Ski season in Sierra gets off to early start

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Get your skis waxed because the ski season in the Sierra is getting off to an early start.

The first of the Lake Tahoe area resorts opened Tuesday with the rest to follow shortly, thanks to favorable weather conditions.

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Mt. Rose became the first Tahoe-area ski resort to open Tuesday for the season, with Boreal opening on Wednesday

Heavenly, Northstar, Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows will all open next Friday, November 17, and skiers can thank Mother Nature.

"It's a great start to the season up here. This last season that came through really pressed out the high pressure system that was holding over the West Coast, dropping the temperatures, allowing the snow-making systems to get fired up," Kevin Cooper said.

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Tahoe resorts typically open around Thanksgiving, but we're coming off a huge year last season in which we had skiing until July, plus October just brought four times the normal precipitation in the Sierra.

So by all indicators, Tahoe resorts expect another good year, which is much needed after several dry years that preceded last year.

A good amount of snow has fallen at Squaw Valley, but more is expected to come with the next storm system. So, the slopes should be much more covered by Squaw's opening day next Friday.

Check out the list below for Lake Tahoe resort opening dates.

Boreal: 11/8

Heavenly: 11/17

Northstar: 11/17

Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows: 11/17

Kirkwood: 11/20

Homewood: 12/8 (projected)

Diamond Peak: 12/14 (projected)

Sierra at Tahoe: Not scheduled yet

Mt. Rose: 11/7

Sugarbowl: No information at this time

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