Season Intelligence Report

Vail

CO · 11,570 ft summit · EGE

Grade Pending

NWS Bias

2025–26 Season Snapshot

Storms This Season

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storms tracked

Season Snowfall

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season total

Best Storm

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no storms yet

Current Snowpack

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SNOTEL ground truth

NWS Forecast Accuracy

Pending

Accuracy grade pending, and it stays that way on purpose. We show the raw NWS forecast for Vail and do not grade or correct it. Six winters of NWS-against-SNOTEL checking found forecast accuracy here turns on an unresolved snow-measurement question (settled snow depth vs. fresh snowfall), not a fixed per-mountain bias anyone can honestly correct. So we show the number NWS publishes and tell you that is what it is.

SNOTEL ground truth (842:CO:SNTL)

Storm History — 2025–26 Season

No storms recorded this season yet.

Local Knowledge

TGR Community Intel

Storm Day Strategy

Monitor competing areas - when Summit County (Breck/Keystone) closes due to weather, Vail becomes mega-crowded. Weather patterns show rain up to 10k ft with snow above; expect rain-on-snow conditions during storms with elevation transition around 10k ft. Dense, heavy snow texture common. Consider alternative resorts (Purgatory, Copper, Wolf Creek, Telluride) during major storms to avoid Vail masses. Base layer structures essential for afternoon skiing as rain transitions occur. Back Bowls deliver consistent powder; East Vail offers less-tracked alternatives.

Terrain Opening Patterns

Back Bowls

Opens: Weather dependent - requires significant base

Low base years delay back bowl access significantly

Northwoods Lift Area

Opens: Variable

In low snow years, insufficient base for standard pole drilling

Powder Stashes

High Alpine/Upper Mountain

Upper elevation terrain

Wind creates natural powder preservation; refills available in right spots

Grouse Area at Beaver Creek