LAKE TAHOE, CA - While we are far from making a dent in California’s drought, early season snow is on the horizon once again and offering some hope as we look for the state’s snowpack to build. Snowpack is essential to the water supply in our state and we have our fingers crossed that this is a sign of things to come.

According to the National Weather Service, rain and snow will begin on Sunday in the Sierra Nevada’s with snow levels to start at 6,000-6,500 feet before slowly falling. On Sunday evening, the main front will move in with snow levels falling to near the valley floor after midnight. The report also states that most of the precipitation is slated to fall as snow above 5,500 feet.

We are looking at snow levels of up to a foot near the Sierra Crest moving into Monday, and lake level could see near 4 inches. 

For an 18-year skier and snowboarder who works editorial in agriculture, the prospect of snow covered Sierras this winter is a win-win for me. According to the Sac Bee, Boreal Mountain Resort opened Friday and Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe in Nevada opened earlier in the week. Mammouth is one of the handful of resorts to open as well.

The Reno Gazette Journal reported that on Tuesday night this week, across much of western Nevada and parts of the Tahoe Basin, the areas saw up to an inch of snow with snow totals likely higher south of Pyramid Lake toward the Pah Rah Range and across Interstate 80. AccuWeather notes that this new storm follows the first widespread mountain snow of the season in the West, with totals of 1 to 2 feet of snow on part of the Sierra Nevada, Colorado Rockies and portions of northern Nevada.

Stay tuned as ANUK continues to do our rain dance here in California.