Northstar-at-Tahoe

Break out the Sunscreen, Snorkel and Ski Mask

New Years Day brings sunshine, but lookout for a MONSTER STORM now being fueled for the weekend. We're studying the national forecast models and I will be right back with an update. Hang tight, B.A.

5:51 PM - New Year's Eve.

Ok, I'm back. Took a long hard look at the four forecast models. They are all telling the same story and it's not bobbling around: POTENTIALLY EPIC SNOW COMING TO TAHOE THIS WEEKEND. You wouldn't believe how excited people are getting around here. Buying groceries, filling up gas tanks, planning school snow days.

Ok, let me see if I can explain it in a way that everyone can understand.

Short Term (New Years Day, Wednesday, Thursday) - BEAUTIFUL SKI/RIDE DAYS

The ridge of high pressure has moved into the area.  Expect Sunny skies and clear nights.  Northeast winds will keep it cool today with highs in the mid 30’s.  Tuesday and Wednesday the winds shift southerly ahead of an approaching storm system.  Temps should warm into the upper 30’s and low 40’s by Wednesday.  With the clear nights temps should plunge into the teens and single digits, with a slight inversion so only the 20’s on top of the hill.

Extended (This Weekend) - POWDER BEYOND YOUR WILDEST DREAMS

I don’t want to over-hype the storm but the way it looks is that people need to be prepared for this storms potential.  The National Weather Service has posted a public statement bulletin that I think you might want to read.   

Basically it states that this could be one of the top-five three day storm totals in the past 50 years.  The last time a storm this big hit the Sierra was the end of March 1995.  I don’t know if I am on that band wagon quite yet but there will be plenty of snow. 

A cold low pressure trough coming down from the Gulf of Alaska with join forces with a subtropical jetstream full of moisture that is being fed by the MJO we have been talking about out near Hawaii.  The strong low will push two storms into the West Coast on Thursday and again Friday-Saturday, and then the cold front itself blasts through with a ton of cold and snow on Sunday.  The snow levels look to start out around lake level and then lower after the first storm.  It should be all snow for the mountains above 7000 feet.  At lake level it could start as rain but will mostly be snow.  Temps will be right around 32 during the day and the upper 20’s at night.  The ratio will be 10:1 but with 5-10 inches of liquid that is 50-100 inches of snow.  Right now it is a little early for snow amount forecasting.  The models are  astonishingly in agreement for the 4-7 day forecast.  They all match each other.  So because of that, if the model consensus is correct it could be up to 10 feet on the Sierra Crest.  The winds on the ridges will be in excess of 100 mph.  This will make for blizzard conditions and gigantic drifts.  It will also help to push the moisture over the crest and create plenty of snow in the Tahoe Basin.  I’ll post again Wed. and hopefully have a better idea of snow totals.

TIP: watch nws.noaa.gov as well. Just click on California, then Truckee, and then on the special weather statements. 

Be sure and read our Deep Snow safety tips while you get ready for THE SKI/RIDE OF YOUR LIFE!

More snow on the way!

We are expecting 3 to 6 inches of snow tonight if everything pans out correctly.  We will probably see a few flurries here and there through Sunday, but for the most part the weather is looking pretty favorable for those of you who like well groomed snow and clearing skies.  According to the National Weather Forecasters we could possibly see a huge system moving in by next Saturday December 5th, which could possibly dump up to six feet of snow in 6 hours!  I’ll keep you posted when this next system moves in and when we have a more accurate forecast as the storm approaches closer.  Make sure you get here early during the holidays to maximize your day, because the Tahoe area in general is very busy this time of the year.  In my opinion, the snow has been the best around 8:30am so take a few turns and let me know if I am right.  If you are looking for a great New Years Eve Party that is fun for all ages, be sure to come to Northstar™ Resorts annual Fire & Ice New Years Eve party.  There will be live music and entertainment, drink specials, and everyone’s favorite fireworks!

Incredible Coverage, Stash is Open

I am so stoked that we got all this snow! This storm dumped 30 inches within the last few days and let us open the Stash earlier than expected. My buddy and I took a couple of laps first thing so we could dust the snow off of the features for everyone. I almost forgot how great it feels to pounce on a fresh mattress of snow after getting air. The open natural features were set up great and rode unbelievably smooth (even boardsliding wood rails).  

After hitting the Stash up a couple of times I cruised the Backside taking fresh tracks almost all morning through the trees. Here is a little footage, “sorry I didn’t get more I was too busy tracking powder!”  I also included one of my favorite video snacks we did this season, my buddy Brett and I hitting up the park.

Look Out for Lookout Opening Soon

It is only December 20, 2007 and almost our entire mountain is open with great conditions, you got to get out here! We should have Lookout opening really soon, the tree runs back there on a powder day always been some of my favorite days out riding. The Terrain Park on Pinball is already being built to its superlative reputation and the nostalgia we’ve all been missing before Mother Nature delivered. I have a feeling with all the snow, our Terrain Park Crew will have a sweet line of jumps/jibs with the unmatched rhythm Snow Park Technologies has always delivered really soon.   

There is a ton of fresh powder scattered around the mountain.

Blue Bird Powder Day - Scattered Snow Showers

HOLY!.. blue skies! And the forecast is cold and sunny. Can't believe we're giving it away with $35 lift tickets tomorrow (Dec.21) but we're partying for Northstar's 35th anniversray and our fans (you) deserve it - but you GOTTA BUY $35 LIFT TICKETS ONLINE by tonight!

