Lake Tahoe weather: 2 feet of fresh powder greets skiers Friday morning
kmacmillan@sierrasun.com
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Click here to see the Sierra Sun’s snowfall tracker, with updated totals at most Truckee-Tahoe ski resorts.
TRUCKEE, Calif. — Mother Nature delivered the goods on Thursday, bringing 1 to 2 feet of snow to the Tahoe-Truckee region by way of a mid-December winter storm.
Thursday’s storm blanketed the region in fresh powder. About 1 foot of snow was at ground level in Truckee Friday morning, with closer to 18 inches at higher elevations, like in the Tahoe Donner subdivision.
At Lake Tahoe, it was nearly the same deal — anywhere from 6 to 12 inches fell at lake level, with more at higher elevation areas, especially along the West Shore in Tahoma and Meeks Bay.
Up top, as much as 2 feet was recorded at various Tahoe-area ski resort summits, with likely closer to 2 and a half feet along the Sierra crest.
The storm surely delivered, although not to the extent that the National Weather Service had initially thought when it forecast that “several feet of snow” was possible.
Here’s a quick look at snow totals recorded at various Tahoe-Truckee ski resorts as of 8 a.m. Friday, according to the resorts’ snow trackers:
Northstar California: 24 inches
Heavenly: 24 inches
Kirkwood: 24 inches
Sugar Bowl: 21 inches
Mt. Rose: 20 inches
Squaw Valley: 18 inches
Alpine Meadows: 14 inches
Diamond Peak: 14 inches
Homewood: 12 inches
Driving conditions as of Friday morning were slow, but the plows along most major highways had cleared drivable paths. Snow tire and chain restrictions will likely remain in effect Friday morning.
More snow is on the way as well, according to NWS. Aside from off and on flurries and showers Friday and Saturday, a smaller storm is expected to hit the region Sunday, potentially bringing another foot or more of snow.
Follow SierraSun.com all winter long on Facebook for weather and snow updates.
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