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Kirkwood ski resort

Part of Lake Tahoe · 8 ski areas

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Tier A — Prime El Niño terrain

📷 Kirkwood

North America

Kirkwood

Closed for the season

Season ended April 19, 2026 · reopens December 4, 2026

Conditions data updated Fri, Aug 28, 09:02 AM UTC · informational only

Closed for the season — closed April 19

Weather data is still collected for informational purposes.

Last Snowfall

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Past 24 Hours

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Past 48 Hours

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Past 10 Days

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14-Day Forecast

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Snow Depth

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🎿

Powder Days

5

2026–27 season

Updated: Aug 28, 9:02 AM•Weather at base: 2377m

Overview

Kirkwood is a ski resort in North America, United States, currently closed for the season (Season ended April 19, 2026 · reopens December 4, 2026). Conditions last updated 2026-08-28 09:02 UTC.

Resort Guide

Kirkwood is a ski resort located in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California, renowned for its high alpine terrain and abundant snowfall. The resort features over 2,300 acres of skiable terrain, including challenging steeps, open bowls, and scenic glades, catering to advanced skiers and riders. Kirkwood offers a relaxed, laid-back atmosphere with essential amenities such as ski-in/ski-out lodging, dining, and a ski and ride school, making it a destination for those seeking a more secluded and adventurous mountain experience. Its unique location and terrain variety distinguish it as a premier spot for powder enthusiasts and those looking for a less crowded alternative in the Lake Tahoe region.

Resort Info

Summit2987m
Base2377m
Vertical610m
Lifts15
Runs86
Skiable Area2300 acres
Average snowfall354 inches / 899 cm
CountryUnited States
Visit Resort Website →Follow on Instagram →View Trail Map →

Season dates

Season endedApril 19, 2026 · reopens December 4, 2026
Projected openingDecember 4, 2026

Ski passes

Epic Pass

Epic Pass

View resorts →

Access tiers change by season — confirm benefits on the pass operator's site.

Top Après Ski

The Cornice Grill – A classic après-ski spot at Kirkwood, The Cornice Grill is celebrated for its cozy atmosphere, hearty pub fare, and welcoming bar, making it a favorite gathering place for skiers to unwind with drinks and share stories after a day on the mountain.

Snow Summary

2987mECMWF Model

Updated Aug 28, 2026 at 9:02 AM

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24h
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14-Day Forecast
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Now28
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M31
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Today
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Snowfall Forecast Maps

California & Sierra Nevada region

Current Conditions

Reported Fri, Aug 28, 09:02 AM UTC

Depth by source

every reading we have
  • SNOTELBase 0cm

The headline depth uses the most trusted available source. We show every reading so you can judge for yourself.

Base

2377m

Temp

11.4°C

Wind

4.1km/h

Snow Depth

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14-Day Forecast

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Mid-Mountain

2682m

Temp

--°C

Wind

5km/h

Snow Depth

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14-Day Forecast

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Summit

2987m

Temp

7.4°C

Wind

4.1km/h

Snow Depth

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14-Day Forecast

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El Niño Outlook · Winter 2026-27

Kirkwood El Niño rank & forecast

Kirkwood ranks #94 of 488 SnowSure resorts — Tier A, +9% in strong El Niño winters.

Tier A — Prime El Niño terrain: Historically snowed much more than normal in strong El Niño winters (≥ +8% vs this resort’s own 30-year average).

#94 of 488Tier A — Prime El Niño terrain

Strong-event signal: +9% vs this resort's 30-yr avg

In the three strongest El Niño winters on record ('97-98, '15-16, '23-24), Kirkwood averaged +9% versus its own 30-year snowfall baseline — one of the strongest positive El Niño signals we track. With NOAA forecasting a potentially record event for winter 2026-27, history says this is the winter to book Kirkwood with confidence. Individual analog winters: '97-98 +20%, '15-16 -5%, '23-24 +13%. A lean, not a law — but the lean is firmly up.

'97-98 +20%'15-16 −5%'23-24 +13%

Signal = average snowfall in the three strongest El Niño winters since 1996 ('97-98, '15-16, '23-24) vs this resort's own 30-year ERA5 baseline. n=3 — a lean, not a law. Updated monthly against measured snowfall Dec–Mar.

