Intense Snowfall, 100+ MPH Winds Shut Down 9 Lake Tahoe Ski Resorts
As California grapples with its most formidable storm of the season, Lake Tahoe’s ski resorts have shuttered, and Yosemite National Park has issued an evacuation order. The Sierra Nevada braces for an onslaught of up to 10 feet of snow in some areas, prompting urgent shelter-in-place advisories.
The Tahoe ski resorts closed today include Palisades Tahoe, Sierra At Tahoe, Sugar Bowl Resort, Kirkwood Ski Resort, Homewood Mountain Resort, Donner Ski Ranch, Mount Rose Ski Tahoe, Boreal Mountain and Woodward Tahoe.
Spanning a 300-mile stretch from north of Lake Tahoe to south of Yosemite, a blizzard warning is in effect through Sunday morning, signaling severe weather conditions. “Your safe travel window is over in the Sierra,” warned the National Weather Service in Reno, urging residents and visitors to stay put.
3/1 11:00 AM: This is what we like to see! Snow is starting to stack up quickly in the plaza. pic.twitter.com/Cb0qgcerVn
— Sierra-at-Tahoe (@Sierra_at_Tahoe) March 1, 2024
Meteorologists anticipate up to 10 feet of snow around Lake Tahoe and significant snowfall even in lower elevations. With wind gusts exceeding 115 mph over Sierra ridgetops and 70 mph in lower areas, the storm is expected to create “legitimate blizzard” conditions, as described by UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain. The combination of heavy snowfall and fierce winds raises concerns about power outages and inaccessible roads.
Avalanche warnings are in effect around Lake Tahoe and Yosemite, extending down to Mammoth Lakes, as the heavy snowfall increases the risk of avalanches. Yosemite’s visitors were advised to vacate the park by noon Friday, with closures extending through Sunday due to the forecast of more than 7 feet of snow in some park areas.
The storm poses a challenge but also brings a silver lining for California’s water supply, with officials optimistic about a significant boost to the Sierra snowpack, which is crucial for the state’s water resources.
