The Christmas holiday weather at Tahoe ski resorts hasn’t been for the meek.
Severe gusty winds, whiteout conditions, high snow levels, rain at lower elevations, lift closures, and hazardous travel conditions have all been experienced in Lake Tahoe this week, where many families have chosen to spend their Christmas holidays.
On Monday, winds were tossing snow in all directions at Palisades Tahoe ski resort and continued into Tuesday. The extreme winds were impacting all the Tahoe ski resorts, including Boreal Mountain.
“We did not spin our lifts that go to the top of the ridgeline (Tuesday), but we did have a few other options down lower,” said Tucker Norred of Boreal Mountain, in a statement that could have applied to many Tahoe ski resorts.
However, the weather turned sunny by Wednesday, and skiers and riders hit the slopes in abundance in what will likely be the best ski day for the remainder of the holiday period and into early January.
“With the winds beginning to pick up and a parade of storms on the horizon, we’re expecting a very dynamic weather week through the New Year,” a Palisades Tahoe message stated. “There is a good chance our upper mountain lifts will be impacted for multiple days, and some of our outdoor events or activities may be canceled or relocated.”
But the good news is this – Tahoe ski resorts will emerge from this series of storms with its snowpack in great shape as we enter the New Year.
WHAT’S ON TAP: The National Weather Service (NWS) says a winter storm watch for Tahoe ski resorts will last through the weekend, dropping considerable rain at lower elevations and dumping snow on the mountains. It will make skiing and riding conditions difficult and tough for anyone traveling to the Tahoe region.
Much of the region already received a solid coating of snow earlier this week and more is on the way.
“We’re in the middle of a storm right now, and another round of snow is coming (Thursday night) that could produce another few inches, up to 6 to 12 inches overnight,” said NWS meteorologist Hannah Chandler-Cooley.
Travelers to the Tahoe region can expect wet conditions up to about 4,500 feet in elevation Thursday, and then heavy snow at Donner Pass and Echo Summit.
Another system is expected to arrive Friday night, dropping more snow. Anticipate several inches of snow and high winds below 7,000 feet. The heaviest snow should take place Saturday where totals could be from 8 to 12 inches. Above 7,000 feet, the snow totals could range from 2-4 feet.
POST NEW YEAER’S WEATHER: Active weather will continue into the first week of 2023 with more storm systems likely, insuring that Tahoe ski resorts won’t have a repeat of 2022 when virtually no snow fell for the first six weeks of the year.
The NWS is anticipating a break in storms coming Tuesday (Jan. 3), but later that evening a stronger, colder system will impact Tahoe ski resorts through Thursday. From midweek through next weekend there should be additional feet of new snowfall.