Full El Niño report →

Live Conditions

Kirkwood Webcam

All Webcams

Kirkwood Mountain Resort / BrownRice

1 webcam • Click to expand

Snow Stake Cam

All Snow Stake Cams

Kirkwood Mountain Resort

1 snow stake cam • Click to expand

Local Reports

0 reports
SnowSure™ Forecast Range

Daily Snowfall Forecast by Model

Black line = verified SnowSure™ blend (not a simple average). Weights update weekly from measured snowfall at SNOTEL stations and resort reports.

SnowSure™ blend — verified model weighting

The black line is not a simple average. For Kirkwood (sierra), we combine seven global weather models using weights learned from daily forecast verification — comparing each model's prediction to measured snowfall (SNOTEL, resort reports, ERA5).

  • 1.Horizon buckets: days 1–3, 4–7, and 8–14 each get separate weights — short-range skill differs from long-range.
  • 2.Regional calibration: weights come from verified error in this geography (Rockies, Alps, Japan, etc.), recalculated weekly.
  • 3.Ground truth only: we never grade a forecast against another model — only against measured snow.

Building verification history for this resort.

How we verify forecasts →

Hourly Forecast Detail

AM / PM / Night breakdown with wind and freezing level

NWP models refresh up to 4× daily · Last synced Aug 28, 9:02 AM

Hourly Forecast Detail
 
Today
10 / 69.9mm
Sat, Aug 29
14 / 4
Sun, Aug 30
16 / 3
Mon, Aug 31
15 / 3
Tue, Sep 1
11 / 2
Wed, Sep 2
12 / 0
PeriodAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNight
Snow (cm)000000000000000000
Precip (mm)4.832.1000000000000000
Temp (°C)79781459155914561036113
Wind (km/h)4751220771457156152215142114
Gusts (km/h)132414345426243920235129515951455346

14-Day Snow Forecast by Model

Summit elevation (2987m)

ECMWF
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GFS
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GEM
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JMA
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Météo-Fr
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SnowSure™
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10-Day Forecast

Today

28

🌧️

9.8°

6.3°

8 km/h

Sat

29

🌤️

14.3°

4°

21 km/h

Sun

30

🌤️

15.6°

2.8°

14 km/h

Mon

31

⛅

15.3°

3.4°

16 km/h

Tue

1

☀️

11.1°

1.8°

23 km/h

Wed

2

☁️

12°

0.4°

21 km/h

Thu

3

☀️

11°

1.7°

25 km/h

Fri

4

☀️

9.7°

0.8°

27 km/h

Sat

5

☁️

14.5°

0.2°

15 km/h

Sun

6

☁️

17.2°

2.4°

10 km/h

Summit elevation (2987m) • ECMWF model

Avalanche

Off-season — no rating published

Sierra Avalanche Center

Watch for signs of unstable snow such as recent avalanches, cracking in the snow, and audible collapsing. Avoid traveling on or under similar slopes.

Read the official bulletin ↗

SnowSure relays the official avalanche bulletin and does not issue avalanche forecasts. Read the full bulletin at the issuer’s link and make your own terrain decisions. Not a substitute for avalanche education, equipment, or local knowledge.

Getting There

Drive times & access

Last updated Aug 21, 8:04 AM

6 cameras nearby

Official map ↗

Drive conditions

Quiet — No winter restrictions — typical off-season pavement

The SnowSure call indicates a quiet status for Kirkwood, with no winter restrictions and typical off-season pavement conditions. There are no active chain controls or closures on the highways SnowSure monitors near Kirkwood, and late-season or summer readings should not be interpreted as a winter forecast. The resort road status and the official DOT map are authoritative — re-check before you drive.

SnowSure take, grounded in live DOT sensors. Not the resort's road status.

Highway cameras near Kirkwood

Hwy 50 at Echo Summit road camera
Hwy 50 at Echo Summit14.8 km · Caltrans
Hwy 50 at Twin Bridges road camera
Hwy 50 at Twin Bridges15 km · Caltrans
Hwy 50 at Sierra EB road camera
Hwy 50 at Sierra EB15 km · Caltrans
Hwy 50 at Wrights Lake 1 road camera
Hwy 50 at Wrights Lake 116.8 km · Caltrans
Hwy 50 at Wrights Lake 2 road camera
Hwy 50 at Wrights Lake 216.8 km · Caltrans
Hwy 50 at Meyers road camera
Hwy 50 at Meyers19 km · Caltrans

Live highway sensors & cameras within ~30–40 km, via Caltrans. Conditions on the drive, not the mountain — the resort's own road status is authoritative. Always re-check before a winter drive.

