Following a huge snow storm one day earlier, the Lake Tahoe region received an even bigger one Tuesday.
Tahoe ski resorts were reporting between 2½ feet to nearly 4 feet of snow from Tuesday morning to Wednesday morning. Two-day snow totals have reached as much as 6 feet.
One of Tahoe’s smaller resorts – Diamond Peak – had the biggest one-day total, getting a staggering 46 inches at its summit. Not far behind was Palisades Tahoe, which received 44 inches, bringing its two-day total to more than 6 feet (73 inches), the most among all Tahoe ski resorts.
“We are absolutely buried. Over the last 72 hours, we’ve picked up an incredible 76 inches, completely transforming the mountain and setting the stage for some incredible powder skiing,” said Patrick Lacey, a spokesperson for Palisades Tahoe.
SEE TAHOE SNOW REPORT BELOW
There were 12 Tahoe ski resorts that had a two-day total of 50 or more inches. And guess what? The snow is continuing with forecasters saying the storm won’t subside until Thursday evening (Feb. 19).
Located in South Lake Tahoe, due to its location, on many heavy snow days Heavenly receives less snow than other Tahoe ski resorts. That was the case when it reported 10 inches Tuesday morning. However, the internationally-known resort received a whopping 40 inches by Wednesday morning.
“What a day on Tuesday! There were whiteout blizzard conditions for most areas with closed roads and closed ski areas, as cold powder piled up to 2-4 feet in just a 24-hour period,” Bryan Allegretto, OpenSnow forecaster said.
Another intense storm is expected Wednesday evening with significant snow totals once again. Following an anticipated two-day break Friday and Saturday, one more storm should arrive Sunday evening and continue into Wednesday (Feb. 25).
The Tahoe region wasn’t the only area receiving unseasonably sizable snow totals. The snow was piling up off Interstate 80 in Colfax (average elevation 2,247 feet). On Highway 50, the snow was also significant in Pollock Pines (elevation 3,980 feet).
Forecasters are saying the snow levels could drop to as low as 1,000 feet Wednesday evening, which means Auburn may see overnight snow accumulating.
RESORT OPERATIONS: For a second straight day, Sierra-at-Tahoe, Boreal Mountain and Soda Springs were closed due to excessive snow and at times blizzard-like conditions. The road leading to the Sierra resort and Highway 50 were closed much of Tuesday. Also closed Tuesday was Interstate 80.
“After testing the conditions this morning, we made the decision to be on the safe side and decided to close again today,” said Tucker Norred, spokesperson for Boreal.
Early Wednesday morning, Palisades Tahoe announced operations would be limited to lower-mountain lifts only. The access to those lifts didn’t take place until 11:15 am.
Although there were no lifts operating by mid-morning, the Heavenly crews were able to get the mountain running. There were 16 lifts operating and the Tram was transporting skiers and riders up and down the mountain.
Located on the west shore in North Lake Tahoe, Homewood decided by late morning that all aerial lifts would remain closed for the day.
SIERRA AVALANCHE: Eight people trapped in an avalanche slide near Castle Peak were found dead Wednesday. Six of the deceased were men and two were women. The closest access point to Castle Peak is Boreal Mountain.
Authorities reported in a Wednesday morning press conference that one person, a man presumed dead, remains missing. The rescue effort has now moved from a search one to a recovery mission.
KCRA-3 TV in Sacramento said this was the “deadliest avalanche in California history.”
Among the deceased were three guides working for the Blackbird Mountain Guides company. The avalanche occurred around 11:30 am Tuesday. The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office said just before 10:45 pm Tuesday it rescued six of the skiers, one of them a guide. Among the rescued were five women and one man.
The area is popular with backcountry skiers. The group of 15 people were returning from a three-day back country trip when the avalanche hit. They had been staying at a lodging area called the Frog Lake huts.
ROADS REOPEN: The previously closed interstate and highway leading into Lake Tahoe were reopened Wednesday morning.
Both I-80 and Highway 50 were reopened in both directions. Westbound I-80 was open to vehicle traffic, but remained closed to trucks.
On Highway 50, chains are required on all cars except four-wheel-drive vehicles with snow tires on all four wheels from 9 miles east of Placerville to Riverton in El Dorado County.
Traveling on I-80, chains are required on all vehicles except those equipped with four-wheel-drive with snow tires on all four wheels from 3.4 miles east of Gold Run to the Nevada State Line.
Both roadways to Lake Tahoe were closed Tuesday due to storms that led to whiteout conditions.
TAHOE SNOW REPORT (February 17-18)
- Palisades Tahoe: 29-44 – 73 inches
- Homewood: 21-44 – 65 inches
- Sierra-at-Tahoe: 26-35 – 61 inches
- Kirkwood: 21-38 – 59 inches
- Diamond Peak: 13-46 – 59 inches
- Tahoe Donner: 27-32 – 59 inches
- Boreal: 30-26 – 56 inches
- Northstar: 15-40 – 55 inches
- Sugar Bowl: 27-26 – 53 inches
- Soda Springs: 26-25 – 51 inches
- Heavenly: 10-40 – 50 inches
- Mt. Rose: 20-30 – 50 inches
- Granlibakken: 20-x – TBA inches
