How historically significant is this month’s snowfall in the Lake Tahoe region? Significant enough to soon establish a new December record for snow accumulation.
As of Sunday morning (Dec. 26), the Central Sierra Snow Lab in Soda Springs was reporting 155 inches thus far in December. That’s only 25 inches shy of the December record – 179 inches that took place in 1970.
With far more snow on the horizon through the end of the year, that record is going to be shattered.
The official 24-hour snowfall measurement at the lab was 29 inches Sunday morning, bringing the five-day storm total to 71 inches.
The totals mean that the 2021-22 Tahoe ski season, which was looking grim a mere two weeks ago, is no longer in jeopardy of being a bust. Far from it, too.
“With all the snow we’ve gotten already, this should set us up for the rest of the season,” Diamond Peak spokesperson Paul Raymore said Sunday.
According to OpenSnow Forecaster Bryan Allegretto, Tahoe ski resorts may receive between 11 to 31 inches of new snow by Monday morning.
Forecasters expect snow levels through Monday evening could be between 2,500 3,500 feet and possibly dip as low as 1,500 feet, impacting areas along the Highway 50 and I-80 corridor.
STORM SHUTS DOWN TAHOE SKI RESORTS: Most Tahoe ski resorts were either closed Sunday, due to power outages or for safety precautions resulting from severe weather conditions.
Extreme weather conditions Sunday morning have shut down multiple Tahoe ski resorts, including Palisades Tahoe, Kirkwood, Northstar, Sugar Bowl, Mt. Rose, Homewood and Boreal Mountain.
Blizzard-like conditions and up to nearly 3 feet of snow closed major arteries into the Lake Tahoe region. The Tahoe area was also experiencing multiple power outages.
Sunday morning a Caltrans report stated there were closures on highways 50, 80, 88, 89, 431 and 267 with no estimated time of opening.
SEE LATEST TAHOE SNOW REPORT BELOW
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning in effect until Tuesday morning (Dec. 28) with up to 3 feet of additional snow accumulations, wind gusts of 100 mph, widespread whiteout conditions, and extreme avalanche danger.
“Strong winds blow around the light snow that accumulated, resulting in virtually no visibility on the mountain,” Palisades spokesperson Kat Walton said Sunday. “Additionally, avalanche danger is high. These conditions make it nearly impossible for crews to complete work necessary to open the mountain.”
Only two Tahoe ski resorts were open Sunday – Heavenly Mountain and Diamond Peak.
Although Heavenly shut down the Nevada side of the resort, multiple lifts were running on the California side of the South Lake Tahoe resort. At one point, Heavenly had 9 lifts and 88 trails available.
Due to being protected somewhat from high winds, Diamond Peak in Incline Village was operating. It received 32 inches by Sunday morning, making for an epic powder day for skiers and riders who braved the conditions.
“There’s not too many skiers and riders here today due to the harsh conditions and difficulty getting here for anyone who doesn’t live close by,” Diamond Peak’s Paul Raymore said. “But the ones who are here are having a great powder day. Due to high winds, everything is open today except Crystal Express (lift).”
Both Northstar California and Sugar Bowl received the most snow among Tahoe ski resorts, reporting nearly 3 feet (34 inches) Sunday morning.
Tahoe ski resorts typically say that lift tickets purchased for today can be refunded online or used on any other day this season
ROAD CONDITIONS: Skiing in Tahoe Sunday is not for the meek. Just driving to any resort would be treacherous, due to snowy roads and high winds blowing the snow.
Interstate 80 was closed Sunday in both directions and Highway 50 was closed at several junctures, including the stretch heading to South Lake Tahoe.
Many local roads have been closed for the busiest week of the winter season in the Tahoe Basin.
I-80 was closed much of Christmas Day and remained closed one day later. The weather remains so severe that predictions are it won’t open until at least Monday morning.
Also closed Sunday was State Route 431 (Mt. Rose Highway), leading to the closure of Mt. Rose ski resort in Nevada near North Tahoe’s Incline Village.
The lone artery into Kirkwood ski resort – Highway 88 – has also experienced closures during the Christmas holidays.
WEATHER FORECAST: After a lull in the snow during the Sunday morning hours, Allegretto is calling for an increase in the snow showers during the afternoon into the evening.
He expects that to be followed by a period of heavy snow for later Sunday evening into Monday morning as the storm moves through.
According to Allegretto, “we are five days into this seven-day storm cycle so far. As we expected each storm is progressively colder and the gusty winds have continued.”
TAHOE SNOW REPORT (new snow, season total, Dec. 26
- Mt. Rose: 20-237 inches
- Boreal: 30-231 inches
- Northstar: 34-217 inches
- Palisades: 26-213 inches
- Sugar Bowl: 34-210 inches
- Homewood: 28-202 inches
- Diamond Peak: 32-174 inches
- Kirkwood: 23-171 inches
- Heavenly: 20-144 inches
- Tahoe Donner: 24-148
- Soda Springs: NA
- Granlibakken: NA
