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Northstar at Tahoe ski resort

Part of Lake Tahoe · 8 ski areas

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Tier A — Prime El Niño terrain

📷 Northstar at Tahoe

North America

Northstar at Tahoe

Closed for the season

Season ended April 5, 2026 · reopens November 20, 2026

Conditions data updated Fri, Aug 28, 09:03 AM UTC · informational only

Closed for the season — closed April 5

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

2

2026–27 season

Updated: Aug 28, 9:03 AM•Weather at base: 1929m

Overview

Northstar at Tahoe is a ski resort in North America, United States, currently closed for the season (Season ended April 5, 2026 · reopens November 20, 2026). Conditions last updated 2026-08-28 09:03 UTC.

Resort Guide

Northstar at Tahoe is a ski resort located in North Lake Tahoe, California, offering over 3,000 acres of skiable terrain with a mix of trails suitable for all ability levels. The resort features a vibrant village with dining, shopping, and après-ski options, as well as amenities such as ski and snowboard schools, equipment rentals, and family-friendly activities. Signature experiences include scenic gondola rides, a renowned terrain park, and a welcoming atmosphere that caters to both families and adventure seekers. Northstar stands out for its blend of modern amenities, diverse terrain, and a relaxed, upscale mountain environment.

Resort Info

Summit2624m
Base1929m
Vertical695m
Lifts20
Runs100
Skiable Area3170 acres
Average snowfall350 inches / 889 cm
CountryUnited States
Visit Resort Website →Follow on Instagram →View Trail Map →

Season dates

Season endedApril 5, 2026 · reopens November 20, 2026
Projected openingNovember 20, 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 Village Bar & Grill – A popular après-ski destination in Northstar’s village, known for its welcoming atmosphere, craft cocktails, and outdoor fire pits, making it a favorite spot for skiers to unwind and socialize after a day on the slopes.

Snow Summary

2624mECMWF Model

Updated Aug 28, 2026 at 9:03 AM

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24h
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Past 10d
14-Day Forecast
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Prev10d
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Now28
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S29
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S30
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M31
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T3
Past
Today
Forecast

Snowfall Forecast Maps

California & Sierra Nevada region

Current Conditions

Reported Fri, Aug 28, 09:03 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

1929m

Temp

16.4°C

Wind

1.5km/h

Snow Depth

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14-Day Forecast

0cm

Mid-Mountain

2277m

Temp

--°C

Wind

2km/h

Snow Depth

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14-Day Forecast

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Summit

2624m

Temp

11.9°C

Wind

1.5km/h

Snow Depth

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14-Day Forecast

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El Niño Outlook · Winter 2026-27

Northstar at Tahoe El Niño rank & forecast

Northstar at Tahoe ranks #79 of 488 SnowSure resorts — Tier A, +10% 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).

#79 of 488Tier A — Prime El Niño terrain

Strong-event signal: +10% vs this resort's 30-yr avg

In the three strongest El Niño winters on record ('97-98, '15-16, '23-24), Northstar at Tahoe averaged +10% versus its own 30-year snowfall baseline. The pattern has historically been a friend here. With a record-strength event forecast for winter 2026-27, Northstar at Tahoe sits on the favorable side of the ledger. Analog winters: '97-98 +22%, '15-16 -7%, '23-24 +14%. A pattern, not a promise.

'97-98 +22%'15-16 −7%'23-24 +14%

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

Northstar at Tahoe Webcams

All Webcams

Northstar California Resort

Northstar California Resort

Northstar California Resort

3 webcams • 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 Northstar at Tahoe (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, 9:03 AM

Hourly Forecast Detail
 
Today
15 / 102.7mm
Sat, Aug 29
16 / 90.3mm
Sun, Aug 30
17 / 9
Mon, Aug 31
17 / 8
Tue, Sep 1
13 / 5
Wed, Sep 2
13 / 5
PeriodAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNight
Snow (cm)000000000000000000
Precip (mm)0.30.61.8000.3000000000000
Temp (°C)121411111610121710121610101279127
Wind (km/h)61041322841248154182411172012
Gusts (km/h)182715365627183418214824435644425343

14-Day Snow Forecast by Model

Summit elevation (2624m)

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

Today

28

🌧️

14.9°

10.1°

13 km/h

Sat

29

🌧️

16.1°

8.9°

23 km/h

Sun

30

☀️

17.3°

8.9°

18 km/h

Mon

31

☀️

16.8°

8.1°

16 km/h

Tue

1

🌤️

12.6°

4.9°

25 km/h

Wed

2

☁️

12.7°

5°

22 km/h

Thu

3

🌤️

12.3°

5.6°

25 km/h

Fri

4

☀️

10.5°

3.5°

27 km/h

Sat

5

☁️

15.7°

4.1°

12 km/h

Sun

6

🌤️

18°

7.4°

11 km/h

Summit elevation (2624m) • ECMWF model

Avalanche

No bulletin for this mountain

Avalanche.org (US avalanche centers)

This resort lies outside every forecast zone published by its national warning service, so no bulletin covers it.

