Winter at Brigham Young University-Idaho usually means slushy crosswalks, frostbitten noses, and students flocking to local slopes like Kelly Canyon for a break from campus life.

This year, the 2026 snowpack has left many disappointed with fewer ski days and a shortened season. The weather is forcing students to rethink their winter routines.

For students who count on weekend trips to the mountain, the lack of snow is more than just an inconvenience.

Some have dealt with this weather by adjusting plans and trading in winter gear for indoor activities. Others have shouldered unexpected costs, trying to travel farther for better conditions.

Experts are calling this winter in Idaho a “snow drought,” with snowpack levels well below average for this time of year.

Much of the region’s precipitation has fallen as rain rather than snow, putting ski resorts and local water supplies at risk.

Idaho, along with much of the Western United States, experienced a dry 2025, with average temperatures up 5 degrees Fahrenheit from previous years.

This warm weather pattern is partly the result of La Niña, a climate phenomenon marked by unusually cold ocean temperatures in the equatorial Pacific, according to NOAA.

La Niña events occur every two to seven years and can influence global weather patterns.

In Idaho, these conditions often bring reduced snowfall and warmer temperatures, contributing to the low snowpack this winter and the shortened ski season.

A low snowpack not only increases the risk of drought but also raises the likelihood of natural disasters such as wildfires.

Kelly Canyon Ski Resort, a local favorite for students at Brigham Young University-Idaho because of its proximity and student discounts, has seen the impact of lower-than-average snowfall.

“This year is the worst one we’ve had in decades,” said Sam Whitlock, Kelly Canyon’s director of revenue. “Attendance is definitely lower overall this year compared to some other years.”

Whitlock said he monitors snowpack closely and has followed conditions in the region for the last several years. He began working at Kelly Canyon as a ski instructor in 2017.

“I can’t say for sure that low snow years are becoming more common,” Whitlock said. “This will be a memorable year for how warm it has been, but at the same time, we can’t forget the winter of ’22–’23. It seemed to snow every day of that season, and we were just swimming in powder and cold weather.”

"La Niña did us dirty, but we'll come back stronger next year," Whitlock said.

Kelly Canyon has continued operations as normal despite warm conditions, with all but two runs on the mountain open. The resort delayed opening for several days in December due to rain, but has not had any other weather-related closures.

Whitlock explained that the resort sits on a north-facing slope, meaning that Kelly Canyon is able to keep its snow longer than mountains directly in the sun's path and other places in the valley.

While places surrounding Rexburg may not be seeing large amounts of snow, the resort has been able to remain open.

Another recent addition helping Kelly Canyon this season is the terrain park rope tow.

“The quality of the terrain park has little to do with weather conditions and much more to do with maintenance. We've been spending more time keeping it fresh and fun for our beloved ‘park rats,’” Whitlock said.

"Snowmaking has helped the resort achieve this by creating a solid, deep base layer," Whittaker explained.

"This makes grooming easier, allowing the runs where snow can be made to be groomed every night--something we want on a low-snow year,” he said.

BYUI students are still trying to take advantage of what is left of the winter season.

“We saw really strong sales for that pass [BYUI Season Pass] this year, which means lots of students getting out in the fresh air,” Whitlock said.

Students, however, say the low snow has forced them to adjust plans, seek alternative activities, or travel farther for better conditions.

Ryan Adams, a business management and marketing student at Brigham Young University-Idaho, grew up snowboarding at Beaver Mountain in northern Utah.

After moving to Malad City, Idaho, he continued snowboarding at Pebble Creek Ski Area.

Adams disagrees with the idea that Utah has “the best snow on Earth.” “They’re wrong,” he said. “Idaho and Wyoming’s snow usually comes sooner and stays longer. The slopes in Idaho and near Rexburg are world-class.”

He pointed to larger resorts such as Grand Targhee Resort, Sun Valley Resort, Big Sky Resort and Jackson Hole Mountain Resort as major winter destinations in the region. Still, he said smaller resorts near Rexburg deserve attention.

