Tahoe-area resorts see ‘prime’ skiing conditions after storms. How much snow fell in Sierra?
Strap on your skis and snowboards.
Ski resorts in the central Sierra Nevada have received multiple feet of snow in the first half of February, thanks to recent winter storms.
The new snow has created great conditions for skiing and snowboarding, representatives for ski resorts in the greater Lake Tahoe area told The Bee on Friday.
A representative for Palisades Tahoe told The Sacramento Bee that recent snow flurries have allowed the Olympic Valley ski resort to open all lifts and terrain for operation
However, crews will need time to clear new snow that’s fallen since Wednesday at the Silverado chairlift.
“Conditions should be prime for some amazing powder skiing,” Palisades Tahoe respresentative Madison Condon wrote via email on Friday.
Here’s how much snow has fallen at ski and snowboarding areas:
What are snow totals at Tahoe-area ski resorts?
Palisades Tahoe has received 31 inches of fresh snow since the end of January, Condon said via email.
Snow was still falling at the resort as of Friday, and an additional 10 inches of snowfall were expected through Saturday morning, the email said.
As of Friday, the Tahoe XC Ski area near Tahoe City had received 17 inches of snow since Thursday, according to Molly Casper, a spokeswoman for the ski area.
Here are 24-hour snow totals at popular ski areas in the Sierra Nevada, according to their websites:
- Boreal Mountain: 30 inches of fresh snowfall
- Northstar California Resort: 31 inches
- Palisades Tahoe: 25 inches
Sugar Bowl Resort summit: 29 inches
Kirkwood Ski Resort: 20 inches
Heavenly Ski Resort: 21 inches
Sierra-at-Tahoe summit: 24 inches
Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe: 40 to 42 inches
Tahoe Donner: 26 inches
Soda Springs Mountain Resort: 30 inches
Winter storm warning issued for Sierra Nevada
The National Weather Service on Friday issued a winter storm warning for a significant part of the Sierra Nevada as snow continued to fall.
The winter storm warning will remain through 10 p.m. Friday.
Affected communities include South Lake Tahoe, Tahoe City, Incline Village, Truckee, Susanville, Portola, Blue Canyon and Mammoth Lakes.
The weather service said travel in the mountains “could be very difficult” due to new and existing snow accumulation.
According to the winter storm warning, there could be 3 to 9 inches of new snow in the greater Lake Tahoe area on Friday, with up to a foot expected at mountain peaks.
What’s in the weather forecast for Lake Tahoe area?
Snow showers were forecast for South Lake Tahoe on Friday, Valentine’s Day, before 1 p.m., with a total accumulation of 1 to 3 inches of snow, according to the National Weather Service’s latest forecast.
The high temperature on Friday was expected to be around 35 degrees, with an overnight low temperature of 15 degrees.
Saturday is expected to stay dry. The high is forecast at 45 with a low around 27.
Sunday has a chance of light snow showers through 1 p.m., with rain expected to start at 10 a.m. Snow levels are predicted to rise to areas at 7,100 feet in elevation in the afternoon.
Sunday will see a high Sunday near 44 and a low around 23.
On Monday, Presidents’ Day, conditions are expected to be partly sunny to mostly cloudy with no precipitation expected.
The high is forecast at 41 with a low around 18.
What are road conditions like in the mountains?
People eager to hit the slopes over the Presidents’ Day holiday weekend should be careful when traveling to the mountains.
As of Friday afternoon, chain controls were in place across Interstates 50 and 80, as well as Highways 88, 89 and 267, according to the California Department of Transportation.
You can get more information about chain requirements and road closures via CalTrans’ QuickMap app.
Mike Pierce, marketing director for Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe in Nevada, shared a photo of a Tesla stuck in fresh snow on roads in the area of the ski resort, adding that Teslas “are not mountain vehicles.”
“(All wheel drive) does not mean clearance or traction in big snow,” he wrote in an email.
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Patrick Lacey, a representative for Palisades Tahoe, told The Bee that the resort anticipates a busy President’s Day weekend.
Parking reservations will be in effect at the resort from Saturday to Monday.
If you don’t have a parking reservation for Palisades Tahoe, the resort shared some travel alternatives:
From Olympic Valley or Alpine Meadows: Take public transportation including TART, TART Connect and Mountaineer.
From the West Shore: Take Sherwood Shuttle.
From Tahoe City or Truckee: Park and ride is available on weekends.
Carpool with a friend who already has a reservation.
Drop off friends or family at designated drop off areas.
Check back on parkpalisadestahoe.com the day of for last minute availability and cancellations.
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What’s the risk of avalanches in Sierra Nevada backcountry?
The Sierra Avalanche Center on Friday issued an avalanche warning for the central Sierra Nevada backcountry that will remain in effect through 4 a.m. Saturday.
According to the avalanche center, which extended Thursday’s avalanche warning, there is a risk of large or very large avalanches triggered by human activity in areas where the snow is not monitored or controlled.
Ski areas and highways with avalanche mitigation efforts are not included in the warning.
The avalanche center rates the avalanche risk from one to five, with one indicating a “low” risk of danger and five posing an “extreme” risk.
Friday’s warning was rated a four, indicating a “high” risk. That means people should avoid traveling through or under steep slopes in the Sierra Nevada backcountry.
Avalanches triggered during high-risk periods could be large enough to knock down trees and bury cars and humans, according to the center’s website.
Andy Anderson, a forecaster with the Sierra Avalanche Center, warned that avalanche hazards may exist even after the weather clears up.
This story was originally published February 14, 2025 at 2:05 PM.
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