The weather shift this weekend is dramatic at Lake Tahoe ski resorts. Winter has departed – for now – and spring skiing will be evident for the weekend and into next week.
Break out the light, spring clothing and make sure to wear lots of sun screen during these classic bluebird days at Lake Tahoe ski resorts. Best time to ski this time of year is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. when the snow is at its best.
The National Weather service forecasts that April 1 through April 3 should be beautiful days with temperatures reaching just over 50 degrees during the afternoon and dipping into the high 20s overnight. There’s no snows in the forecast until next Friday (April 8) when sunny sky’s and light winds prevail.
While many ski resorts around the U.S. will soon be shutting down for the season, that’s not the case in Lake Tahoe where practically every ski resort has extended its season thanks to tremendous snow totals this season.
Located in Nevada near North Lake Tahoe, Mt. Rose ski resort is closing in on 700 inches, the most in the Tahoe region. It just received another 13 inches one day last week, creating an 18-foot base. Mt Rose has 691 inches of snow since the beginning of the season and says it will have lifts running through Memorial Day.
“This season just won’t quit, and we can’t say we’re not happy about it,” said Mike Pierce, director of marketing at Mt. Rose. “The conditions have been phenomenal.”
Northstar California recently received 29 inches over a recent one-week period, expanding its total snow count to 650 inches this season. Two other Vail Resorts in Lake Tahoe – Heavenly Mountain and Kirkwood Mountain – also have impressive snow totals for the 2016-17 season. Kirkwood received 27 inches recently and has 628 inches total, while Heavenly had 15 new inches of snow and its total is 615.
Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows has received 654 inches (over 54 feet) of snow so far this season. The resort is tracking toward one of its snowiest seasons on record, ranking only behind the 2010-11 season (810 inches) and 1994-95 (662 inches). January 2017 broke the resort’s record for snowiest month with 282 inches, beating out March 2011 (241 inches). The annual average snowfall is 450 inches.
Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows has plans to remain open for the month of May and is committed to offering skiing and snowboarding on Fourth of July.
Below are scheduled closing dates for Lake Tahoe resort.
- Homewood: April 16
- Kirkwood Mountain: April 16
- Tahoe Donner:April 16
- Donner Ski Ranch: April 17
- Granlibakken: April 17
- Soda Springs:April 23
- Sugar Bowl: April 23
- Sierra-at-Tahoe: April 23
- Diamond Peak: April 23
- Northstar: April 23
- Boreal Mountain:April 23
- Heavenly Mountain: April 30
- Rose: May 29
- Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows: July 4
