Expect a much-needed Christmas gift arriving this week for Tahoe ski resorts – snow.
Following a break in the weather Tuesday, the Lake Tahoe region is expected to get hit hard Wednesday (Dec. 24) with a much-needed storm, the largest one to date for the 2025-26 ski season. Upwards of 5 feet of snow could arrive from this latest storm.
To date, only seven Tahoe ski resorts are operating lifts and most of the runs are on beginner terrain.
“Rain and snow return early Wednesday morning with snow levels falling into the day on Wednesday,” reports OpenSnow forecaster Bryan Allegretto. “Snow will be heavy at times through Thursday, with snow showers lingering into Friday.”
Possible Storm Totals
- Kirkwood: 40-58 inches
- Sugar Bowl (temporarily closed): 31-45 inches
- Palisades Tahoe: 31-45 inches
- Northstar: 23-33 inches
- Heavenly: 18-26 inches
- Mt. Rose: 18-26 inches
Sierra-at-Tahoe announced it will be opening for the season Saturday (Dec. 27).
SIERRA-AT-TAHOE OPENING: One of its latest openings in any season will finally end for Sierra-at-Tahoe, which announced Tuesday it will be open for skiing and snowboarding Saturday.
“After weeks of anticipation, a Christmas storm is set to deliver the goods just in time for opening day, with several feet of snow expected to fall at the mountain between Wednesday evening and Friday,” a Sierra press release stated.
Located off Highway 50, 12 miles west of South Lake Tahoe, Sierra plans to operate at least Easy Rider Express on Saturday. Additional lift and terrain details will be announced as the storm develops and snow totals are confirmed.
Opening-day festivities kick off at 8 am with hot apple cider samples and sweet treats from Marshall, Sierra-at-Tahoe’s medical clinic partner, and DJ Josbeatz providing the soundtrack. Limited edition Opening Day swag will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis to the first 100 people in the lift line.
PALISADES SNOW REPORT: Over the past 72 hours, storms delivered top-to-bottom snowfall at Palisades Tahoe, with up to a foot of snow on the upper mountain as of Tuesday morning.
The current snowfall and the upcoming storms will allow Palisades to expand the current terrain for the holiday weekend. By Saturday, weather and conditions permitting, Palisades Tahoe hopes to open the Funitel, Gold Coast, Big Blue, and Shirley Lake.
At the Alpine side of the mountain, Treeline and possibly Roundhouse could open by the weekend.
GRANLIBAKKEN OPENING: Employees are working to have the sledding area and beginner open on Christmas Day at Granlibakken, a resort with a focus on family fun in the snow.
“We have had a lot of rain, but it unexpectedly turned to snow and dropped 4 inches Monday (Dec. 22),” Granlibakken spokesperson DJ Ewan said. “We are hoping to be able to make snow and to receive a significant amount of snow this week to get fully open by Sunday.”
SUGAR BOWL REOPEN: Expecting a good amount of snow from this week’s storm, Sugar Bowl announced it will be reopening Friday (Dec. 26).
The popular resort, the closest one to the Sacramento region, has been closed recently due to a lack of snow.
