Storm Warning Friday Night – Sunday
After 84″ (exactly 7 feet!) of snow falling on our upper mountains, we were able to open our newly-built high-speed chairlift, Treeline Cirque, all the way to the top at Alpine Meadows today! We will be opening Siberia, Gold Coast, Big Blue, Shirley Lake, Mountain Meadow, Bailey’s Beach, the Funitel, Mountain Run and the Aerial Tram for ski access on Friday, December 6th, weather and conditions permitting. We are expecting potential wind gusts of up to 90+ mph by Friday night, which is when the bulk of this storm will move in.
Please be aware that there will be chain controls, slow-moving traffic and road closures as the snow flies starting on Friday evening. Check out the weather, road status, snow reports, and lift status as we move into a dynamic weather pattern. Here are some helpful tips & links to help you save your weekend and time your travel accordingly. Please travel safely!
What to Expect from this Storm
- Friday afternoon: Rain at the base & increasing winds.
- Friday night: Heavy snow.
- Saturday morning: Light snow & strong winds.
- Saturday afternoon-night: Potential for heavy snow again.
- Sunday morning: Continued light snow & winds.
Helpful Travel Links
Save these links & use them to plan your travel day.
- For the most in-depth, detailed forecast, visit the NOAA Weather forecast for Olympic Valley. Adjust the location according to your route.
- To view highway webcams, closure, chain control, and incident information in California, use the Caltrans Quickmap Website & App
- To view highway webcams, closure, chain control, and incident information in Nevada, use the NV Roads 511 Website & App
- To check the status of California highway closures, use Caltrans Highway Status
- For local information, check the CHP – Truckee Facebook Page. They are an active, responsive, and informative resource.
Winter Driving
Winter driving conditions in the Sierra can change rapidly, leading to whiteouts, accidents, and traffic delays.
If you simply must travel this weekend, here are some things to remember.
- Have extra water, food, necessary medication and warm clothing in the car with you. Be prepared to be waiting for long periods of time.
- Carry chains and know how to use them.
- Do not leave the area without a full tank of gas.
Become familiar with this list of Winter Driving Tips.
Squaw Alpine Conditions Information
This is where you’ll find the best information on mountain conditions.
- Download the Palisades App for real-time info on weather, lift status and parking.
- Follow the Mountain Ops Twitter for up-to-the-minute updates.
- Check the Palisades Snow & Weather Report
- Check the Lift & Grooming Status
- Check the Palisades Weather Blog (updated daily)
Parking & Getting Around Squaw Alpine
On storm weekends, traffic and parking can be tricky in the Tahoe area. Utilize the following resources to improve your experience.
- Get an early start in the morning, and CARPOOL if you can! Carpoolers get access to our premium Protect Our Winters parking lot by Plumpjack.
- Park at the Tahoe City Transit Center and take the TART bus into either mountain for FREE!
- If you’re staying at a hotel, home, or vacation rental in either valley, you can summon Mountaineer for a FREE ride to the lifts instead of driving!
- To go between Alpine Meadows and Squaw Valley without driving, use the Squaw Alpine Shuttle.
- For general parking information, please visit this page.
