Tahoe ski resorts rejoice after storm dumps roughly 2 feet of snow

TAHOE-TRUCKEE, Calif. — Lake Tahoe’s ski resorts are rejoicing after a moderate winter storm dumped roughly 2 feet of snow this week at high elevation areas throughout the region.

As of Thursday morning, Northstar California is reporting 19 inches of new snow the past 48 hours at its upper-mountain elevation of 8,300 feet.

In all, the resort near Truckee is reporting 31 inches of snow at upper mountain the past 6 days, allowing it to open 12 additional trails Thursday.

“We’re thrilled with the new snow and by how many additional trails it’s allowed Northstar to open for our guests,” Beth Howard, vice president and general manager of Northstar, said in a statement. “Conditions are great and with additional snow forecast, skiers and riders can look forward to a fantastic experience as we approach the holidays.” 

Similarly, on Thursday morning, Squaw Valley reported nearly 2 feet of snow since Tuesday, and 33 inches over the past week at its higher-elevation peaks (around 9,000 feet).

----------

READ MORE: Here’s a look at what’s new for the 2014-15 winter season at all the Tahoe-Truckee downhill ski resorts.

----------

Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe, north of Incline Village, is reporting more than 18 inches of new snow since Tuesday, allowing the resort to open the Northwest Magnum 6 chair, providing access to the top of the mountain for the first time this season.

Current snow depths at the base area of 8,260 feet are between 15 and 27 inches.

“Thanks to Mother Nature and Tahoe’s highest base elevation, Mt. Rose has seen nothing but snow all week,” Mike Pierce, director of marketing at Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe, said in a statement. “This storm has been the good old-fashioned Sierra storm we’ve been waiting for — one that helps to build a fantastic base that will keep our guests skiing and riding all season long.”

On the South Shore, Heavenly Mountain Resort is reporting 14 inches from the storm, with its highest elevation at 10,067 feet, and 20 inches the past week.

“We began making snow on Big Dipper a week ago, and this storm brought us that last little bit we needed to be able to open it to guests,” Pete Sonntag, vice president and COO of Heavenly, said in a statement Thursday. “We opened it mid-day on Wednesday, and guests were very eager to get out there and get fresh pow on the ungroomed run.”

At Donner Summit, Sugar Bowl Resort reported 23 inches of new snow at its summit of 8,383 feet as of Thursday morning.

----------

READ MORE: When Sugar Bowl opens Saturday, it will mark the start of the resort’s 75th anniversary season.

----------

The snowfall is allowing the resort to open this Saturday. It will operate three lifts and offer top-to-bottom skiing on Mt. Lincoln Saturday and Sunday.

“The resort plans to temporarily close from Monday, Dec. 8, to Friday, Dec. 12, re-opening for the season on Dec. 13 with full seven-day-a-week operations,” resort officials said in a statement.

While the storm brought wet snow up top, it provided mostly rain a lake level and along the low-elevation streets in Truckee.

According to the National Weather Service, it’s expected to rain off and on at lake level for the next several days, with wet snow possible above 7,000 feet.