Spring Who? Feet of Snow Just Slammed California's Ski Resorts

Was it too little too late? Not quite! 

What could’ve been a heartbreaker rain storm instead came in cold enough, blanketing California’s mountains with feet of the white stuff. 

A little context first, though.

If you live anywhere in the Golden State, you know: March got hot. Like, really hot. Temperatures spiked last month, smashing records and baking mountain snowpacks. That, alongside an already thin snow season, led to ski resorts across the state shutting down. Only a few are still standing.

Those who were open enjoyed something of a comeback.

Palisades Tahoe is reporting 43 inches of new snow at 8,000 feet.

While the storm arrived in true April fashion—it was wet and warm at first—temperatures dipped on Sunday, improving snow quality as the weekend went on. Palisades Tahoe used Charlie the avalanche-dog-in-training as a cute unit of measurement. 

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Kirkwood, another Tahoe area hanger-on, saw 42 inches.

The resort shared a high-alpine view from Monday morning, and for the first time in weeks, the mountains actually looked seasonally appropriate. See below.

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Mammoth Mountain, which typically runs California’s longest ski season, got in on the action, too. They put the storm total somewhere between 25 and 39 inches. That’s more than enough to change how the slopes look and feel.

Mid-storm photos from the resort are a sight for sore eyes. See below.

To everyone who got out and enjoyed the snow, we envy you. 

But don’t fret too much if you missed all the action. California’s ski season still has some juice left. While warmer and sunnier weather is expected this week, the snowy reset should make for better coverage as some mountains head into their final weekends of operation.

Kirkwood is targeting Sunday, April 19, as its final day. So is Mt. Rose-Ski Tahoe, Nevada, which will reopen for its last weekend of the season on Friday, April 17. Mt. Rose picked up between 21 and 26 inches. 

No word, though, from Palisades Tahoe or Mammoth Mountain on specific closing dates yet. Although Mammoth, according to its website, still aims to keep the season going through Memorial Day or later.

Now, we aren’t in the business of forcing anyone to go skiing, but if you needed a reminder that, yes, skiing is still fun after an often-frustrating season, now’s probably the time to do it. 

Mt. Rose-Ski Tahoe even has a deal for those of you who got marooned after their home mountain closed. Show your pass to another resort there this coming weekend, and you’ll score discounted $60 lift tickets.

Related: Photo Gallery: Exploring British Columbia’s Ski Areas “Lost In Time”