Be back later this afternoon. I'm heading out for A Good Day!!

Ski Patrol just called in 9 inches, 5:34PM

It looks like snowy skiing and riding Wednesday and Thurdsay  - while Friday could be blue bird! Oh, did you know lift tickets are $35 on the 21st? You just need to buy them online by Thursday, midnight, Dec. 20. Hurry, the conditions are epic!! Get here before everybody else does and steal some turns in!

Storm Moves into the Tahoe region tonight with 1 to 2 feet of snow expected.

This storm has plenty of moisture to work with and it will snow heavily all day on Tuesday.  The snow should taper to snow showers on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning before picking up again as yet another storm arrives Wednesday afternoon into Thursday. 

The National Weather Service already has this storm’s chances at 100%.  This storm may be stronger, colder, and slower.  Most likely it will produce another 1-2 feet, possibly more with the slower speed and better moisture.  We’ll have a break for the weekend but yet another storm is looking to move in for Christmas followed by possibly two more storms by New Years.  I’ll keep you posted. 

Holiday Gift Shopping in the Village - Ski or Ride, Pick up Some Gifts, and You're Good to Go!

Relax, enjoy and get your turns in this weekend. Haven't finished holiday shopping yet? Pick up a Northstar Gift Card, New Gear, Clothing, Jewlery, Fine Art or Accessories on your way out through the village!

More Snow Coming to Northstar Dec. 17 and Next Week

More Snow is forecast to arrive on Dec. 17 and into next week. This weekend will be clear, cold and oh-so-delightful on Saturday, cloudy on Sunday with snow possibly starting that night. And the Backside will be open! We've consulted our Weather Guru, Bryan A. and the news is good, good, good! Oh, speaking of Good -  check out the Goodologist. Is that guy just wrong or what??

December Forecast, by B.A.

"I have been repeating over and over that the pattern would change to a very stormy one the second half of December.  Well, we are here now and everything still looks to be lining up perfectly.  If you look at the map below you will see that the ridge moves out to 150 longitude and the storms ride the jet stream down the right hand side of the ridge and right into California.  The long path over water allows the storms to pick up lots of moisture.  A bonus that could happen (which is what turned the snow showers from last Friday’s storm into a 2 foot dump) will be a Kona Low, which is an area of stormy weather over the Hawaiian Islands that could feed extra moisture into the storms.  You can see that on the map below as well.  This is the perfect set-up with a storm potentially coming almost every other day from next Monday through Christmas day.  Each storm is cold and full of moisture.  In between each storm would be lingering snow showers.  The Chico weather email from 12/9 said 2-4 feet for next week.  I think that is conservative. The models have been consistent with this pattern every day for over a week and we have seen the setup coming for over a month.  If the models continue for another couple of days I would expect to see NOAA issue a special weather statement as early as later this week, warning everyone of the upcoming snows.  Don’t forget this is still a week away and could change.  I’ll keep you posted!"

 Thanks Brian!

OK everybody, it's a Sing-Along!

" Merry Christmas to ME, Merry Christmas TO ME, Merry CHRISTMAS TO ME, Merry Christmas to ME" and then Buy the Double Whammy. HO-HO-HO.

Who is B.A.? Forecast discussions are formulated by studying extensively the research of several meteorologists from the following sites: accuweather.com, mammothweather.com, nws.noaa.gov, and western weather group.  Plus personal analysis of global forecasting models such as the GFS.  Studied Meteorology at Kean University in Union, NJ from 1999-2000.  Been a weather fanactic since 1985.

20 " at The Summit: Comstock Opening Sat. Dec. 8

Opening To The Top! Comstock Express is scheduled to open tomorrow, Sat. Dec. 8. Happy to report we got the predicted amount of 20" at the Summit in the last 36 hours and it is still coming down! Forecast is 22 F as a high for Saturday - excellent ski/riding conditions.

Did you go out? How was it? Let the good times roll! If you haven't already,  throw down for the Double Whammy!

Thanks Santa!

HEAVY SNOWFALL EXPECTED Dec. 6,7

The storm door is OPENING. Anywhere from 9-20 inches of white, fluffy powder is expected to reign from the heavens starting tomorrow. That’s powder turns this weekend at Northstar-at-Tahoe people, with white gold on top of the 12"-18" snow base we’ve been cranking on with snowguns.

Check out NOAA Winter Storm Warning 

If you’re a weather fanatic, read what our Weather Man Bryan A. (lives, breathes, eats forecast models) has to say:

“Ok, so now we have a 100% chance of snow starting tomorrow afternoon and going through Friday.  This storm is going to take the best possible track across us to get the most amount of moisture out of it.

The afternoon forecast model puts a total liquid over the Tahoe Basin of .87- 1.95 inches.  The snow ratio at 32 degrees puts that at 9 – 20 inches based on your location and does not include the wrap around snow showers that could add several more inches on Friday.  Since temperatures will be between 23 and 32 degrees throughout the storm let’s go middle of the road and say 11 – 24 inches total by the end of the storm Friday night, again - based on your location.  Also, there could be higher amounts in localized areas that receive heavier snow bands.

The Forecast Models are bringing more holiday cheer - this is only the first in what could be several storms before Christmas!"

Forecast discussions are formulated by studying extensively the research of several meteorologists from the following sites: accuweather.com, mammothweather.com, nws.noaa.gov, and western weather group.  Plus personal analysis of global forecasting models such as the GFS.  Studied Meteorology at Kean University in Union, NJ from 1999-2000.  Been a weather fanactic since 1985.