Following a day of light snow, a major storm is expected to descend on Lake Tahoe ski resorts Thursday evening and the snow may last into Saturday, dropping perhaps 1-3 feet of snow.
The current forecast is calling for a sunny Sunday and some great conditions for skiers and snowboarders early next week at Lake Tahoe ski resorts. So, if you’re thinking of calling in sick Monday, you might want to start practicing your cough Friday at work!
Eleven of Lake Tahoe’s 14 ski resorts received 10 or more inches by Wednesday morning from the first storm to hit Tahoe this week. Sugar Bowl ski resort was reporting 17 inches Wednesday morning and Kirkwood Mountain was right behind with 16 inches.
This snowy spring weather pattern is reminiscent of the 1991 winter when the phrase “Miracle March” was born. Naturally, skiers and riders couldn’t be happier if it happens again.
Snow forecaster Bryan Allegretto of Opensnow.com predicts that with 1-3 feet already on the ground at Lake Tahoe ski resorts, the storm total could be 2-6 feet by Saturday.
“We could see 1-4 inches of additional snowfall today (Thursday) – 7-17 inches on the mountains and 6-12 inches at lake level tonight,” says Allegretto. On Friday, there could be “6-12 inches on the mountains and 5-8 inches at lake level, and finally 2-4 inches Friday night. Scattered snow showers could linger into Saturday with a dusting to an inch for some mountains.”
The heaviest snowfall is expected overnight Thursday and continue into Friday. High winds arrived Thursday afternoon following a good morning of skiing and riding in powder conditions. The high winds could last into Friday.
All three Vail Resorts in Lake Tahoe were reporting nice snow totals Thursday morning. Both Kirkwood Mountain and Northstar California received 8 inches and Heavenly Mountain had 6 inches. Kirkwood has gotten 24 inches over the past two days, while Northstar has received 22 inches and Heavenly checked in with 19 inches.
What’s up next week? According to Allegretto, drier weather arrives Sunday and should last through Tuesday with temperatures in the 30’s on the mountains and 40’s at lake level. A wet storm could arrive by Wednesday into Thursday.
Snow Report (totals from March 14)
- Homewood Mountain: 18 inches
- Sugar Bowl: 17 inches
- Kirkwood Mountain: 16 inches
- Boreal Mountain: 14 inches
- Tahoe Donner: 14 inches
- Sierra-at-Tahoe: 13 inches
- Squaw Valley: 12 inches
- Alpine Meadows: 12 inches
- Heavenly Mountain: 10 inches
- Northstar California: 11 inches
- Mt. Rose: 10 inches
- Granlibakken: 8 inches
- Diamond Peak: 7 inches
- Soda Springs: NA
