It was an epic powder day Friday for skiing and snowboarding at Lake Tahoe ski resorts, where snow was piled high from recent storms and the sun broke through for one of the few times this week.
Lake Tahoe ski resorts have experienced an incredible start to January after a week-long snow storm that coated the Sierras with not just inches, but multiple feet of fresh snow.
Both Squaw Valley and neighboring Alpine Meadows were both reporting 117 inches of snow, just short of 10 feet. Homewood Mountain received 93 inches and Mt. Rose wasn’t far behind with 85.
At South Lake Tahoe, Heavenly Mountain recorded 30 inches of snow within 24 hours Thursday morning, bringing the overall seven-day total to 70 inches. Kirkwood Mountain recorded 56 inches of new snow during the recent storm and Sierra-at-Tahoe had 62 inches over seven days.
Although a new storm is expected to hit the Lake Tahoe region Saturday, it will bring mostly rain except at higher elevations. The storm is expected to bring 6 to 12 inches of rain in much of the Tahoe Basin starting Saturday night through Monday morning.
“We are preparing for a major flood,” said Lt. Brian Williams with the South Lake Tahoe Police Department.
An avalanche warning was in effect throughout most of the previous storm. Within hours of lifting the warning Thursday morning, an avalanche closed Mt. Rose Highway (State Route 431), which is located north of Incline Village.
Two backcountry skiers caught in the avalanche fortunately escaped without injury. Plow trucks were able to free several vehicles stuck in several feet of snow from the slide.
Snow Report
- Squaw Valley 117″
- Alpine Meadows: 117″
- Homewood Mountain: 92″
- Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe: 93″
- Boreal Mountain Resort: 85″
- Sugar Bowl Resort: 81″
- Royal Gorge Cross Country: 81″
- Donner Ski Ranch: 72″
- Diamond Peak: 72”
- Heavenly Mountain: 70”
- Sierra-at-Tahoe: 62’
- Tahoe Donner Downhill Ski Area: 64″
- Kirkwood Mountain: 56
- Northstar California: 50″
- Tahoe Cross Country: 20″
- Granlibakken: 20″
