La Niña and Lake Tahoe Skiing
Skiers are excited to learn that the 2024-2025 ski season is shaping up to be a La Niña year. What have previous seasons shown us about snowfall during La Niña?
The 2007-2008 and the 2010-2011 ski seasons at Lake Tahoe were strong to moderate La Niña years. Both ski seasons brought a significant amount of snow to the area. However, the 2020-2021 ski season was also under a La Niña event, and the season had less than normal snowfall.
A La Niña year can influence weather patterns in the Lake Tahoe region, but it doesn’t always guarantee more snow. La Niña is characterized by cooler-than-average sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, which impacts atmospheric circulation patterns.
In general, La Niña tends to result in the following effects for the Western United States:
Pacific Northwest: La Niña years typically bring wetter and cooler conditions to the Pacific Northwest, which can lead to increased snowfall in areas like the Cascades and Northern Rockies.
California and Sierra Nevada (including Lake Tahoe): The effect of La Niña on California’s Sierra Nevada, including Lake Tahoe, is more variable. La Niña years can bring either more or less precipitation and snowfall to the region. In some cases, La Niña can lead to a split jet stream pattern, which might result in drier conditions for Central and Southern California, while Northern California and the Sierra Nevada might receive above-average snowfall. However, there are also instances when La Niña has not brought significant snowfall to the Sierra Nevada.
Lake Tahoe Region: The impact on Lake Tahoe specifically is inconsistent. While some La Niña years have brought above-average snowfall to the region, others have not. The snowfall in Lake Tahoe during a La Niña year depends on various factors, including the strength of the La Niña event, the position of the jet stream, and other atmospheric conditions.
La Niña can influence snowfall patterns in the Lake Tahoe area. Because the area straddles where high and low pressure systems generally meet, snowfall levels can go either way. However, we’ve never had a season without snow!
As summer comes to a close in Lake Tahoe, this is the perfect time to purchase your season ski pass. Prices generally go up as we get closer to December.
Ski Pass Prices Lake Tahoe 2024/2025
Resort Adult Season Pass Child Season Pass Daily Pass
Homewood $949 $419 $104
Northstar $949 $483 $219
Palisades Tahoe $1,699 $569 $237
Sugar Bowl $1,299 $99 $119
Soda Springs $279 $159 $75
Boreal Mountain $549 $309 $129
Diamond Peak $509 $244 $140
Whether you are looking for a ski lease, a vacation rental or the perfect alpine retreat to buy, we can help you. Interest rates are currently below 6% and this is the perfect time to purchase a home. Contact us today for more information.
