Palisades Tahoe Snowpack Climbs Above Average After Nearly 3 Metres in Four Days

Palisades Tahoe Recovers from Dry January with Major Storm Cycle

Palisades Tahoe has received 2.9 metres of snow over four consecutive days, including 46 centimetres in the final 24-hour period, pushing the resort's season total to 7.1 metres. More significantly, measurements from the Central Sierra Snow Lab indicate the Tahoe Basin now sits at 104% of median snowfall to date—a notable turnaround after a January that left many questioning whether the Sierra Nevada season would deliver.

The timing matters. January's dry spell had already prompted the usual concerns about California's notoriously fickle snowfall patterns, and resorts across the region were operating on less-than-ideal base depths. This storm cycle, which dropped up to 3 metres in parts of the broader Tahoe region, has effectively reset the season with six weeks of prime skiing potentially still ahead. Whether this signals a sustained pattern or just a brief interruption in California's ongoing drought-prone climate remains to be seen.

Palisades Tahoe's operations team has been working extended shifts to clear lifts, conduct avalanche mitigation, and reopen terrain—standard procedure after storms of this magnitude, though the resort's messaging makes it sound somewhat heroic. To their credit, moving nearly 3 metres of snow is genuinely demanding work, and the emphasis on "moving at the speed of safety" is appropriate given the Sierra's avalanche terrain.

The snow quality appears legitimately good by Sierra standards. Resort communications claim "blower powder that's soft like Utah and deep like Japan," which is the sort of hyperbole that typically warrants scepticism. However, the mention of cold temperatures and high snow-to-liquid ratios suggests this wasn't the heavy "Sierra Cement" that typically arrives with Pacific storms. Whether it actually matched Utah's champagne powder is debatable—California's maritime influence rarely delivers that level of quality—but for the Sierra, lighter snow is worth noting.

The resort's parking reservations have sold out for the upcoming weekend, which tells you everything you need to know about crowd expectations. Palisades is pushing their Midweek 4-Pack at $109 per day for Monday-through-Friday skiing, which is reasonable value by California standards and a sensible way to avoid what will likely be a complete circus on the mountain this weekend. If you're flexible with timing, the mid-week option is the obvious choice.

The Tahoe Basin reaching 104% of median snowfall is encouraging but hardly cause for celebration—it simply means the region is now slightly above the long-term average after weeks of being behind. In the context of California's increasingly variable snowfall patterns and the broader western North American drought, being marginally above average in late February doesn't guarantee an extended season.

For those planning to visit Tahoe in the coming weeks, the standard California winter driving warnings apply: carry chains or traction devices, know how to install them before you need them, fuel up before ascending to the mountains, and check Caltrans QuickMap for real-time road conditions. Interstate 80 and Highway 50 both have a well-earned reputation for closures and delays during and after major storms.

The storm cycle has undoubtedly improved conditions across the Sierra, and resorts from Palisades south to Mammoth have benefited. Whether this represents a shift toward a snowier late season or simply a brief interruption in California's unpredictable weather patterns will become clear over the next month. For now, the snowpack is adequate, conditions are apparently good, and the weekend crowds will be substantial. Plan accordingly.