While snowfall was infrequent early in the ski season at Tahoe ski resorts, Mother Nature has been making regular visits to start the New Year.
Tahoe ski resorts received their fourth major January snowfall Saturday with five resorts getting 10 or more inches of snow. Unlike the first three storms, the latest one included rain at some lower levels and heavy snow overall. But the bottom line – snow totals keep increasing in the Lake Tahoe region.
The regular snowfall in the New Year has not only greatly increased the amount of total snow for the 2023-24 season, it has resulted in all Tahoe ski resorts opening more lifts and adding more trails. And that’s a good thing, especially on a Martin Luther King holiday weekend where lots of skiers and snowboarders were visiting the slopes.
SEE TAHOE SNOW REPORT BELOW
On Sunday morning, Boreal Mountain was reporting 20 inches at its summit. Soda Springs added 18 inches to its season total and Palisades Tahoe had 17 inches. Both Sugar Bowl and Kirkwood added 10 inches and two other resorts reported 9 inches.
“Our most recent snowfall came in a bit heavy with the warmer overnight temperatures,” a blog on the Sugar Bowl website said. “The overnight increase in temperatures led to substantial ice formation on lifts, haul ropes and carriers. It’s not the epic powder day that we’d hoped for, but we will have plenty of corduroy ready for tracks once the lifts are rolling.”
SEASON SNOW TOTALS: There are now three Tahoe ski resorts whose season snow totals have crept over the triple-figure mark.
Sugar Bowl has received the most snow in the Tahoe region, piling up 117 inches at its summit. Mt. Rose’s season totals are now 110 inches and Palisades moved into triple digits with 101 inches. Boreal is right behind with 99 inches and Kirkwood has 95.
WEATHER FORECAST: Both Sunday and Monday (Jan. 14) should bring mild temperatures and no snow, providing relief for skiers and riders who don’t enjoy severe weather conditions.
The snow is expected to return to Tahoe ski resorts by late afternoon-early evening Tuesday. It should be a fast-moving storm and could clear out by mid-day Wednesday.
TAHOE SNOW REPORT (Jan. 14)
(Season Snow Totals in Parenthesis)
- Boreal: 20 (99) inches
- Soda Springs: 18 (84) inches
- Palisades Tahoe: 17 (101) inches
- Sugar Bowl: 10 (117) inches
- Kirkwood: 10 (95) inches
- Northstar: 9 (83) inches
- Tahoe Donner: 9 (NA) inches
- Homewood: 7 (37) inches
- Mt. Rose: 6 (107) inches
- Sierra-at-Tahoe: 6 (82) inches
- Heavenly: 5 (66) inches
- Granlibakken: 3 (NA) inches
- Diamond Peak: 2 (48) inches
