Snow totals continue to escalate at Lake Tahoe ski resorts, where a sizable storm dropped a foot or more of snow Saturday and the snow continues to fall Sunday (March 5).
Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe in Nevada (and very close to North Lake Tahoe) had the most snow of any Tahoe resort in the past 24 hours, getting 20 inches. Earlier this week, Ski.com reported that Mt. Rose had 650 inches of snow for the 2016-17 season, the most of any North American resort this season.
Heavenly continues to add to its massive snow totals, getting 18 inches on Saturday. Homewood Mountain is reporting 17 inches of new snow and Sugar Bowl had 16. Northstar California received 14 inches Saturday, Sierra-at-Tahoe had 13 and Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows added 10 inches.
It’s been quite the ski season thus far for Lake Tahoe ski resorts. Many Lake Tahoe ski resorts are already reporting snow totals exceeding 500 inches. Heavenly Mountain now has 572 inches for the 2016-17 season, Northstar California has 592 and Kirkwood Mountain has 587 after getting 9 more inches Saturday.
According to ski booking website ZRankings, Lake Tahoe ski resorts has recorded seven of the largest single day snow totals in the U.S. for the 2016-17 season. ZRankings tracks all kinds of data in regards to skiing and recently compiled a list of the 10 biggest powder days of this season. Note that a single resort is not mentioned more than once in these results.
I-80 closed in both directions
It’s dumping in the Lake Tahoe region again Sunday, but that’s not necessarily terrific news for travelers in either direction. Interstate 80 was shut down Saturday evening and remained closed as of Sunday at 10:30 a.m. According to Caltrans, I-80 was closed from Colfax to the Nevada state line due to zero visibility. Both Eastbound and Westbound sections of I-80 are closed. Also, Highway 89 near Emerald Bay in North Lake Tahoe is closed due to unstable snow.
Highway 50, the primary corridor to South Lake Tahoe, is open. Chains are required from Placerville to Meyers. Highway 50 remains reduced to one lane in each direction from 3 miles east of Pollock Pines to 1 mile West of Bridal Falls Road. Caltrans crews continue to work on road repair in the Bridal Falls area where a section of the road is being replaced. Two-lane travel might not return for another month or more
SNOW REPORT
- Mt. Rose: 20 inches
- Heavenly Mountain: 18 inches
- Homewood Mountain: 17 inches
- Sugar Bowl: 16 inches
- Northstar California: 14 inches
- Sierra-at-Tahoe: 13 inches
- Tahoe Donner: 12 inches
- Diamond Peak: 12 inches
- Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows: 10 inches
