Tahoe Ski World

skiing in Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe resorts had 8 of Top-10 snow totals last season

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Eight of the top-10 snow totals at North American ski resorts last season were recorded at Lake Tahoe-area ski resorts.

It was arguably the most prolific season for snow totals in Lake Tahoe history. As a result, ski resorts stayed open later for the 2016-17 season than ever before.

Sugar Bowl employees huddled together near a lift last winter. The Lake Tahoe ski resort had 795 inches of snow, second among North American resorts.

Squaw Valley stayed open the latest of any Lake Tahoe resort. The famed Olympic ski resort didn’t close for the season until July 15, offering skiing and snowboarding for a record 200 days.

Squaw Valley had 728 inches of snow last season, the fifth most among North American ski resorts. Seven Lake Tahoe ski resorts had more than 700 inches of snow last season.

“Last season was one we will not soon forget,” said Andy Wirth, president and CEO of Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows. “Mother Nature dealt out her fair share of challenges, with snow totals, wind speeds and overall volatility of weather the likes of which have never been seen in the Sierra Nevada since ski areas have been in operation. However, the monumental snowpack brought the historic opportunity to operate well into summer.”

Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows spokespeople reported that there were 10 Atmospheric River weather events hitting the resort – the average season sees two to four. The California Department of Water Resources declared the 2016-17 water year the wettest on record, just over halfway through the water year (October 2016-October 2017).

Sugar Bowl had the most snow among the Lake Tahoe resorts for the 2016-17 season, recording 795 inches. That put Sugar Bowl in second place among North American resorts, trailing only Mt. Baker in Washington, which had an astonishing 866 inches of snow.

Located 25 miles from Reno, Mt. Rose in Nevada recorded 768 inches, the most in resort history.

Another Lake Tahoe ski resort also surpassed the 600-inch level. Sierra-at-Tahoe accumulated 625 inches. Further south, California-based Mammoth Mountain recorded 618 inches.

The snow totals at Squaw Valley, where employees were sometimes shoveling roof tops, became a danger a times due to the frequent storms hitting the Lake Tahoe region.

Top-10 snow totals for North American ski resorts

  1. Mt. Baker, Washington: 866 inches
  2. Sugar Bowl, Lake Tahoe: 795 inches
  3. Mt. Rose, Nevada (near Lake Tahoe): 768 inches
  4. Boreal Mountain, Lake Tahoe: 751 inches
  5. Squaw Valley, Lake Tahoe: 728 inches
  6. Alpine Meadows, Lake Tahoe: 710 inches
  7. Northstar California, Lake Tahoe: 709 inches
  8. Kirkwood, Lake Tahoe: 702 inches
  9. Brighton, Utah: 674 inches
  10. Heavenly, Lake Tahoe: 659 inches