Warm weather postpones Heavenly, Northstar openings

As nice as the last week has been, mild weather and warm temperatures haven’t been conducive to making snow.

Heavenly Mountain Resort and Northstar California have postponed the opening ski season, Vail Resorts announced on Monday.

Both resorts were scheduled to open on Friday. The ski resorts typically open in time for the Thanksgiving holiday next week.

“Our top priority is to provide our guests with the best early-season ski and ride experience possible,” said Heavenly General Manager and Vice President Tom Fortune and Northstar General Manager and Vice President Deirdra Walsh in a joint statement. “While Mother Nature has not made it easy for recent snowmaking operations, our expert snowmaking team is ready to fire up the snow guns at every opportunity as weather gets cooler this week and next. We look forward to opening as soon as we feel we can provide our guests with a better experience and quality snow conditions.”

A weak storm is expected in Western Nevada on Thursday and Friday bringing gusty winds and light snowfall with snow levels at 6,500-7,000 feet and the possibility of 1-2 inches of snow.

Forecasters say mild weather is expected over the weekend with temperatures in the upper 40s in the Sierra Valleys and warming a bit on Sunday.

There’s an outside chance that there might be some wetter weather south of Highway 50 at some point during Thanksgiving week, but forecasters aren’t hopeful.

Thanksgiving visitors will be able to ride the Heavenly gondola starting Friday as it and the Tamarack Lodge open.

Northstar village will also be open to guests.

For more information about Heavenly, visit skiheavenly.com or call 775-586-7000. Kirkwood Ski Resort is scheduled to open on Dec. 3.