Palisades Tahoe issued a winter storm watch as the first storm of the season could bring 5-9 inches of new snow near the base by Saturday. Mild weather holds through Wednesday and Thursday, then precipitation could reach the mountain by Friday.
Snow levels could start around or just above 7000 ft. on Friday and fall to near the base by Friday evening. By Saturday morning, Palisades Tahoe said they could drop as low as 5000 ft., with 11-16 inches possible near mid-mountain and 14-20 inches up top.
Palisades Tahoe Ski Resort Forecast
Palisades Tahoe said highs would be near 60 degrees at the base and in the 50s on the mountain on Wednesday and Thursday. Overnight inversions have made snowmaking difficult up on the mountain, but colder air moving in should improve it.
The resort said the natural and manmade snow should give the ski areas a boost in building bases and trails ahead of opening day at the end of next week. That puts the forecast to work fast: the same system that brings the first measurable snow also starts the season-building process the resort needs.
Friday and Saturday Timing
Precipitation could arrive by late morning or midday on Friday, continue Friday night, and clear out on Saturday. Ridgetop winds could gust up to 80-90+ mph on Friday from the SW, then ease over the weekend but stay gusty into Sunday ahead of the next storm.
Palisades Tahoe said the storm could leave up to 5-9 inches near the base, 11-16 inches near mid-mountain, and 14-20 inches up top. It called that the first real snowstorm of the season if the forecast holds.
Next Wednesday and Thanksgiving Week
A second storm could return Sunday night and linger into Monday, with some models extending precipitation into Tuesday. Using the latest model average, Palisades Tahoe said another 3-7 inches near the base, 6-11 inches near mid-mountain, and 8-13 inches up top are possible.
The longer-range pattern still points to a large low-pressure trough off the West Coast and high pressure to the east over the West during Thanksgiving week. Palisades Tahoe said storms could fall apart as they approach the coast and encounter the high pressure, or move underneath into the southern U.S., which would leave CA with a drier pattern.
