After being closed one day earlier, many Tahoe ski resorts reopened Friday.
Severe weather conditions, highlighted by more than 1,000 lightning strikes in the region, shut down all of the Tahoe ski resorts Thursday (Feb. 14). A winter storm warning has been issued for the Lake Tahoe region through 4 a.m. on Sunday.
Although Tahoe ski resorts opened Friday, getting there was difficult. Due to heavy snow since Thursday afternoon and white-out conditions, Interstate-80 closed Thursday night and remained closed as of 3 p.m. Friday from Applegate to the Nevada border. No time has been announced for reopening.
Highway 50 travelers fared better. After being shut down Thursday evening at Applegate, the road into South Lake Tahoe reopened Friday morning and remained that way other than a short shut down for avalanche control. That was good news for Tahoe ski resorts, who are hoping for a good turnout for President’s Day weekend.
“We hope President’s Day weekend skiers and riders are ready for fresh snow because It’s piling up on the slopes,” Diamond Peak spokesperson Paul Raymore said. “Our weather forecaster is predicting up to 50 inches of new snow by Saturday morning on the upper mountain. Regardless, our mountain operations teams will be doing everything we can to open lifts and terrain on time, with a nice mix of groomed runs and fresh powder available.”
Tahoe ski resorts continued to get dumped on by unrelenting snowfall Thursday and that trend continued Friday. Nine of 14 Tahoe ski resorts received 2 feet or more of snow over the 24-hour period ending Friday morning.
Boreal Mountain and nearby Soda Springs received the most snow among Tahoe ski resorts, getting 40 inches over the 24-hour period. Boreal had several lifts running in the daytime, but would not remain open for its typical night skiing. Soda Springs didn’t open Friday.
For the latest snow totals, see the TAHOE SNOW REPORT below.
Northstar California ran several lifts Friday at 10 a.m. Martis Camp Express and the Big Easy opened around noon, bringing the total run count to 6, according to the resort’s Twitter account. However, due to weather conditions, Northstar closed at 3 p.m.
Heavenly Mountain, which received 21 inches of new snow, was on a morning hold, but opened multiple lifts in the afternoon. The Gondola was shut down all day
Sugar Bowl, which had 2 feet of fresh snow Friday morning, was able to run only two lifts – Christmas Tree and Nob.
One of the areas that Sierra-at-Tahoe opened by early afternoon was the West Bowl. On Twitter, Sierra noted that “we will do our best to open Grandview and the Backside tomorrow (Saturday), but won’t know until our teams assesses the mountain in the morning and see what they can safely open.”
Homewood got 38 inches and planned a 10 am opening Friday, operating Old Homewood Express, Madden Chair, Alpine Platter and North Magic Carpet.
Mt. Rose was one of the few Tahoe ski resorts to not open, due to the closure of State Route 431 in Nevada.
Squaw Valley reported 2 more feet of snow Friday morning and is nearing its February snowfall record of 196 inches in 2017. This February the resort has received 175 inches. Its season-total is now 432 inches, which is the fourth most in North America.
“Guests planning to ski and ride this weekend should be informed on what’s going on – check the CalTrans Quick Map app, and look at our Squaw Alpine app for updated lift and weather status,” said Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows spokesperson Liesl Hepburn. “Our crews are out there working hard to rebuild access on the mountain, shovel out lifts, clear parking areas, and perform avalanche control. It does appear that snow and high winds will be diminishing by Sunday.”
WEATHER REPORT: According to Bryan Allegretto, OpenSnow California Snow Forecaster, high winds will continue with gusts of possible 100 mph, which will no doubt have Tahoe ski resorts shutting down upper mountain lifts Friday.
Allegretto says another storm wave arrives Saturday with snow levels dropping to as low as 2,000 feet. He predicts 1½ to 3 feet of powdery snow Saturday.
Allegretto believes the week of Feb. 18-23 the weather may remain cold but with a drier pattern arriving. Light snow could fall Wednesday and Thursday.
TAHOE SNOW REPORT (24-hour totals; reported Feb. 15)
- Alpine Meadows: 28 inches
- Boreal Mountain: 40 inches
- Diamond Peak:33 inches
- Heavenly Mountain: 21 inches
- Granlibakken: 20 inches
- Homewood Mountain: 38 inches
- Kirkwood Mountain: 20 inches
- Mt. Rose: 16 inches
- Northstar California: 26 inches
- Sierra-at-Tahoe: 24 inches
- Soda Springs: 40 inches
- Squaw Valley: 24 inches
- Sugar Bowl: 31 inches
- Tahoe Donner: 20 inches