“I love that Idaho has such an amazing variety, even here at our own little home resort,” Adams said, referring to Kelly Canyon Ski Resort.

After returning from a mission in California in 2024, Adams said he was eager to get back on the slopes after a two-year break.

He purchased a Kelly Canyon BYU-Idaho student pass and began skiing once school started in January.

“This year, the lifts didn’t run till after school had already started, so it was pretty disappointing that I couldn’t get up there quicker,” Adams said.

Because of the later season start and lack of snow, Adams has noticed it is harder to get friends and classmates to go outside.

"There are a lot of BYUI students who go skiing and boarding, but it's kind of hard to find people who think it's worth going at all this year," Adams said.

Students who typically only go once or twice a season and don't purchase a student pass don't find it worth it this year to go at all because of snow pack.

With resorts struggling to groom with the low snowpack, Adams has turned to backcountry skiing and split-boarding to find good powder.

"It's far and few between, but it's definitely better than any resort," he said.

In the 2025 winter season, Adam found himself heading to Kelly Canyon three times a week. This year, he says, he may go once a week and venture into the backcountry to find better conditions.

However, he acknowledges that the resort chose a great year to install the new rope tow in the terrain park.

"I find myself using that for most of the day, choosing to practice jumps and rails over regular riding because of the snow depth and quality. I don't think anyone could have predicted that we'd have so little snow this year, but the new rope tow at least gives me a reason to go over there even in the worst snow conditions," said Adams.

This winter has looked different from the white Christmas and winter seasons that Adams grew up with.

"It was super sad not to be able to go snowboarding with my family during the break. There's definitely been less snow in recent years, and obviously, that's terrible for recreation," Adams said, but he worries more about how this will affect the climate for the rest of the year.

"It also puts everyone in danger because if we can't fill the rivers and reservoirs with snowmelt this spring, agriculture is going to really struggle this summer. No water means no food, and I don't know about you, but I would rather be able to eat than snowboard. No matter how much I love it," Adams said.

Adams hopes for a late winter storm and prays that the snow will stick until late April. "A late powder season is better than no season, I guess," he said.

Other BYUI students share Adam’s concerns about how the winter season will affect the rest of the year.

Isaac Wood, a Rexburg local and English major at BYUI, typically spends his winters downhill alpine skiing. Wood said the quiet and concentration required for the activity are relaxing and help him get the most out of the experience.

He usually spends Saturdays in the mountains and occasionally skis during the week. His resort of choice is Grand Targhee, along with parts of the surrounding backcountry.

Growing up, Wood remembers reading the Farmers’ Almanac with his family to track winter snow conditions. He said La Niña has noticeably affected the weather this year.

“The snow is simply much more scarce,” Wood said. “Even at Targhee, where the Tetons generate their own weather and dump large quantities of snow on surrounding areas, the snowfall is significantly less.”

Despite the lack of snow, Wood said backcountry conditions are “okay,” but the snowpack is not building as quickly as in previous seasons.

“You’re almost never skiing in powder or fresh snow during seasons like this one,” Wood said.

While he still tries to visit the resort, he now typically spends only about four hours there. He has not gone into the backcountry this season and said he likely will not.

“The work it requires is simply not worth it for really subpar skiing,” Wood said.

Wood said the weather has made him less excited for weekends, but added that others may be more affected.

“My guess is farmers are experiencing greater emotional stress over the snow than I am,” he said.

Wood said winters are becoming less snowy compared to when he was younger.

“If a winter like this occurred when I was a child growing up in Rexburg, it was an anomaly,” Wood said. “Based on the last five years, skimpier winters may be becoming the norm.”

For now, students, resort staff and firefighters across Idaho are watching the forecast and hoping winter is not over yet.

A late-season storm could still improve snowpack levels, but many say the effects of this dry winter may be felt this summer, from water supply to wildfire risk.

Even so, students continue finding ways to get outside, adapt their routines and make the most of what remains of the season.