California Ski Resorts See First Snow of the Season

An unseasonably cold storm pushed its way through the Lake Tahoe region on Saturday, August 24th, 2024 bringing the first measurable snowfall of the season at high elevations.

Filmmaker and skier Scott Gaffney took it upon himself to hike to the high reaches of Palisades Tahoe to experience his first taste of winter. See below!

Scott Gaffney, Palisades Tahoe, August 24, 2024

Gaffney mentions in the caption of his Instagram post that the storm seemed to be a "bust" as he approached the summit of The Palisades, but that the "real storm" started hammering soon after, almost instantly turning the terrain into a snowy dream.

Palisades Tahoe did not release an official storm total as the ski season doesn't start for three months , but they celebrated winter's first cameo nonetheless. Resort officials captured videos of the snow from the High Camp lodge at 8,200 feet (see below). The visuals aren't impressive as the snow landing on the higher-elevation rocky chutes of The Palisades, but seeing snow in August is something worth celebrating no matter the volume.

Palisades Tahoe August 24, 2024 Snow Videos

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Video #2

Palisades Tahoe wasn't the only resort in the region to see the flakes fly. Vail Resorts-operated Northstar California Resort documented snow falling as low as the base terminals of their mid-mountain lifts at roughly 7,000 feet above sea level.

The resort was open throughout most of Saturday, August 25th for summer hiking and bike park riding, but closed lifts as thunder and lightning rolled in around 2:30pm. I enjoyed riding my mountain bike through the mix of mostly rain and some snow throughout the day, but was disappointed to learn that snow accumulated across most of the mountain just minutes after I left.

This story isn't about me and my FOMO for snow, however. Check out the photos and videos shared by Northstar of the summer snowfall below.

Northstar California Resort August 24, 2024 Snow Video

I'm sad to report that the snow had melted by the time I arrived to ride Northstar's bike park the following day, but the snow and rain left a fairly decent amount of "brown pow" for us to enjoy. I wish I could have frolicked in the snow a bit, but I certainly can't complain about a few hours of tacky dirt at the end of August in Lake Tahoe.

Mt. Rose, Nevada, home to Lake Tahoe's highest base area at 8,260 feet above sea level, also got in on the summer snow action. The ski area shared an image from their Northwest Express webcam of snow falling at the mountain's summit at 9,700 feet, and an image of snow falling all the way at the base. See below.

Tahoe's winter wonderland was short-lived as temperatures have returned to seasonable, and even above-average for late August. No matter, the sight of flakes falling, the sound of winds whipping, and the feeling of winter's unmistakable chill has provided the snow-loving skiers and riders of the region a tase of what is to come.

It's been a long and hot summer, but winter is coming. Are you ready?

Related: Mt. Bachelor Hit With First Snowfall of the Season

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