Although only at the halfway point, March has already been a great month for snow totals – four Lake Tahoe ski resorts have surpassed the 100-inch mark.
Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows has received 12 feet (144 inches) of snow so far this month, making it already the third biggest March in the last 20 years. March 1 ushered in a 7-foot storm and the current storm has dumped 5 feet on the resort thus far as it continues to pile up. There’s more snow in the forecast Friday and early next week.
“With ‘Miracle March’ in full swing, the resort is gearing up for 2½ more months of skiing and riding,” stated a Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows Press release.
Closing day for Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows has been scheduled for May 28 (Memorial Day), weather and conditions permitting. The High Camp Hot Tub, a spring skiing tradition, will open March 31, if the weather cooperates.
Twelve Lake Tahoe ski resorts received 20 or more inches of snow by Friday morning. Diamond Peak led all resorts with 36 inches and Soda Springs had 30.
All three Vail Resorts in Lake Tahoe have surpassed the 100-inch mark for March. Heavenly Mountain received a whopping 28 inches over the past 24-hour period concluding Friday morning and has 101 inches this month. Northstar California got 26 inches by Friday morning and has 107 inches for the month. Kirkwood Mountain received 18 inches from the latest storm and now has accumulated 123 inches in March.
Perched atop Donner Summit, Sugar Bowl was reporting 21 inches of new snow this morning and a storm total of 55 inches this week.
Homewood Mountain was also providing another powder day for skiers and riders after getting 24 inches in the past 24 hours, bringing its three-day storm total to 58 inches.
According to the National Weather Service forecast snow is expected to continue through Saturday, with 10-14 inches possible Friday, and another 4-8 inches tonight.
What’s up next week? According to OpenSnow.com weather forecaster Bryan Allegretto, drier weather arrives Sunday and should last through Tuesday with temperatures in the 30’s on the mountains and 40’s at lake level. A wet storm could arrive by Wednesday into Thursday.
Snow Report (morning totals March 16)
- Diamond Peak: 36 inches
- Soda Springs: 30 inches
- Heavenly Mountain: 28 inches
- Sierra-at-Tahoe: 28 inches
- Northstar California: 26 inches
- Mt. Rose: 26 inches
- Homewood Mountain: 24 inches
- Squaw Valley: 23 inches
- Alpine Meadows: 23 inches
- Boreal Mountain: 22 inches
- Sugar Bowl: 21 inches
- Tahoe Donner: 20 inches
- Kirkwood Mountain: 18 inches
- Granlibakken: NA
