Palisades Tahoe Logo Palisades Tahoe Logo Palisades Tahoe Logo
Explore
  • Explore Palisades Tahoe
  • Our New Name
  • Explore Legendary Lifts
  • Palisades Tahoe Blog
  • About Lake Tahoe
  • About Us
Plan Your Visit
  • Tickets & Passes
  • Lodging
  • Lessons & Guides
  • Deals & Packages
  • Rentals & Demos
  • Travel Here
  • Getting Around
Mountain Information
  • Snow and Weather
  • Lift and Grooming Status
  • Webcams
  • Hours of Operation
  • Trail Maps
  • Parking & Road Conditions
  • Snowfall Tracker
Events & Activities
  • Events Calendar
  • Activities
  • Dining & Apres
  • Shopping
  • Things To Do In Lake Tahoe
  • Groups, Meetings & Weddings
  • Ski & Snowboard Teams
Explore
  • Explore Palisades Tahoe
  • Our New Name
  • Explore Legendary Lifts
  • Palisades Tahoe Blog
  • About Lake Tahoe
  • About Us
Plan Your Visit
  • Tickets & Passes
  • Lodging
  • Lessons & Guides
  • Deals & Packages
  • Rentals & Demos
  • Travel Here
  • Getting Around
Mountain Information
  • Snow and Weather
  • Lift and Grooming Status
  • Webcams
  • Hours of Operation
  • Trail Maps
  • Parking & Road Conditions
  • Snowfall Tracker
Events & Activities
  • Events Calendar
  • Activities
  • Dining & Apres
  • Shopping
  • Things To Do In Lake Tahoe
  • Groups, Meetings & Weddings
  • Ski & Snowboard Teams
IKON PASS HOLDER LODGING DISCOUNT

Ikon Pass holders save up to 25% on slopeside lodging at The Village at Palisades Tahoe.

SLOPESIDE LODGING
Icon / FlashCreated with Sketch.
View All Offers
  • Operations

Winds & Lift Operations at Squaw

  • Feb 24, 2017
  • 11:35 am

Determining Factors that Guide Operational Decisions

We are a unique ski resort in that many of our coveted chairlifts are situated on the Sierra Crest and can be greatly impacted by winds when storms roll through. This season has been, quite literally, like no other winter season in the sixty-plus years ski resorts have been operating in the Sierra.  In a region known for big snow storms, this has been a record season on snowfall, year-to-date, and wind. While we seek to run all chairlifts at all times, we cannot compromise safety. And while the snowfall has presented the region and all ski resorts plenty of challenges, the wind has been prohibitively fierce and doesn’t allow us to run, at times, chairlifts safely. 

Top 5 Factor Checklist to Open or Close Chairlifts

As told by Chris Woo, Director of Lift Maintenance at Squaw Valley

  1. Anemometer Readings & Physical Testing: “First, we look at anemometers. If it is reporting 120mph we’re not even going to try and move lifts, for obvious reasons. If it’s saying 20-50mph we’re going to to go up to the chairlift, run it and see what it looks like.” 
  2. Wind speed & Direction: “We use wind direction and intensity to determine whether a lift can operate or not.” Check out our lift & wind “vulnerability” chart below. 
  3. Chair Swing: “Majority of the decisions to operate is based on the chair swing. It’s actually the basis of our decision to run a chair. There is an approved “chair swing” by the manufacturer, meaning how much the chair can swing front to back and side to side to safely operate. We look at how the chair reacts in the wind.”
  4. Wind Frequency: “Gusty winds are bad because it pushes and creates more turbulence while increasing chair swing. Consistent or steady winds in moderation are typically more predictable and may be sometimes better conditions to operate. Although, even steady consistent high winds will often prevent a safe operating condition.”
  5. Forecast: “We always look at the forecast provided by the National Weather Service. If we’re at pretty high winds already in the morning and the forecast is calling for winds to increase throughout the day, we might consider closing that lift. However, if we’re at marginal winds and the forecast is showing winds to decrease, we will wait and watch to see if we can open that lift and put it on ‘wind hold’.” ​

Wind Speeds Season to Date

Crest Winds vs. Base Area Winds

While winds can be 20 – 30 mph at the base, they have been frequently blowing at three to six times that speed across the middle and upper parts of the mountain.  This has been a remarkably consistent circumstance over the past two months. This graph shows the significant difference of wind speed at different elevations season to date. 

 

admin
admin

Share this article:

Recent Posts

  • Operations ·
  • May 26, 2022·
A Snowcat farms snow to keep trails covered

Operations Update: Weather Expected for Closing Weekend

last weekend of winter operations for the 2021-22 season. We have some weather moving in that could impact lifts on Friday and Saturday, but Sunday and Monday should be clearer days overall. The final day to ski or snowboard will be Monday, May 30th. Resort hours of operations will still be 8am-2:30pm.
Read more
  • Operations ·
  • May 19, 2022·
Skier in Spring off Siberia at Palisades Tahoe

Operations Update: Lifts Opening Earlier This Weekend

We are officially shifting our hours of operation this weekend to make the most of Spring conditions and getting the…
Read more
  • Operations ·
  • May 12, 2022·
Groomed runs are the place to be in the Spring.

Operations Update: Warm Temps Return; Granite Chief Closed

After a small but exciting refresh of snow this week, we will be opening again on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday for skiing and snowboarding. It will feel like spring out there, so get those boards and skis waxed, and come in costume: This weekend is Rodeo-themed. Our hours are still 9am-4pm, though that could change as soon as next week.
Read more

Social

Instagram Twitter Facebook Youtube

Contact

   Email Us
   1.800.403.0206

Our Partners

U.S. Forest Service Logo
1960 Squaw Valley Road
Olympic Valley, CA 96146

©2022 Palisades Tahoe

Alterra Mountain Company
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Photo Upload Terms of Use
  • Accessibility
Menu
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Photo Upload Terms of Use
  • Accessibility