Season vs Historic

Updated Fri, Aug 28, 09:02 AM UTC

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Season Total

This Season to Date

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vs 5-Year Avg

Off-season · 664cm full-season avg

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vs 30-Year Avg

Off-season · 574cm full-season avg

664cm

5-Yr Avg by Now

The last completed season totaled ~571 cm. That's 14% below the 5-year average (664 cm). Versus the 30-year baseline: near the 30-year average (574 cm).

Kirkwood Snow History

Average annual snowfall is 631cm with an average of 90 snowfall days per season. The table below shows monthly averages across 30 seasons of archive data (modeled snowpack at mid-elevation).

Average monthly snowfall history
MonthAvg SnowfallSnowfall DaysAvg Base DepthMax Base DepthBiggest Snowfall
November61.6cm10 days14cm37cm21.2cm
December126.7cm14 days57cm100cm31.7cm
January120.3cm13 days104cm148cm29.2cm
February119.8cm14 days140cm180cm26.7cm
March103.7cm14 days168cm205cm25.6cm
April56.1cm11 days155cm189cm16.8cm
May22.1cm6 days95cm136cm9.8cm

Source: SnowSure archive · Open-Meteo ERA5 reanalysis at mid-elevation. Depth is modeled, not resort-reported.

Season at a Glance

Next season(2026-27)

Opens Dec 4, 2026

Multi-season averages will appear once SnowSure has tracked more than one full season.

ENSO seasonal analog

History · not a forecast

In 10 past El Niño winters at Kirkwood, ERA5 season snowfall median was 633 cm (249 in), about 5% above this resort’s long-term median. This is a historical analog from reanalysis — not a prediction of this winter’s storm track.

Prevailing ONI

El Niño

MJJ 2026 · ANOM +1.39°C

Analog season median

633 cm

10 El Niño winters · 5% above median

All-season median

604 cm

Across 30 ERA5 seasons (2026-27)

PhaseSeasonsMedianp25–p75Recent analogs
El Niñocurrent10633 cm565 cm – 731 cm2023, 2019, 2018, 2015, 2014, 2009
La Niña12603 cm471 cm – 715 cm2022, 2021, 2020, 2017, 2011, 2010
ENSO-neutral8541 cm439 cm – 648 cm2025, 2024, 2016, 2013, 2012, 2003

Season snowfall from Open-Meteo ERA5 reanalysis (~9 km). ENSO phase from NOAA CPC Oceanic Niño Index. Relative phase differences are more trustworthy than absolute cm totals. Source: NOAA CPC Oceanic Niño Index + Open-Meteo ERA5 via SnowSure season archive.

Best Months to Visit

February

Peak Season

January

Peak Season

March

Good

December

Good

Note: Based on typical ski season patterns for this region.

Back to All Destinations

Frequently asked questions about Kirkwood

Where is Kirkwood?
Kirkwood is a ski resort in the United States.
How high is Kirkwood?
Kirkwood runs from a base elevation of 2,377 m (7,799 ft) to a summit of 2,987 m (9,800 ft), giving a vertical drop of 610 m (2,001 ft).
How big is Kirkwood?
Kirkwood has 2,300 acres (931 hectares) of skiable terrain, 86 marked runs and 15 lifts.
Which ski pass covers Kirkwood?
Kirkwood is on the Epic Pass. Access terms such as blackout dates and day limits vary by pass tier, so check the pass operator for the current season.
When is ski season at Kirkwood?
Kirkwood typically operates from December to April. Exact opening and closing dates shift each year with snowfall — check the resort's current season dates before booking.
How much snow does Kirkwood get in a typical season?
Kirkwood averages 354 inches / 899 cm of snowfall in a typical season. Any individual season can run well above or below that.
How will El Niño affect Kirkwood in winter 2026-27?
El Niño Signal Rank: #94 of 488 SnowSure resorts · Tier A · strong-event signal +9% vs its own 30-yr average. In the three strongest El Niño winters on record ('97-98, '15-16, '23-24), Kirkwood averaged +9% versus its own 30-year snowfall baseline — one of the strongest positive El Niño signals we track. With NOAA forecasting a potentially record event for winter 2026-27, history says this is the winter to book Kirkwood with confidence. Individual analog winters: '97-98 +20%, '15-16 -5%, '23-24 +13%. A lean, not a law — but the lean is firmly up.