Skiing and snowboarders who love spring skiing might not be happy about this news: It’s snowing again at Lake Tahoe ski resorts.
After getting close to 3 feet of snow last week, the Tahoe region got a respite from the snow, but it came back Wednesday. According to Snow Forecaster Bryan Allegretto, snow levels will drop from 8,000 feet this evening to lake level by Thursday morning. Some forecasters are calling for a foot of new snow from this storm, which should end by Thursday evening or Friday morning.
The Lake Tahoe region is expected to start drying out Friday and Saturday, before the next storm system moves in, probably sometime Sunday and continuing into Monday.
It’s been quite the winter for Lake Tahoe ski resorts. Many resorts are nearing records for snowfall. Sugar Bowl ski resort is reporting 751 inches of snow this season. Other resorts posting hefty seasonal totals include 708 inches at Boreal Mountain, 685 at Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows and 680 at Soda Springs.
It’s been quite the season for snow totals. By mid-March, there were eight Lake Tahoe ski resorts that had received 600 or more inches this season. Historically, the average annual snowfall at upper elevations in the Lake Tahoe-Truckee region is 450 inches.
Heavenly Mountain reached 600 inches of snow by March. The South Lake Tahoe ski resort averages 360 inches per season. According to Heavenly Mountain spokesperson Anna Jacobson, this is the 16th time since 1879 that the summit at Heavenly has passed the 600-inch mark. The last time was 2011.
It’s closing time this week for Homewood Mountain, Kirkwood Mountain and Tahoe Donner. But skiing and riding will continue at least for another week to two weeks at most Lake Tahoe ski resorts.
Closing dates for Lake Tahoe resorts.
- Homewood: April 16
- Kirkwood Mountain: April 16
- Tahoe Donner: April 16
- Donner Ski Ranch: April 17
- Granlibakken: April 17
- Soda Springs: April 23
- Sugar Bowl: April 23
- Sierra-at-Tahoe: April 23
- Diamond Peak: April 23
- Northstar: April 23
- Boreal Mountain: April 23
- Heavenly Mountain: April 30
- Mt. Rose: May 29
- Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows: July 4
