The huge snow storm currently hitting Tahoe ski resorts is already delivering large dividends in terms of snow totals.
No matter what ski resort skiers and snowboarders frequent, the news was good in terms of snow totals from the storm that began late Tuesday afternoon (Jan. 26) and continued into Wednesday.
Mt. Rose ski resort reported 22 inches by Wednesday morning, the most among Tahoe ski resorts. Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows got 14 inches and Tahoe Donner was reporting 13.
Twelve of 13 Tahoe ski resorts received 10 or more inches by Wednesday morning. And the snow was expected to continue throughout Wednesday and perhaps last into Friday morning.
TAHOE SNOW REPORT (Jan. 27)
- Mt. Rose: 22 inches
- Squaw Valley: 14 inches
- Alpine Meadows: 14 inches
- Tahoe Donner: 13 inches
- Heavenly: 12 inches
- Soda Springs: 12 inches
- Boreal: 12 inches
- Homewood: 12 inches
- Northstar: 11 inches
- Kirkwood: 11 inches
- Sierra-at-Tahoe: 10 inches
- Diamond Peak: 10 inches
- Sugar Bowl: 9 inches
The storm system, dubbed as an “atmospheric river,” was even more impactful at some other California ski resorts. Both Mammoth and Dodge Ridge ski resorts received 2 feet of snow as of Wednesday morning.
Some weather forecasters have predicted that some Tahoe ski resorts may receive up to 7½ feet of new snow.
“We have quite the Sierra storm on tap for this week, with several feet of snow expected from Tuesday night through the weekend,” the Sugar Bowl website reported. “High winds may accompany the heavy snowfall at times. At Sugar Bowl, we’ve had over 80 years of practice managing deep snow and operating during big storms. But Mother Nature is poised to truly test our operational capabilities during this unique COVID-19 winter season.”
Unfortunately for Mt. Rose, there was a downside to the extreme snow. The resort, located in Nevada near Incline Village in Tahoe, was closed Wednesday.
Despite the heavy snowfall that was accompanied by blizzard-like conditions, high winds, blinding snow, threat of mudslides, power outages and more, most Tahoe ski resorts were open as of noon on Wednesday.
“Throughout the storm, lift operations will be impacted by high winds, heavy snowfall and Covid protocols,” Squaw Valley spokesperson Liesl Hepburn said. “Skiers and snowboarders should check the Squaw Alpine app for real-time lift status before visiting the mountains. Indoor capacity remains limited, so guests must be prepared to spend extended periods of time outdoors in the cold and plan ahead.”
SEASON SNOW TOTALS: The big snowfall pushed the totals for the season into triple digits for several resorts. Six Tahoe ski resorts have now surpassed the 100-inch mark for the 2021 season. Squaw Valley leads the way with 126 inches and is followed by Alpine Meadows (121).
Both Soda Springs and Boreal both have 116 inches for the season. Sugar Bowl is at 110 inches and Kirkwood is reporting 106. By getting nearly 2 feet in the latest storm, Mt. Rose jumped to 99 inches for the season and Homewood has 98.
“Today is the day to dust off those power skis because we got SNOW, plus much more on the way,” the Homewood website reported. “Last night we received 8 inches at the base and 12 inches at the summit. Wax those powder boards and get ready to find out why because Homewood is your best bet on a storm day!”
WEATHER FORECAST: The Blizzard Warning remains in effect until 4 a.m. Friday, and travel is not advised during this period. For safety reason, as the snow continues to get deeper, it’s highly advisable to ski or ride with at least one other person and keep them in sight. If you plan to ski off of the groomed runs, avoid the bases of trees and carry your backcountry gear: transceiver, shovel, probe, whistle.
As of noon on Wednesday, both Interstate 80 and Highway 50 were open. But National Weather Service officials were advising travelers to stay home. Expect zero visibility through Friday morning and strong winds could cause tree damage and power outages.
According to Bryan Allegretto, California Snow Forecaster for OpenSnow.com, there should be light to moderate snow Wednesday, becoming heavier again tonight into Thursday. Then lighter snow into Friday morning before ending. A weak system Friday night into Saturday with very little snow expected.
“There’s another break Sunday, before we could see another storm Monday Tuesday. Starting next Wednesday, we could transition into a drier pattern for a while,” writes Allegretto.
