Squaw Valley Opening Day [Yesterday] Video

Squaw Valley ski resort in California opened for the 2013/14 winter season yesterday, November 27th, 2013.  Skiing and riding was offered on Gold Coast chairlift only.  You could ride up and down the Funitel to get to and from Gold Coast.

They had a couple little features in the park and it looks like it was a fun day.  Better than not skiing, that’s for sure.

We were hoping for a Thanksgiving storm this week but that fizzled out.  There are many rumors about a big storm next week, but we’re holding out on reporting on that until there is some more solid evidence.  1 big storm could really open things up in Tahoe…

Here’s what NOAA is saying at this point:

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
225 AM PST THU NOV 28 2013

LONG TERM

LATEST MEDIUM RANGE MODELS SEEM TO BE SETTLING IN ON THE RIDGE PLACEMENT AROUND 140W, TYPICALLY UNFAVORABLE TO HEAVY PRECIPITATION IN THE SIERRA. THIS RIDGE PLACEMENT NORMALLY KEEPS THE WEST COAST TROUGH FROM ANY DECENT MOISTURE SOURCE. BUT, UNCERTAINTY REMAINS IN THE FORECAST, AS THE LATEST GEM AND ECMWF ARE NOW STARTING TO PINCH OFF THE RIDGE OVER SOUTHERN ALASKA. THIS WOULD ALLOW AT LEAST SOME MOISTURE TO UNDERCUT THE RIDGE AND GET DRAWN INTO THE DIGGING WEST COAST TROUGH. THE GFS IS KEEPING THE RIDGE INTACT, WITH A DRY FORECAST FOR THE SIERRA AND WESTERN NEVADA. FOR NOW DID NOT MAKE ANY CHANGES TO THE POP FORECAST, DUE TO THE CONTINUED UNCERTAINTY. ONE OTHER THING, DUE TO THE VERY COLD TEMPERATURES THE SNOW LEVELS WILL BE DOWN TO ALL VALLEY FLOORS AFTER FRONTAL PASSAGE EARLY TUESDAY, WITH HIGH SNOW RATIOS FOR ANY POTENTIAL SNOW THAT WE DO GET.