By admin 
Another day, another nationwide map predicting how the historic El Niño brewing in the Pacific Ocean will affect winter has dropped.
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This time, the map comes from Atlanta News First’s meteorologist Ella Dorsey, and similar to other long-range forecasts, Dorsey is closely following El Niño and says, “The main thing that went into predicting this winter’s forecast is the super El Niño that’s developing in the Pacific Ocean.”
She continues, “It’s basically just a huge pool of warm water off of the coast of South America that impacts weather all over the world. But it especially impacts the weather in the United States in the cooler months.”
There have been strong El Niños in the past, but Dorsey emphasizes just how historic this winter’s El Niño is expected to be.
Pointing to a chart that shows Pacific Ocean temperatures nearly five degrees above average, Dorsey says, “We’ve seen several super El Niños over the last century; they’re not uncommon, but this one, this year, is expected to be the strongest ever on record, with temperatures in that warm pool of water running upwards of five degrees Fahrenheit [above average]. That type of warm water has a major impact on the jet stream, and the jet stream is what drives all weather.”
Tap or click below to watch meteorologist Ella Dorsey’s full forecast. Keep reading for a further breakdown tailored towards skiers.
Dorsey’s forecast includes a breakdown of how El Niño will impact Georgia, the state in which, presumably, the majority of her audience resides, but she extends the view nationwide towards the end of the video.
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“Usually in El Niño winters, the north is pretty mild,” says Dorsey. “I expect it to be a pretty mild winter compared to average in the Great Lakes Region, pretty dry in the High Plains; I don’t think they’ll see as much snow as they usually get.”
Then, turning her attention to the massive blob labeled “COLDER” in the American Southwest, Dorsey says, “Meanwhile, the desert Southwest will be cooler than average by a few degrees, and California is going to be very wet. In fact, they could see multiple mudslides; they’re gonna see a ton of rain. Last time they had a super El Niño, a year’s worth of rain fell in December. I expect the same.”
So, what does that mean for skiers? Keep reading for a breakdown of winners and losers of states with active ski resorts
El Niño Winners, Based on Ella Dorsey’s Winter 26/27 Forecast
- California
- Arizona
- Utah
- New Mexico
- Parts of Colorado
El Niño Losers, Based on Ella Dorsey’s Winter 26/27 Forecast
- Parts of Montana
- North Dakota
- Minnesota
- Wisconsin
- Michigan
- Iowa
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Ohio
- Western Pennsylvania
- Western New York
El Niño Toss-Up, Based on Ella Dorsey’s Winter 26/27 Forecast
- Washington
- Oregon
- Idaho
- Wyoming
- Eastern Colorado
- West Virginia
- Vermont
- New Hampshire
- Maine
- Massachussetts
- Connecticut
- Eastern New York
- Eastern Pennslvania
- Tennessee
Confused? Don’t Worry, We Are Too
The pending “historic” El Niño forecast is ripe for internet misinformation, overreactions, and talking heads. It’s been one of the clickiest topics of 2026, and with ski resorts reeling from last season’s woes, every resort is marketing this winter’s bomber forecast as the gospel.
Our advice? Pay attention, watch, and read the weekly forecasts, but don’t, for the love of Candide Thovex, think that anybody knows what the heck will actually happen. AI models, years of experience, and opinions are valuable tools to attempt to predict the future, but Mother Nature will have the final say, believe it or not.
Click below to read my piece on the El Niño hype, and think snow! Winter is almost here, friends.
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Related: Skiers Beware, The El Niño Hype Train Has Officially Left The Station
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This story was originally published October 21, 2026 at 7:41 AM.