The snow has returned this week to the Lake Tahoe region, fortifying Tahoe ski resorts with additional snow after several weeks of mostly sunny weather.
The storms began earlier in the week and there will be little let up until perhaps Thursday (March 2). The forecast is calling for the storm to stretch across the next three days, sending wind chills plunging well below zero and adding three feet or more to the already impressive snowpack.
CHECK OUT TAHOE SNOW REPORT BELOW
“This is an especially cold storm by Tahoe standards and foot after foot of cold smoke powder is piling up,” a Friday message on the Sugar Bowl website said. “It’s been a wild and windy few days on Donner Summit.”
Boreal Mountain received the most snow from Thursday’s storm, reporting 28 inches Friday morning (Feb. 24). Boreal was one of eight Tahoe ski resorts to receive at least a foot of snow during the past 24 hours. Other sizable Friday totals included Palisades Tahoe (20), Homewood (18), Northstar (17), and Kirkwood (17).
SEASON SNOW TOTALS: The latest snowfall has pushed many Tahoe ski resorts well past the 400-inch mark for the season.
Boreal tops the list of the 400-inch club with 438 inches. Kirkwood is close behind with 436 inches, followed by Palisades Tahoe (433), Sierra-at-Tahoe (432), and Sugar Bowl (415). Northstar is sitting at 399 inches and will join the 400 club Friday.
“We reached our highest season-to-date snowfall total in the last three seasons and officially surpassed our annual average snowfall of 400 inches, setting us up for a nice, long spring season,” said Palisades Tahoe spokesperson Maddy Condon. “It is still snowing and we are expecting to accumulate a lot more snow throughout Friday.”
WEATHER FORECAST: Snow is forecast throughout Friday and will be heavy at times. Daytime snow totals are expected at about 5 to 9 inches. At night, snow is forecast before 10 p.m. at around 1 to 3 inches possible.
Due to zero visibility, Interstate 80 is closed in both directions from Colfax to the Nevada state line with no estimated time of re-opening. On Highway 50 that leads into South Lake Tahoe, chains are required from Placerville to Meyers. Mt. Rose Highway also currently has chain controls in effect Friday morning.
CHP is discouraging travel in the mountains during the storm. Officials are urging people not to travel to the Sierra due to the fierce storm front, heavy snow and whiteout conditions across the Sierra.
STIFEL PALISADES TAHOE CUP: The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) gave the go-ahead Thursday for Palisades Tahoe to host the Giant Slalom and Slalom events, scheduled for Saturday and Sunday off the Red Dog chair at the base of the mountain.
“It’s a great honor to be the host resort for the Stifel Palisades Tahoe Cup as we continue to bring international competition back to our legendary slopes,” says Dee Byrne, COO and President of Palisades Tahoe. “From the 1960 Winter Games to the 1969 Men’s World Cup, and most recently the 2017 Women’s World Cup, we’re looking forward to bringing an international competition to our resort under our new name.”
STIFEL SCHEDULE
- Saturday, 10 am: Giant Slalom Run 1
- Saturday, 1:15 pm: Giant Slalom Run 2
Heading into this weekend, Sierra-at-Tahoe had 432 inches for the 2022-23 season. - Sunday, 10 am: Slalom Run 1
- Sunday, 1:15 pm: Slalom Run 2
TAHOE SNOW REPORT (Feb. 24)
- Boreal: 28 inches
- Palisades Tahoe: 20 inches
- Homewood: 18 inches
- Northstar: 17 inches
- Kirkwood: 17 inches
- Tahoe Donner: 15 inches
- Sugar Bowl: 15 inches
- Soda Springs: 14 inches
- Sierra-at-Tahoe: 11 inches
- Heavenly: 7 inches
- Diamond Peak: 7 inches
- Mt. Rose: 6 inches
- Granlibakken: NA
