El Nino sea-surface temperatures, our snowfall prediction for Coeur d’Alene for the 2026-27 season is 43.2 inches, which is still below normal levels. The Spokane International Airport is projected to see about 24 inches of snow, which is below 45.4 inches. Many of our winter storms in recent years have been too warm for snow in the lower elevations and this trend is likely to continue this winter as well. Also, with a strong El Nino, there’s also an increased chance of freezing rain events in the lower elevations. El Nino is expected to peak in December or January, so the second half of winter could produce more snowfall than the first half.

For now, here’s our projected seasonal snowfall totals for many eastern Washington, western Montana, and northern Idaho towns and cities. And, depending on what happens over the next several months, we may have to adjust these totals.

1. Area ski resorts should range from approximately 150-200 inches at Mt. Spokane, 175 to 225 inches at Silver Mountain to around 250-300 inches at both Lookout Pass and Montana’s Whitefish Mountain.

2. Priest Lake: 55 to 60 inches.

3. Spirit Lake: 53 to 58 inches.

4. Twin Lakes: 54 to 59 inches.

5. Bonners Ferry: 52 to 57 inches.

6. Rathdrum: 50 to 55 inches.

7. Sandpoint: 49 to 54 inches.

8. Wallace: 49 to 54 inches.

9. Athol/Garwood: 47 to 52 inches.

10. Hauser Lake: 45 to 50 inches.

11. Kellogg (town): 45 to 50 inches.

12. Hayden Lake (above 2,400 feet): 44 to 49 inches.

13. Hayden (town): 42 to 47 inches.

14. Newport, Wash.: 41 to 46 inches.

15. Coeur d’Alene (North): 40 to 45 inches.

16. Dalton Gardens: 39 to 44 inches.

17. Fernan Lake: 37-42 inches.

18. St. Maries: 37 to 42 inches.

19. Hope: 35 to 40 inches.

20. Kalispell, Mont.: 36 to 39 inches.

21. Coeur d’Alene (Downtown near the CD’A Resort): 32 to 37 inches.

22. Post Falls: 32 to 37 inches.

23. Plummer: 30 to 35 inches.

24. Worley: 29 to 34 inches.

25. Harrison: 28 to 33 inches.

26. Missoula, Mont.: 25 to 30 inches.

27. Spokane (South Hill): 23 to 28 inches.

28. Spokane Valley: 22 to 27 inches.

29. Bayview: 20 to 25 inches.

30. Spokane International Airport: 20 to 25 inches.

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Contact Randy Mann at [email protected].