It’s been a crazy year for snow totals at Lake Tahoe ski resorts. And according to a ski booking website, Lake Tahoe ski resorts have recorded seven of the largest single day snow totals in the U.S. for the 2016-17 season.
ZRankings tracks all kinds of data in regards to skiing and recently compiled a list of the 10 biggest powder days of this season. Note that a single resort is not mentioned more than once in these results.
Tying for first place with 48 inches of snow in one day are Kirkwood Mountain, Heavenly Mountain, June Mountain and perhaps a surprise, Donner Ski Ranch, a small family-owned resort in Norden. Other Lake Tahoe ski resorts residing in the top 10 are Northstar California, Sierra-at-Tahoe, Alpine Meadows and Squaw Valley.
Top 10 Snow Days for 2016-17 season
- Kirkwood Mountain: 48 inches, Jan. 11
- Heavenly Mountain: 48 inches, Jan. 11
- June Mountain (Calif.): 48 inches, Jan. 5
- Donner Ski Ranch: 48 inches, Jan. 5
- Northstar California: 42 inches, Jan. 11
- Sierra-at-Tahoe: 40 inches, Jan. 23
- Brian Head (Utah): 36 inches, Dec. 25
- Alpine Meadows: 32 inches, Feb. 10
- Squaw Valley: 31 inches, Jan. 23
- Brighton (Utah): 30 inches, Jan. 24
The winter of 2016-2017 has been exceptional for skiers and riders in Lake Tahoe and across the entire west. Colorado has thrived, Jackson Hole could break its own record for snowfall, and many Lake Tahoe ski resorts could establish new season snow totals if the storms continue to arrive regularly.
A sizable storm is expected to begin Saturday (March 4) and Sugar Bowl is positioned to be in the middle of the storm and could receive a whopping 37 inches by Monday night. Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows may fall somewhere between the 30-35 inches.
Many Lake Tahoe ski resorts are already reporting snow totals exceeding 500 inches. According to Ski.com, Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe in Nevada (and very close to North Lake Tahoe) leads the way with 650 inches, the most of any North American resort this season.
“With this unbelievable season still in full swing, including topping the snow total chart in North America at 650 inches to date, Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe will continue to offer supreme skiing and snowboarding conditions through Memorial Day this season,” said Mike Pierce, director of marketing at Mt. Rose. “For the second year in a row, this marks another six-month ski season and is a testament to our tagline, ‘8,260 – Where the Snow Is.’”
Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows has already announced that it will be offering skiing through June and will be running lifts on Fourth of July.
