Be careful out there.  All it takes is one misstep and your small dog or child could be lost until spring.

The snow gods are smiling on us now.  There is a buzz in Tahoe.  As reported throughout this tough season most skiers had given up hope on this winter.  But, as we pointed out over and over, it just takes one storm in Tahoe to change everything.  This one is about as big as they come.  It has been snowing heavily, often more than 2 inches and hour since Saturday afternoon.  The snow has been accompanied by heavy winds.  Sunday turned out to be as chaotic as expected and highway 80 has been experiencing parking lot like driving conditions west of Tahoe.  The snow is light and cold.  There has been some heavy wind loading so you might find zones that are packed in, but for the most part this is snorkeling conditions.  Most resorts have been closed or at least partially closed due to the heavy winds, lack of visibility and the excessive man power required to dig out.  Northstar, hidden as it is from the wind,  has actually able to stay mostly open throughout the storm.  Homewood has been running lifts as well.  A big surprise is Sugar Bowl.  You would never think that they would be able to open in heavy winds because the resort sits right smack on top of the summit.  However, that mountain was smartly planned and the lifts can withstand heavy winds.  Mt. Rose also was able to open some terrain through the weekend and today.  Squaw did manage to get KT open today and all reports indicate that conditions were heavenly.  Alpine has been shutdown today.  The resorts should start opening tomorrow, expect different parts of the mountain to slowly open as the week progresses.  Without question it will be a week to remember.

At lake level reports vary from 3-5 feet of snow since Saturday.  The ski hills will have much, much more.  Many are already reporting as much as 5 feet of snow since Saturday afternoon.  I would predict that by Friday morning the 7 day storm total will exceed 10 feet at mid mountain.  This storm has been relentless.  While this segment of it started Saturday afternoon, we can’t forget the 2+ feet that fell Thursday.  It hasn’t really stopped snowing since Thursday.  The sun peaked in and out on Friday and Saturday, but light snow showers have persisted.  On Saturday afternoon the storm picked up and we have been consistently getting at least an inch an hour and sometimes as much as 3.  Even this evening it is still snowing 2 inches an hour at lake level.  If I had to predict I would say that the storm will settle down a bit, but it will continue falling off and on, still heavy at times all the way until Friday morning.