Thanks to a generous amount of snow to open the season, conditions remain good at Mt. Rose ski resort in Nevada.
With snow totals sitting at 178 inches for the 2019-20 season, Mt. Rose is well below its normal snowfall average. But the resort, located off the Mt. Rose Highway close to Incline Village in North Lake Tahoe, benefitted from great snowfall totals in late November and early December.
“Mt. Rose has been holding up great. Our grooming crew is doing a bang-up job of keeping the whole mountain in primo shape,” said Mt. Rose spokesperson Mike Pierce. “Our off-piste skiing a little firm in the mornings, but besides that, Mt. Rose continues to be one of the best choices for quality snow in Tahoe.”
Thanks to its snowmaking capability and some low evening temperatures, this was the fourth straight season that Mt. Rose was the first Tahoe-area ski resort to open for the season – Oct. 25. It was the earliest the resort has ever opened for skiing and snowboarding. The previous earliest date was Oct. 26, 2017.
Snow totals are way down this year for all Tahoe ski resorts. Squaw Valley has received the most snow among Tahoe ski resorts with 207 inches.
(SEE BELOW FOR CURRENT TAHOE SNOW TOTALS).
However, there have been multiple Tahoe bluebird days to enjoy where the sun is out and conditions are more spring-like that most February days in the past. The snow total is far from its average and pales in comparison to a year ago when Squaw Valley received 313 inches in what was nicknamed “Februburied.” Squaw received the most February snow in resort history.
Unlike some Tahoe ski resorts, Mt. Rose has no immediate plans for making snow.
“We have not had the need to turn on the (snow) guns since January. Mt. Rose continues to have a substantial snow base of 3-5 feet,” Pierce said. “We got loads of early-season snow that continues to benefit us. There is no current need for additional snowmaking right now.”
Despite the forecast of virtually no snow for the remainder of February and early March, Mt. Rose is making no plans to close early.
Thanks to its snowmaking capability and some low evening temperatures, this was the fourth straight season that Mt. Rose was the first Tahoe-area ski resort to open for the season – Oct. 25.
“It’s doubtful we will close early. Our high altitude – starting at 8,260 feet – and northern exposure are key to Mt. Rose keeping and maintaining a quality snow surface,” Pierce said.
For a daily look at Mt. Rose conditions, visit https://skirose.com/the-mountain-web-cams/.
SNOW REPORT (season totals, Feb. 26)
- Squaw Valley: 207 inches
- Sierra-at-Tahoe: 204 inches
- Alpine Meadows: 198 inches
- Northstar California: 197 inches
- Boreal Mountain: 196 inches
- Sugar Bowl: 194 inches
- Kirkwood Mountain: 192 inches
- Soda Springs: 192 inches
- Heavenly Mountain: 183 inches
- Mt. Rose: 178 inches
- Homewood Mountain: 166 inches
- Diamond Peak: 113 inches
- Tahoe Donner: 111
