Ski resorts around Lake Tahoe have begun opening for the season, but forecasters are watching a potentially significant storm pattern that could blanket the Sierra Nevada with snow by Thanksgiving.
Resort crews have been combining early natural snowfall with snowmaking while cold temperatures and clear skies have provided favourable conditions across the mountains. A brief warm spell over the weekend, however, is expected to bring operations to a temporary halt at some resorts.
Snow forecast for Lake Tahoe
The pause is not expected to last. Meteorologists are tracking an atmospheric river that could deliver several feet of snow to the region before the Thanksgiving holiday, offering the prospect of a substantial early-season base.
Kevin Cooper, a ski expert who spoke to KTVU, said another major weather system was approaching and that resorts needed a dense layer of snow to establish firm foundations across the slopes.
“The good news is that we’ve got another big system coming in,” he said. “We need that really heavy Sierra cement to come in and really lay it down on the base.”
The term “Sierra cement” refers to the region’s typically dense, moisture-rich snow. Although it can be heavier to ski through than the dry powder found in some other mountain ranges, colder systems are considered important for building a durable base.
Resorts around Lake Tahoe have been preparing for the winter season with snowmaking equipment, while early openings have already taken place in parts of the Sierra. Further snowfall could allow more terrain to open as the holiday period approaches.
Skiers remain hopeful that the expected change in weather will mark the beginning of a strong winter season, despite the short-term rise in temperatures.
