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Ski Report

Mount Kato Ski Area Snow Report

Minnesota, United States North Mankato
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Mount Kato Ski Area -- Minnesota ski resort
Mount Kato Ski Area Minnesota · North Mankato
About this resort

Mount Kato Ski Area

Mount Kato Ski Area is a ski resort located in Mankato, Minnesota. The resort boasts over 19 runs with a vertical drop of 240 feet. The best trails for advanced skiers are the Upper Ridge and Lower Ridge runs. Mount Kato also has a rich history, having been opened in 1963 and now run by third-generation owners. For beginners, the resort recommends trying the Bunny Hill and Magic Carpet. The best après-ski bar in the area is the Loose Moose Saloon, located on site, which offers a selection of drinks and live music on weekends.

Terrain mix: The pertinent mountain range for Mount Kato Ski Area in Minnesota is the Coteau des Prairies, which is a relatively flat and rolling region that extends into the state from the Dakotas.

Mount Kato Ski Area itself does not have any significant mountain aspects as it is located in a relatively flat area of southern Minnesota. The highest point at the ski area is only around 835 feet above sea level. Despite this, Mount Kato offers a variety of runs and terrain for skiers and snowboarders of all levels to enjoy.

StateMinnesota
LocationNorth Mankato
Detailed forecast

Plan your day down to the hour

Same weather feed Snoflo's iOS app uses -- updated continuously from NOAA / yr.no. Watch the snow column the morning of a storm to know when to call in sick.

Hourly detail

Next 5 days, hour by hour

Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.

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Deep dive

5-day forecast table

Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.

TimeConditionTemp (°F)Snow (in)Rain (in)Humidity (%)Wind (mps)Wind dir
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Long-term outlook

15-day temperature & snow

Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks -- start of next storm cycle, end of last one.

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Forecast discussion

What forecasters are seeing

Plain-English forecast narrative from the local NWS office. Issued by NWS MPX.

484 FXUS63 KMPX 210753 AFDMPX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN 253 AM CDT Wed Oct 21 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - Above normal temperatures and dry weather continue through at least Friday. - Rain chances and normal temperatures return this weekend. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 248 AM CDT Wed Oct 21 2026 TODAY...There is quite the range in regional temperatures this morning, with parts of western Minnesota still sitting in the low 50s while some spots in west-central Wisconsin are plummeting to the low 30s already. There is also seemingly random 10 degree differences over short distances all across the area. For example, KLVN in Lakeville is sitting at 45F at 2AM and KMSP is at a balmy 55F. Maybe that example is influenced by the urban heat island, but you can find more examples of that spread all over this morning. This is likely showing the battle between southerly winds advecting warm air northwards and clear skies facilitating efficient radiational cooling (strength varying based on location). All that to say, some folks will be waking up to chilly temps this morning. Winds will not increase too drastically today, though the persistent southerly flow and sunny skies will bump highs up a couple degrees from yesterday. THURSDAY TO SATURDAY...Temperatures will run a good 15 to 20 degrees above normal for mid-October (meaning highs in the mid 70s and lows in the mid 50s). Both Thursday and Friday have a shot at exceeding 80 degrees for locations along the Buffalo Ridge. Southeasterly winds will increase for Friday and Saturday ahead of a developing low pressure system over southern Canada. A cold front is expected to swing through the region on Saturday, though not before it loses much of its umph. The southerly flow will help increase PWATs to a little over an inch (which is almost 3 times normal for mid October), so there will certainly be enough moisture to tap into. The overall lack of strong forcing though will likely limit precip amounts to a couple tenths at most as the rounds of showers move through this weekend. SUNDAY TO TUESDAY...The pattern changes and our late summer-like weather comes to an end next week. The highs next week will be similar to what our lows are like this week. And lows drop into the 30s, with many areas across the north likely seeing sub- freezing temps again as we near the end of October. Rain chances linger to start the week, though it depends on how far south that front is able to drop. && .AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z THURSDAY/... Issued at 1138 PM CDT Tue Oct 20 2026 VFR is expected at all terminals the entire period. Have removed the TEMPO for BR at STC Wednesday morning as CAMs have trended lower with the possibility of fog. A few clouds near 5000 feet are possible over south-central MN and western WI during Wednesday morning. South-southeasterly winds will be near or under 5 knots at the start of the period before gradually slowing and becoming variable during the daytime hours Wednesday. Winds will trend to northeasterly Wednesday evening but still be under 5 knots. KMSP...VFR expected the entire period, though fog is a better possibility Wednesday night. However, confidence is not high enough to include in the TAF at this time. /OUTLOOK FOR KMSP/ THU...VFR. Wind SE 5kts. FRI...VFR. Wind SSE 10-15G25kts. SAT...VFR, chc -SHRA/MVFR. Wind SSW 10-15G25kts. && .MPX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MN...None. WI...None. && $$ DISCUSSION...BED AVIATION...CTG

Mountain & avalanche safety

Know before you go
Check today's avalanche bulletin from the regional avalanche center before any off-piste / side-country / backcountry travel. Conditions can shift dramatically between morning and afternoon on storm days.
Carry the gear, know how to use it
Beacon, shovel, probe. Practice companion rescue on a calm day, not during a real burial.
Mind the weather window
Heavy snow + wind builds wind slabs at ridgelines. The day after a storm is often the riskiest in the backcountry, even if the resort itself is open.
Respect closed terrain
Ropes are there for a reason. Even in-bounds, ducking a closure can trigger a slide that catches you and others below.

Track Mount Kato Ski Area in the Snoflo app

Save this resort as a favorite, set push alerts when snowfall crosses a threshold (e.g. "alert me when Mount Kato Ski Area reports 6″ new"), and Snoflo's iOS app will push the moment the SNOTEL station crosses.

FAQ

About Mount Kato Ski Area

Where does the snow data for Mount Kato Ski Area come from?

Snowpack, SWE, 24-hour snowfall, and air temperature come from the nearest USDA NRCS SNOTEL station. Forecast comes from the National Weather Service / yr.no feed that Snoflo's iOS app uses.

How often is the snow report updated?

Snowpack and SNOTEL data are updated continuously by NRCS (typically hourly). The 15-day weather forecast is refreshed throughout the day. Snoflo caches and renders the most recent observation -- look for the "as of" timestamp on the snowpack hero.

What's the elevation at Mount Kato Ski Area?

See the Resort Metrics panel above for base / summit / vertical drop. The summit elevation drives snowpack accumulation -- higher summits hold snow longer through spring.

How is "% of normal" calculated?

Today's snowpack is compared to the average snowpack on this calendar day across every recorded year at the nearest SNOTEL. 100% means right on average; 130% is a big year; 60% is thin.

What ski resorts are near Mount Kato Ski Area?

See the Other Ski Areas pill grid at the bottom of the page for resorts within driving distance. The sister Other Ski Areas card in the Plan-a-longer-trip grid above shows the closest few.

Can I get alerts when fresh snow hits?

Yes -- snow alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this resort, set a snowfall threshold (e.g. "alert me when 6+ inches"), and you'll get a push the moment the SNOTEL crosses.

More ski areas

Other resorts near here

Snoflo-tracked ski areas within driving distance of Mount Kato Ski Area.