With the Christmas holidays approaching fast, Mother Nature is offering an early gift to Lake Tahoe ski resorts – snow! And lots of it.
After several weeks with zero snow following a substantial amount in November, the snow returned to the Tahoe region this week and will continue through Monday (Dec. 16).
Palisades Tahoe received the most snow among Tahoe ski resorts, getting 13 inches as of Friday morning (Dec. 13). Three other area resorts hit double figures in snow totals – Sugar Bowl (11), Boreal Mountain (11), Soda Springs (10).
“Mother Nature dumped 13 inches of fresh snowfall, bringing our season snowfall total to 72 inches (6 feet),” said Palisades Tahoe spokesperson Madison Condon. “Our slopes mirror a snow globe, and the snow is expected to intensify and bring up to another 2 feet by the end of this storm system.”
CHECK OUT THE LASTEST TAHOE SNOW REPORT BELOW
As a result of the additional snow, Palisades Tahoe says its opening new terrain Friday, including one of its iconic chairlifts. Granite Chief lift houses some of the resort’s most challenging runs.
GRANLIBAKKEN UPDATE: An historic ski resort in North Lake Tahoe, Granlibakken received a total of 7 inches of snow by this morning and Friday 13th marks the opening on one of the family-friendly surface lifts to begin another season at its ski hill.
“Our ski area now offers sledding seven days a week, as well as lessons, equipment rentals and skiing and snowboarding,” said Granlibakken spokesperson DJ Ewan. “We are hoping this storm total will allow us to open our Poma surface lift within the next few days.”
WEATHER FORECAST: More snow showers continue throughout Friday and heavier snow should arrive Saturday and eventually waning later that evening.
A weather break should arrive Sunday, followed by a weak system that’s expected to bring light rain and snow showers Monday.
According to OpenSnow.com local meteorologist Bryan Allegretto, the trend with the next storm is for the heavier precipitation to push in Saturday morning, which will help with keeping colder air over the Tahoe basin as well as keeping snow levels a bit lower than previously forecast.
Allegretto says a drier pattern is expected from Dec. 17-20 and a weak system is possible the following two days. Another weak system or two is possible before the end of December.
TAHOE SNOW REPORT
- Palisades Tahoe: 13 inches
- Sugar Bowl: 11 inches
- Boreal: 11 inches
- Soda Springs: 10 inches
- Northstar: 8 inches
- Kirkwood: 7 inches
- Granlibakken: 7 inches
- Sierra-at-Tahoe: 6 inches
- Tahoe Donner: 6 inches
- Diamond Peak: 4 inches
- Heavenly: 3 inches
- Mt. Rose: 2 inches
- Homewood: Closed for the season
