A cold snap that hit much of Northern California on Friday was especially kind to the Lake Tahoe region, dumping several feet of fresh powder.
See today’s Snow Report below.
The snow storm was a welcome site to Lake Tahoe ski resorts, which have been waiting for a sizable snow storm to hit and bolster its modest snow overall totals.
There are currently eight Lake Tahoe ski resorts open for skiing and snowboarding. A little snow play is available at several of Lake Tahoe’s ski resorts as well.
Opening day at Sugar Bowl
The Lake Tahoe snow storm was especially pleasing for one Lake Tahoe ski resort. Sugar Bowl ski resort received quite the opening-day gift – 18-22 inches of snow! The resort, which opened for the 2013-14 season this morning, will have three lifts operating with access to 11 trails.
“We couldn’t ask for much better conditions for opening day,” Sugar Bowl spokesperson John Monson said. “The temperatures are very low, so it’s the light, dry snow that skiers and riders live for.”
Kirkwood reported the most snow of any Lake Tahoe resort, getting 32 inches at its summit. Kirkwood, which had 24 inches of new snow dumped on its base, is located off Highway 88 in Kirkwood.
Heavenly gets 18 inches of powder
On Tahoe’s south shore, it was good news as well. The Lake Tahoe snow storm on Friday added 12-18 inches of fresh snow at Heavenly ski resort. The resort has a solid start to the season with 24 inches at base level and 30 at the summit. Heavenly is expected to open two more lifts today – Comet and Big Easy.
The five other ski resorts that are currently open – Sierra-at-Tahoe, Boreal Mountain, Mt Rose, Northstar California, Squaw Valley – all received more than a foot of snow at its base level and more at their summit.
Weather forecast
The National Weather Service is calling for a 90 percent chance of snow today in the Lake Tahoe region. But the snowfall will only be modest, likely 2-4 inches.
Temperatures will remain chilly today with a high in the Lake Tahoe region in the low 20s. The daytime and evening temperatures will be creeping upward. By Tuesday the forecast for daytime temperatures is 45 degrees, yet the lows are being reported as close to zero.
Below is the Snow Report for Saturday morning.
BOREAL
New Snow: 16″
Snow depth: 18″
Location: Interstate 80 at Donner Summit
Website: www.rideboreal.com
HEAVENLY
New Snow: 12-18″
Base snow depth: 24-30″
Location: Ski Run Boulevard in South Lake Tahoe
Website: www.skiheavenly.com
KIRKWOOD
New Snow: 24-32″
Snow depth: 24-32″
Location: Highway 88 in Kirkwood
Website: www.kirkwood.com
MT. ROSE
New Snow: 14-16″
Snow depth: 16-24″
Location: Mt. Rose Highway in Reno
Website: www.skirose.com
NORTHSTAR CALIFORNIA
New Snow: 18″
Snow depth: 18-29″
Location: Highway 267 near Truckee
Website: www.NorthstarCalifornia.com
SIERRA-AT-TAHOE
New Snow: 16-18″
Snow depth: 16-18″
Location: Highway 50, 12 miles west of South Lake Tahoe
Website: www.sierraattahoe.com
SQUAW VALLEY
New Snow: 10-15″
Snow depth: 18-22″
Location: Highway 89, six miles from TahoeCity
Website: www.squaw.com
SUGAR BOWL
New Snow: 18-22″
Snow depth: 18-22″
Location: Interstate 80, Norden exit
Website: www.sugarbowl.com
