Weather
A very wet and snowy pattern sets in on Friday and continues well into next week, bringing elevated snow levels initially before colder air arrives around Monday night. Mild conditions on Friday and Saturday will keep snow levels high, but significant snowfall is expected at upper elevations. A second, colder storm system arrives early next week, dropping snow levels and potentially delivering heavier totals across the Sierra.
The first wave of moisture arrives Friday through the weekend. Widespread precipitation ramps up Friday morning, with snow levels generally rising from around 6,000 feet into the 7,000–8,000-foot range on Saturday and Sunday. Higher elevations could pick up substantial snowfall, whereas mid and lower elevations will see mostly rain. Periods of strong southerly winds may impact chairlift operations, especially on Friday and Saturday afternoons, so expect gusty conditions across exposed terrain. While most areas see moderate precipitation, the heaviest bands will linger in the central to northern Sierra through Sunday.
A transition to a colder system begins Monday into Tuesday. This next wave taps into additional Pacific moisture but draws in cooler air, lowering snow levels to around 5,500–6,500 feet by late Tuesday. This shift should bring accumulating snow to a broader range of elevations, offering better powder potential midweek with colder temperatures. The intensity of precipitation may briefly waver, but as the storm progresses, higher elevations could pick up heavy totals, accompanied by occasionally gusty winds along ridgelines.
From Wednesday into Thursday, the pattern remains unsettled. Intermittent bursts of snowfall are likely across the Sierra crest and upper mountain slopes, and if temperatures continue their downward trend as models are currently indicating, some moderate accumulations could affect mid-mountain terrain. Winds might still be breezy at times, though not as strong as earlier in the week.
Looking at the medium to longer range, more storminess may persist into next weekend and beyond. Forecast trends favor additional rounds of precipitation, with a reasonable probability of below-normal temperatures gradually spreading farther south. This means ongoing opportunities for mountain snowfall in the extended period, though specifics on timing and snow levels will become clearer later. Overall, expect a prolonged run of wet, occasionally windy weather with multiple shots of accumulating snowfall across the higher slopes of the Sierra.
7-Day Resort Forecast Totals
- Sugar Bowl – 65″–109″
- Kirkwood – 61″–102″
- Palisades Tahoe – 59″–99″
- Mammoth – 36″–63″
- Heavenly – 32″–54″
- Northstar – 31″–54″
- Mt Rose – 28″–48″
