Could a weekend snowstorm end the focus on lack of snow at Tahoe ski resorts?
A snowstorm is expected to arrive in Lake Tahoe on New Year’s weekend, hopefully bringing much-needed snow to perk up a disappointing start to ski season.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued winter weather advisories for the Sierra, beginning at 10 p.m. Friday (Dec. 29).
The snow will end at various times Saturday in the Tahoe region. The NWS has issued a winter weather advisory for up to a foot of snow and gusts up to 70 mph on Donner Pass and Echo Summit in effect from 10 p.m. Friday to 4 p.m. Saturday.
While skiers and snowboarders can look forward to plenty of fresh powder, California Highway Patrol officials say road conditions are likely to be treacherous Friday night into Saturday morning.
The Tahoe region has been unseasonably dry for the start of the 2023-24 season. The storms that hit the Tahoe region this week did not amount to much snowfall, continuing a slow December.
A year ago, all Tahoe ski resorts were rejoicing due to the huge early-season snow totals. Last year’s Christmas holiday period the snow was piled up in what became a record snowfall season in the Sierra. This year resorts are keeping their snow-making machines on full blast due to the lack of snow.
“The main problem (this year) is the snow line has been really high, so most precipitation at Tahoe has been rain rather than snow,” said meteorologist Anthony Edwards.
Tahoe ski resorts are hoping this storm drops lots of snow. At Sierra-at-Tahoe, director of sales and marketing Katie Hunter said the crowds are not what is normally expected this time of year, typically the busiest in the Tahoe region.
“We are seeing softer numbers,” Hunter said. “Looking ahead at reservations, we still have a lot of inventory, so if anybody’s considering coming up, it would be a great time to hop online, book your tickets and lessons in advance to get the best deal. I always say, ‘It’s going to snow. It always does.’ And when it does, we’ll be excited to bring it.”
SKI TERRAIN UPDATE: Venerable Sugar Bowl, located off Interstate 80 at the Donner Summit, says it’s been making snow at every opportunity and currently has opened 46 trails. Lifts that are open include Lincoln, Disney, Jerome Hill, Christmas Tree, Nob Hill, White Pine, The Flume, and the scenic gondola to the Village Lodge.
On Friday morning, Kirkwood was 58 percent open with 49 runs available. Mt. Rose is reporting 35 available runs with seven of its eight lifts in operation. Heavenly has 35 runs operating (opening 28 percent of the mountain), Northstar had 30 trails (12 percent open), and Palisades Tahoe had opened 55 runs (24 percent).
