Following an extremely dry winter, it's been a harsh summer in the American West, with wildfires, drought, heat and more weather taking its toll. Then we're expecting a strong El Niño this winter, which will also influence how much snow will fall out West.

So, how is that going to affect the popular ski resorts in the Rockies?

Extreme offseason weather could take a toll

Areas in drought are more likely to stay in drought. For spots that have had fires this year, such as Washington and Utah, they'll be more prone to avalanches where heavy snow falls. This is due to burn scars being very unstable soil, which could lead to issues with stability.

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Places that are hot right now may have a more difficult time cooling off for the early season storms, so that precipitation will fall as rain instead of snow.

A seismic shift, courtesy of El Niño

For skiers and snowboarders, a strong El Niño means you might have to head south.

A strong El Niño tends to make winters warmer in the Northwest and wetter in the Southwest. That could make for a very good snow and ski year in California, Colorado and Arizona, but it could be a very bad ski year in the Pacific Northwest and northern Rockies.

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As of early September, most of the big ski resorts in the American West are still tracking toward their normal target opening dates. The ones to watch are in the north, like Stevens Pass in Oregon or Mt. Bachelor in Oregon. Due to El Niño, they may not get enough early natural snowfall and face a higher risk of pushing their openings back into mid-December.

Popular Idaho resorts like Sun Valley or Schweitzer may also experience a slower, milder start to winter, which could also impact when they open for the winter season.

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