Christmas came early for Northern California skiers as a weekend storm brought a much-needed boost to the Sierra Nevada, dumping several feet of snow and reviving a lackluster start to the season. In the past five days, the mountains near Lake Tahoe received more than 4 feet of snow, marking the largest snow cycle of the year. Resorts like Palisades Tahoe, Northstar, and Sugar Bowl are now reporting above-average snow pack for this time of year. The northern edge of Lake Tahoe has benefited the most, as storm systems continue to favor areas northwest of the lake. Southern Tahoe resorts have seen less accumulation, with meteorologists noting that Tahoe is only catching the southern edge of recent storms. The snowfall comes as a major relief following a disappointing start to December, which saw high temperatures and rain hampering operations. Ski resorts faced extremely frustrating conditions when they were unable to even make artificial snow due to the unseasonably warm weather. This follows a stronger start to the season in November, particularly at Mammoth Mountain, where fall storms delivered the highest November snowfall totals in 14 years. The snowstorm streak is expected to pause as high pressure builds midweek, clearing skies across Northern California. But forecasters are watching for another weather system on Saturday. While precipitation could return, freezing levels are predicted to climb as high as 8,000 feet, bringing rain instead of snow to many Tahoe-area resorts. For now, skiers and snowboarders are taking full advantage of the fresh powder, finally celebrating winter’s arrival in the Sierra.
