Things are looking up a bit as we end the week. After a couple of lackluster bouts of warm drizzle, there’s two storms in the pipeline that could bring a return of colder temperatures and some snow to the Tahoe area. That brings the hope that skiing will return to the Tahoe area before the Thanksgiving holiday arrives. I’m not saying that ski conditions would be great, just that there’s some optimism that we’re turning a corner.
I’ll admit, I am cherry picking here. Not all of the models agree that the next two storms will push hard enough on the ridge for the colder air to make it into the region. Reading the NWS forecast discussions, they are actually reducing the chances of a big storm. So why am I going the other way? Truthfully, I never held too much hope for the upcoming storms to be huge event. There was a run or two where some folks were saying we could see a repeat of “Bombtober” and get another big AR event. That won’t be happening this time. Since I was never counting on a repeat of the “big one”, I can be pleasantly encouraged by the return of some winter-like weather.
The GFS is showing what looks like a typical early season system for this Saturday, and again Monday night. Most importantly, snow levels drop below base area elevations by Saturday morning. So although the natural storms may not bring much snow, snow making teams can get back to making snow for at least a few nights. That’s far better than the low 60’s we’ve seen at lake level the last two days. The midrange models do show a ridge building in after these two storms, but hopefully that won’t last too long. Hope being the operative word.
Another hopeful sign is in the construction project at Alpine Meadows. We noted yesterday that snow cats were filling the outer side of the big wall with snow. The way plans were explained to me last spring, it would be filled with dirt. My guess is that is the temporary solution that will allow them to complete work next summer when there is less of a time crunch. Word on the street is the expansion of the Sun Deck out to the big wall will also be temporary, to be completed fully next summer. It’s beginning to look much more like a ski area that could be ready for operations…once some stairs are installed to connect the breezeway to the deck area. I’m still hearing early December for Alpine Meadows…but would love to be proven wrong.
