A White Christmas at Lake Tahoe
Over the past couple of weeks, conditions at Lake Tahoe have been on the mild and dry side. According to recent regional weather analyses, a persistent high-pressure ridge over the West Coast has kept the skies clear and precipitation minimal. As a result, snow coverage in the Sierra Nevada — including at Lake Tahoe — remains historically low for this time of year.
Temperatures at night have remained above freezing, inhibiting snow making at many of the area ski resorts.
Weather Forecast
Looking ahead, the short-term forecast is calling for continued mild and mostly sunny conditions, with daytime highs in the 50s °F and nighttime lows near or just below freezing at lower elevations.
That said, there is a modest chance of some rain (or light snow at high elevations) early next week as meteorological models hint at a slight southward drift in the storm track. Still, even if that plays out, major snowfall seems unlikely — instead, it could simply bring a brief, moisture-limited shake-up.
Models Pointing to a White Christmas
Forecast models are in agreement that a low-pressure system will build off the coast of California the third week of December. From December 22, through Christmas the area may finally enjoy the combination of cold weather and precipitation to make it a white Christmas.
This image is a look at Christmas in Lake Tahoe from www.tropicaltidbits.com
Ski Resort Opening Dates
Mammoth, Mt. Rose and Heavenly are currently open. Palisades Tahoe was scheduled to open on November 26th. However, they postponed their opening date due to a lack of natural snow and inconsistent snow-making. Northstar is open with a very limited amount of trails and lifts spinning.
The forecast for the end of December looks very positive – but it is more than 10 days out and may change. Traditionally, La Nina winters bring more precipitation to the Northwest, so we are still looking forward to an awesome 2025/2026 ski season.
Contact us today for more information about the conditions, ski resorts and for a list of available homes for sale at Lake Tahoe. Wishing you and your loved ones a magical holiday season!
