The wait should be over for anxious skiers and snowboarders. The first snow of the season is expected to arrive Wednesday at Lake Tahoe ski resorts.
According to Opensnow forecaster Bryan Allegretto, the first storm moves in by Wednesday afternoon, producing high winds, rain, and snow. The snow levels should start around 7,000 feet and drop near lake level by Wednesday night. There should be several inches of snow on area ski resorts by Thanksgiving morning.
An expected weather break should take place Thanksgiving Day, with a chance of snow showers and cold air before the next storm moves in Friday. The second storm could bring several more inches of snow to Lake Tahoe ski resorts by Saturday. Snow levels rise as high as 8,000 feet Friday before dropping on Saturday.
Following the second storm, there’s no snow on the horizon all next week. Allegretto predicts that may not last long because storms may return by the end of the month.
Thanks to snowmaking, there will be five Lake Tahoe ski resorts open for Thanksgiving – Northstar California, Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows, Heavenly Mountain, Mt. Rose, and Boreal Mountain. All five resorts have limited terrain, but the good news is the cool evening temperatures are ideal for making snow.
“We’ll be opening more terrain as soon as conditions permit,” said Heavenly Mountain spokesperson Zak Sos.
A third Vail Resort in Lake Tahoe, Kirkwood Mountain, has pushed back its planned opening to Saturday, Nov. 24. It had originally planned on opening Wednesday (Nov. 21).
Sugar Bowl is expected to open Nov. 30, weather permitting. The popular Lake Tahoe ski resort, located off Interstate-80 at the Norden exit, has enhanced snowmaking system for the 2018-19 season.
Soda Springs Mountain: The family-friendly resort that caters to young children opened Planet Kids and Tube Town last week, marking the resort’s earliest opening in 85 years of operation.
Planet Kids, a snow playground designed for children (7-under), and Tube Town will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Thanksgiving.
