Overnight lows and dry air allow for snowmaking operations to start around Lake Tahoe

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - While the below-average low temperatures in Lake Tahoe area may be causing some to sadden at the changing of the seasons, ski resorts are moving into high gear and taking advantage of the cold to make snow.

Both cold temperatures and dry air combine to create ideal conditions for making snow.

Heavenly Mountain Ski Resort, Northstar California Resort and Kirkwood Mountain Resort are all planning to take advantage of this week’s cool weather window to build a solid base for the upcoming winter season.

Heavenly turned on their snowmaking machines at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday and both Northstar and Kirkwood are set to start on Friday, November 1, conditions permitting. Using the latest computer technology, snowmaking operators are monitoring changes in air temperature, water pressure and wind direction. Snowmaking crews at Heavenly and Northstar are alerted instantly of these changes and are able to quickly turn on or off machines from their cell phones or computers to optimally prepare resorts for upcoming opening days.

Mt. Rose Ski Resort opened for the season on October 25. Heavenly and Northstar are scheduled to open together Friday, Nov. 22 and then Kirkwood is slated to on Wednesday, Nov. 27. Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows is slated to open for the 2019-20 season on Friday, November 15. Sierra-at-Tahoe is shooting for a December 1 opening date, conditions permitting.