Welcome to perhaps the best ski day of the season in Lake Tahoe, courtesy of a sizable storm that left behind a foot of snow or more Sunday morning at eight Tahoe ski resorts.
After very little snow to start the season, the snow is finally beginning to accumulate in the Tahoe region. Many Tahoe ski resorts received a half foot or more of snow that piled up Wednesday morning (Jan. 3).
Thanks to a legitimate powder day, the best of the 2023-24 season thus far, expect an exuberant crowd of skiers and snowboarders at Tahoe ski resorts. It will be a chilly day as well, with temperature highs expected to be in the mid-20s, and a windchill that could make it feel closer to zero thanks to the winds.
“We’ve got sunny skies in today’s forecast, calling for a beautiful bluebird day,” said Palisades Tahoe spokesperson Madison Condon. “And it looks like another storm is headed our way later in the week.”
SEE TAHOE SNOW REPORT BELOW
Sugar Bowl and Palisades Tahoe received the most snow (17 inches at their summit) among Tahoe ski resorts. The snow began Saturday afternoon and lasted into the evening hours in the Tahoe region. Both Northstar California and Boreal Mountain got 13 inches, while four other resorts were reporting 12 inches.
There was rejoicing at Granlibakken, a modest ski hill that caters to families looking for a snow experience and beginning skiers and riders. Located off Highway 89, Granlibakken received 11 inches of new snow.
“It’s our biggest snowfall of the season and we are really excited,” said Granlibakken spokesperson DJ Ewan. “This has allowed us to open our surface Poma lift for the first time this season, expanding skiable terrain to 50% of our hill.”
SEVERE WEATHER SATURDAY: Due to high winds, many Tahoe ski resorts either shut down or closed multiple lifts Saturday.
The storm forced Northstar to close early and Palisades Tahoe to only run lower mountain lifts. At Heavenly, dangerous winds forced the resort to shut down the entire California side of the mountain by early afternoon. Mt. Rose was also impacted by the high winds.
Interstate 80 was also closed in both directions for several hours on Saturday.
HEAVENLY GONDOLA UPDATE: The gondola, which is a primary artery to the Nevada side of the mountain for people visiting South Lake Tahoe, remains closed for an indefinite time.
The gondola, located near in the Heavenly village, has been shut down indefinitely due to a mechanical issue discovered Thursday morning (Jan. 4).
CENTRAL VALLEY SKI RESORTS – Dodge Ridge, Bear Valley, China Peak – were pretty darn happy as well. All three ski resorts were reporting 10 inches of fresh snow at their base elevations.
Bear Valley received the most snow on its summit with 17 inches, followed by Dodge Ridge (14) and China Peak (13).
The previous snowfall allowed Dodge Ridge to open Friday (Jan. 5) for the first time this season.
TAHOE SNOW REPORT (Jan. 7)
- Sugar Bowl: 17 inches
- Palisades Tahoe: 17 inches
- Boreal: 13 inches
- Northstar: 13 inches
- Heavenly: 12 inches
- Mt. Rose: 12 inches
- Homewood: 12 inches
- Tahoe Donner: 12 inches
- Granlibakken: 11 inches
- Sierra-at-Tahoe: 11 inches
- Kirkwood: 11 inches
- Soda Springs: 11 inches
- Diamond Peak: 10 inches