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 Apr 22, 9:18 AM

6 cameras nearby

Official map ↗

Drive conditions

Quiet — No winter restrictions — typical off-season pavement

The SnowSure call indicates a quiet status with no winter restrictions and typical off-season pavement conditions at Northstar at Tahoe. There are no active chain controls or closures on the highways monitored near the resort, and the readings reflect late-season or summer conditions rather than 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 Northstar at Tahoe

Hwy 267 at Northstar road camera
Hwy 267 at Northstar2 km · Caltrans
Hwy 267 at Brockway Summit road camera
Hwy 267 at Brockway Summit4.4 km · Caltrans
Hwy 267 at Truckee Bypass road camera
Hwy 267 at Truckee Bypass7.7 km · Caltrans
Hwy 80 at 267 road camera
Hwy 80 at 2678.2 km · Caltrans
Hwy 89 at West River road camera
Hwy 89 at West River8.5 km · Caltrans
Hwy 28 at Hwy 267 Kings Beach road camera
Hwy 28 at Hwy 267 Kings Beach8.6 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, 09:03 AM UTC

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Season Total

This Season to Date

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vs 5-Year Avg

Off-season · 435cm full-season avg

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vs 30-Year Avg

Off-season · 363cm full-season avg

435cm

5-Yr Avg by Now

The last completed season totaled ~287.1 cm. That's 34% below the 5-year average (435 cm). Versus the 30-year baseline: 21% below the 30-year average (363 cm).

Northstar at Tahoe Snow History

Average annual snowfall is 390cm with an average of 82 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
November34.4cm9 days7cm22cm12.7cm
December82.7cm13 days35cm63cm22.2cm
January76cm13 days65cm95cm20.7cm
February78.8cm14 days88cm117cm19.6cm
March66.6cm13 days103cm129cm18cm
April32.5cm10 days79cm107cm10.4cm
May9.9cm5 days31cm58cm4.8cm

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 Nov 20, 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 Northstar at Tahoe, ERA5 season snowfall median was 403 cm (159 in), about 12% 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

403 cm

10 El Niño winters · 12% above median

All-season median

360 cm

Across 30 ERA5 seasons (2026-27)

PhaseSeasonsMedianp25–p75Recent analogs
El Niñocurrent10403 cm345 cm – 442 cm2023, 2019, 2018, 2015, 2014, 2009
La Niña12351 cm290 cm – 463 cm2022, 2021, 2020, 2017, 2011, 2010
ENSO-neutral8318 cm285 cm – 387 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 Northstar at Tahoe

Where is Northstar at Tahoe?
Northstar at Tahoe is a ski resort in the United States.
How high is Northstar at Tahoe?
Northstar at Tahoe runs from a base elevation of 1,929 m (6,329 ft) to a summit of 2,624 m (8,609 ft), giving a vertical drop of 695 m (2,280 ft).
How big is Northstar at Tahoe?
Northstar at Tahoe has 3,170 acres (1,283 hectares) of skiable terrain, 100 marked runs and 20 lifts.
Which ski pass covers Northstar at Tahoe?
Northstar at Tahoe 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 Northstar at Tahoe?
Northstar at Tahoe typically operates from November 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 Northstar at Tahoe get in a typical season?
Northstar at Tahoe averages 350 inches / 889 cm of snowfall in a typical season. Any individual season can run well above or below that.
How will El Niño affect Northstar at Tahoe in winter 2026-27?
El Niño Signal Rank: #79 of 488 SnowSure resorts · Tier A · strong-event signal +10% vs its own 30-yr average. In the three strongest El Niño winters on record ('97-98, '15-16, '23-24), Northstar at Tahoe averaged +10% versus its own 30-year snowfall baseline. The pattern has historically been a friend here. With a record-strength event forecast for winter 2026-27, Northstar at Tahoe sits on the favorable side of the ledger. Analog winters: '97-98 +22%, '15-16 -7%, '23-24 +14%. A pattern, not a promise.