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Tahoe, Sierra ski resort snow totals after Christmas Eve, Day storms
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Watch: More snowy scenes in Reno
Check out these snowy scenes in Reno on March 18, 2020.
Jason Bean, RGJ
A warm autumn and winter for Northern Nevada delayed several Tahoe ski resorts’ opening days and the full opening of trails and lifts. However, substantial snow has finally arrived in the Sierra Nevada in a storm resorts were looking to for terrain expansion.
“One 24-inch or more of a storm can suddenly change the perception of Tahoe skiing as the mountains can overnight change from very little open to almost everything open,” Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe marketing manager Mike Pierce told the Reno Gazette Journal earlier this month.
After a snowy week, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day storms brought at least a foot of fresh snow to many Sierra Nevada ski resorts, with multi-foot accumulations reported at some locations, and several have announced plans to open and expand terrain.
Here’s a look at current snow totals as of Dec. 26 and what resorts have said about opening additional terrain.
Mammoth Mountain snow totals as of Dec. 26
Mammoth Mountain reported 44 inches at the main lodge, 57 inches at McCoy Station and 70 inches at the summit.
All ski operations were closed Dec. 26 due to avalanche danger.
You can check out live footage of Mammoth Mountain’s trails at the resort’s website.
Northstar snow totals as of Dec. 26
Northstar reported 58 inches at base depth, with 23 inches of snow falling in the last 24 hours.
You can check out live footage of Northstar’s trails at the resort’s website.
Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe snow totals as of Dec. 26
Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe is reporting 30 to 42 inches at base depth, with 15 to 17 inches of new snow. Storm totals range from 46 to 55 inches, with season totals between 92 and 117 inches.
You can check out live footage of Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe’s trails at the resort’s website.
Palisades Tahoe snow totals as of Dec. 26
Palisades Tahoe currently has 24 inches at base depth. The resort received two feet of snow in the last 24 hours, a release from Palisades Tahoe said. There are currently three lifts expected to open at 9 a.m. today, but resort staff said they are finalizing what will open this upcoming weekend and how the last storm will allow them to expand terrain.
You can check out live footage of Palisades Tahoe’s trails at the resort’s website.
Homewood snow totals as of Dec. 26
Homewood, which is currently closed, said in a Christmas Day Instagram post that the storm left “a foot of new snow up top with plenty more on the way over the next few days” and that the resort plans to share its opening day schedule soon.
You can check out live footage of Homewood’s trails at the resort’s website.
Kirkwood snow totals as of Dec. 26
Kirkwood has 40 inches at base depth with 20 inches of new snowfall. Four lifts and 18 trails are scheduled to open at 10:30 a.m. on Dec. 26.
You can check out live footage of Kirkwood’s trails at the resort’s website (though they are covered in snow so you can’t see much).
Sugar Bowl snow totals as of Dec. 26
Sugar Bowl has 31 to 42 inches at base depth with 22 inches of new snow.
Uphill travel is currently closed, according to the resort’s website, and will remain closed after opening this morning until terrain can be expanded to allow safe uphill access. Skiers can check the resort’s website for updates.
You can check out live footage of Sugar Bowl’s trails at the resort’s website.
Sierra-at-Tahoe snow totals as of Dec. 26
Sierra-at-Tahoe is currently closed, but the resort’s opening day is tomorrow, Dec. 27.
“We’ve received 26″ (inches) of new snow at the summit in the last 24 hours, with a storm total of over 3.5 feet + much more still in the forecast,” Sierra-at-Tahoe said on a Dec. 25 Instagram post.
You can check out live footage of Sierra-at-Tahoe’s trails at the resort’s website.
Diamond Peak snow totals as of Dec. 26
The storm brought Diamond Peak 13 inches of new snow, for 16 inches at base depth. Diamond Peak is planning to open additional terrain today and encouraged skiers to check its website for trail updates.
You can check out live footage of Diamond Peak’s trails at the resort’s website.
Heavenly snow totals as of Dec. 26
Heavenly received 31 inches in the last 48 hours for 37 inches at base depth.
You can check out live footage of Heavenly’s trails at the resort’s website.
Tahoe weather forecast Dec. 26-Jan. 1
The greater Tahoe area is still under a winter storm advisory until 4 p.m. on Dec. 26, according to the National Weather Service. The chance of snow lingers until tomorrow evening before clearing on Sunday. Clear skies are expected to continue around Lake Tahoe from Sunday until New Year’s Eve next Wednesday, Dec. 31.
Here’s a look at what this weekend and the last week of 2025 have in store for Tahoe.
- Friday, Dec. 26: Heavy snow in the morning, then snow likely in the afternoon with expected snow accumulation of 4-8 inches around the lake and 6-12 inches above 7000 feet. Snow expected to fall into the evening. Areas of fog and freezing fog are expected throughout the day. High of 40 at the lake and 30 at higher elevations. Lows 13-23. Gusts up to 70 mph at the ridge possible.
- Saturday, Dec. 27: Chance of snow. Mostly cloudy with areas of dense freezing fog and patchy fog in the morning then clearing into the day. Highs 31-36, lows 7-17.
- Sunday, Dec. 28: Mostly cloudy in the morning then clearing. Clear skies expected in the evening. Highs 29-39, lows 4-14.
- Monday, Dec. 29: Clear. Highs 33-43, lows 9-19.
- Tuesday, Dec. 30: Clear. Highs 41-51, lows 15-25.
- Wednesday, Dec. 31 (New Year’s Eve): Clear during the day, partly cloudy in the evening, then mostly cloudy with a slight chance of snow after midnight. Highs 41-51, lows 22-32.
- Thursday, Jan. 1 (New Year’s Day): Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of snow and rain. Highs 40-50.
