El Nino could be the saviour of the ski season. Possibly
After a rubbish start to the ski season last year, tour operators and resorts are hopeful that the El Nino effect will mean bumper snowfalls in both the Alps and North America this winter.
In case you’ve never heard of it, El Nino is a weather phenomenon that happens every two to seven years when the waters of the central Pacific Ocean become abnormally warm which, combined with changes to normal wind patterns, causes extreme weather.
And this year, according to weather experts, it will be one of the strongest on record, which might mean heavy snowfalls across Europe. In the US, El Nino usually brings higher than usual snowfall to the southern Rockies, including popular resorts in California.
El Nino is expected to be at its peak between now and January, and operators and resorts are hopeful that will mean early snowfalls as there are signs that the poor start to last season, when many resorts were so dry they were forced to delay their opening, has put skiers off booking for this December.
According to ski website Planet Ski, bookings are so poor operators are being forced to discount for Christmas, one of the peak weeks of the season.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026