Santa Claus may be working his magic Christmas Eve. Christmas morning should be white with substantial amounts of fresh snow at Lake Tahoe ski resorts.
A sizable snow storm could bring 12-18 inches of snow Christmas Eve at Lake Tahoe ski resorts.
Opensnow California forecaster Bryan Allegretto believes the storm could bring 12-18 inches of snow to the mountains and several inches to lake level. The National Weather Service (NWS) in Reno is a little less optimistic, predicting the Christmas Eve storm could bring 6-15 inches of snow at higher elevations at Lake Tahoe ski resorts and 2-6 inches in Tahoe valley locations.
Modest snow totals dropped Thursday night (Dec. 20) and will continue for the next several days as Christmas approaches at Lake Tahoe ski resorts.
Northstar California, Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows, Sugar Bowl and Sierra-at-Tahoe all reported 4 inches of snow Friday morning. Boreal Mountain and Kirkwood Mountain both received 3 inches overnight.
The somewhat weak weather system arrived Thursday night into Friday as it moves through the Lake Tahoe region. Gusty winds continue Friday, accompanied by colder temperatures with highs in the 30’s on the mountains.
Allegretto reports that Saturday should be a nice day for skiing and snowboarding at Lake Tahoe ski resorts, with lighter winds, sun, and highs in the 30’s on the mountains. A storm moves through just to the north Sunday and could bring light snow showers. The main impacts should be gusty winds and clouds.
“After a dry Saturday, weak disturbances will bring light showers at times Saturday night through early Monday,” states the NWS. “Travel impacts are more likely for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day when a stronger storm system brings increasing chances for rain and snow.”
According to Allegretto, the Lake Tahoe region should see high-pressure build-up by Friday (Dec. 28) that could bring dry weather into the first week of January.
Tahoe Ski Resorts
- Boreal Mountain
- Diamond Peak
- Heavenly Mountain
- Granlibakken
- Homewood Mountain
- Kirkwood Mountain
- Mt. Rose
- Northstar California
- Sierra-at-Tahoe
- Soda Springs
- Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows
- Sugar Bowl
- Tahoe Donner
