Mammoth Mountain Braces for Up To 24 Inches of Snow
California’s first legit winter storm runs Monday to Wednesday (October 13-15, 2025) with snow levels near 5,500 to 7,000 feet, ridge gusts 30 to 35 mph, and a colder phase Tuesday night that sharpens snow quality.
Ski resorts are not open yet, so treat this as a classic October hype storm and a solid base-builder up high.
Storm one-liner: a dense start that shifts to colder, chalky powder Tuesday night. Keep reading for storm snow totals, timing, and more.
Want to keep up with the best stories and photos in skiing? Subscribe to the new Powder To The People newsletter for weekly updates.
Northern Sierra and Tahoe Snow Forecast
A colder, wet system rolls in Monday. Snow levels hover 6,500 to 7,000 feet early, then trend lower into Tuesday night. Expect a denser start Monday with SLR mostly 7 to 9, then a quality bump Tuesday night as colder air deepens and SLR rises near 11 to 13. Winds gust 30 to 35 mph on ridges, so wind-sheltered terrain will look best once coverage improves.
Ski Resort Snow Totals:
- Kirkwood:11 to 16 inches total
- Palisades Tahoe:10 to 16 inches total
- Heavenly:10 to 15 inches total
- Sugar Bowl:9 to 14 inches total
- Mt. Rose:10 to 15 inches total.
- Northstar:5 to 8 inches total
1 to 2 feet for the broader Sierra and Lassen high terrain with up to 3 feet on the highest peaks. Exposed crest zones and backcountry ridgelines may overperform the mid-mountain resort numbers. Biggest takeaway for Tahoe is a dense base builder first, then a colder, higher-quality finish Tuesday night.
The Good, Bad, & Wildcards
- Good: Colder air arrives Tuesday night with snow-to-liquid ratios (SLRs) near 11 to 13 in many spots. That brings chalky to soft powder on north aspects and in the trees. Mammoth features the best quality during the day Tuesday, then a silky top-off Tuesday night.
- Bad: The first push is dense in places with SLRs in the 7 to 9 range, especially Monday. Ridge gusts 30 to 35 mph can drift or strip exposed faces and may limit backcountry travel comfort.
- Wildcards: Track wiggle still in play. A farther-south track favors Mono County with convective bands Tuesday afternoon and evening. A farther-north track trims some Tahoe totals after the first round. Confidence is moderate.
Eastern Sierra and Mono County Snow Forecast (Mammoth)
Mammoth stacks the goods in two acts. Monday night brings 5 to 7 inches with an SLR around 12, then Tuesday day adds 3 to 5 at SLR 12 with another 2-4 inches on Tuesday night. Totals for the period come in around 10 to 15 inches.
Convective snow bands are possible on Tuesday afternoon and evening, so quick surprises are possible, especially near the crest. Ridge winds remain a factor, so expect drifted pillows and some scoured spots up high.
Lassen and Northern Sierra Backcountry Snow Forecast
Above 6,500 feet, storm totals run 1 to 2 feet with up to 3 feet on the tallest peaks. Start is dense, then colder Tuesday night. Access and roads may be impacted, and winds will shape the snow surface on exposed aspects.
Extended Outlook
Pattern favors additional troughs for the West. Cooler than normal temps and elevated precipitation odds target the Northern Rockies, Great Basin, and parts of the Sierra into the Oct 18 to Oct 26 window. Another Sierra storm is possible late next weekend, though track and timing remain uncertain.
Related: Frigid, Snowy Winter Coming for the East Coast, Opposite for the West—OpenSnow Explains
Leave a Reply