Super Bowl weekend in Lake Tahoe won’t be just about football. A snowy weekend is predicted in Lake Tahoe, which means ski resorts may be offering some exciting powder days for skiers and snowboarders.
“Tahoe is the destination to ski all morning then catch the Big Game in the afternoon at one of the many traditional parties throughout Tahoe,” said Carol Chaplin, president and CEO of the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority.
Lake Tahoe received 304 inches of snowfall total in January. The huge accumulation of snow at Lake Tahoe ski resorts almost guarantees good conditions through April, while also pulling Northern California out of the state’s historic drought. South Shore’s average season totals are 400-500 inches.
The Sierra snowpack measurement, which tracks California’s water content taken near Echo Summit in South Lake Tahoe, is at 177 percent of average. A report by the California Department of Water Resources is expected to be released Thursday and officials anticipate numbers to be even higher.
The U.S. Drought Monitor report released Jan. 26 indicated that the Northern Sierra is out of the drought, while 2 percent of Southern California remains in the extreme category. Three months ago, the state’s extreme conditions were at 43 percent and a year ago it was 64 percent.
According to Lake Tahoe Snow Forecaster Bryan Allegretto, on Wednesday night light snow moves in with snow levels below lake level. Perhaps 2-3 inches could drop. However, the snow levels rise to 7,000 feet on Thursday and could bring perhaps a foot of new snow.
Snow showers Friday night could result in another 5-14 inches at Lake Tahoe ski resorts. Over the weekend snow showers may continue.
A storm that starts Sunday could bring an additional 6-12 inches across the Tahoe basin, and a few more inches could arrive Tuesday with a few more inches of snow.
Dry conditions are predicted Wednesday and the second half of next week.
