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Sugar Bowl ski resort

📷 Sugar Bowl

North America

Sugar Bowl

Pre-season — not open yet

Projected to open November 20, 2026

Conditions data updated Tue, Jul 14, 08:07 AM UTC · informational only

Closed for Season

Weather data is still collected for informational purposes.

Last Snowfall

May 29

Past 24 Hours

0cm

Past 48 Hours

0cm

Past 10 Days

0cm

14-Day Forecast

0cm

Snow Depth

--

Packed powder
🎿

Powder Days

2

2026–27 season

Updated: Jul 14, 8:07 AMWeather at base: 2098m

Overview

Sugar Bowl is a ski resort in North America, United States, currently closed for the season (Projected to open November 20, 2026). Conditions last updated 2026-07-14 08:07 UTC.

Resort Guide

Sugar Bowl is a historic ski resort located in the Sierra Nevada near Lake Tahoe, California, offering over 1,650 acres of skiable terrain and an average annual snowfall of 500 inches. The resort features four mountain peaks, a variety of runs for all abilities, and a classic alpine atmosphere with slopeside lodging and dining. Signature experiences include easy access via the unique snowbound village and a focus on uncrowded slopes and authentic mountain charm. Key amenities include ski-in/ski-out accommodations, ski school, equipment rentals, and a family-friendly environment.

Resort Info

Summit2555m
Base2098m
Vertical457m
Lifts13
Runs103
Skiable Area1650 acres
Average snowfall500 inches / 1270 cm
CountryUnited States

Season dates

Projected openingNovember 20, 2026

Future dates are operator estimates and may change.

Ski passes

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

Top Après Ski

The Belt Room Bar – Known for its cozy mountain lodge ambiance and panoramic views, The Belt Room Bar at Sugar Bowl is a favorite après-ski spot offering craft cocktails, local brews, and a welcoming atmosphere perfect for unwinding after a day on the slopes.

Snow Summary

2555mECMWF Model

Updated Jul 14, 2026 at 8:07 AM

0cm
24h
0cm
Past 10d
14-Day Forecast
0
Prev10d
Now14
W15
T16
F17
S18
S19
M20
Past
Today
Forecast

Snowfall Forecast Maps

California & Sierra Nevada region

Current Conditions

Reported Tue, Jul 14, 08:07 AM UTC

Depth by source

every reading we have
  • SNOTELBase 3cm

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

Base

2098m

Temp

13.2°C

Wind

1.6km/h

Snow Depth

--

14-Day Forecast

0.2cm

Mid-Mountain

2327m

Temp

14.9°C

Wind

8.4km/h

Snow Depth

--

14-Day Forecast

0.6cm

Summit

2555m

Temp

10.2°C

Wind

1.6km/h

Snow Depth

--

14-Day Forecast

0.2cm

Getting There

Road Conditions

6 cameras nearby

Official map ↗

R-0 — No restrictions

No active chain controls or restrictions on the highways near this resort right now (Caltrans). Always re-check before a winter drive.

Highway cameras near Sugar Bowl

Hwy 80 at Castle Peak road camera
Hwy 80 at Castle Peak3.8 km · Caltrans
Hwy 80 at Donner Summit road camera
Hwy 80 at Donner Summit4 km · Caltrans
Hwy 80 at Soda Springs EB road camera
Hwy 80 at Soda Springs EB5.3 km · Caltrans
Hwy 80 at Donner Lake road camera
Hwy 80 at Donner Lake5.3 km · Caltrans
Hwy 80 at Kingvale WB road camera
Hwy 80 at Kingvale WB9 km · Caltrans
Hwy 80 at Kingvale EB 2 road camera
Hwy 80 at Kingvale EB 29.8 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.

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 Sugar Bowl (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 Jul 14, 8:07 AM

Hourly Forecast Detail
 
Today
20 / 86.3mm
Wed, Jul 15
23 / 6
Thu, Jul 16
23 / 2
Fri, Jul 17
23 / 3
Sat, Jul 18
24 / 5
Sun, Jul 19
27 / 7
PeriodAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNight
Snow (cm)000000000000000000
Precip (mm)0.35.70.3000000000000000
Temp (°C)14191115221114229142310162311172613
Wind (km/h)35231237164101665115275
Gusts (km/h)142510133715254421203627163430173533

14-Day Snow Forecast by Model

Summit elevation (2555m)

ECMWF
0cm
GFS
0cm
GEM
0cm
JMA
0cm
ICON
0cm
Météo-Fr
0cm
SnowSure™
0cm

10-Day Forecast

Today

14

🌧️

20°

8.2°

8 km/h

Wed

15

☀️

23.1°

6.2°

15 km/h

Thu

16

☀️

22.6°

2°

16 km/h

Fri

17

☀️

23°

3.1°

18 km/h

Sat

18

🌤️

24.3°

5.3°

14 km/h

Sun

19

🌤️

26.9°

6.9°

14 km/h

Mon

20

🌤️

23.8°

8.8°

17 km/h

Tue

21

🌤️

24.8°

8.8°

13 km/h

Wed

22

26.4°

10.1°

16 km/h

Thu

23

☁️

24.3°

11.4°

17 km/h

Summit elevation (2555m) • ECMWF model

Season vs Historic

Updated Tue, Jul 14, 08:07 AM UTC

0cm

Season Total

This Season to Date

vs 5-Year Avg

Off-season · 736cm full-season avg

vs 30-Year Avg

Off-season · 736cm full-season avg

736cm

5-Yr Avg by Now

Over the past five years, average seasonal snowfall has increased significantly compared to the 30-year average, with the 5-year mean (696.4 cm) exceeding the long-term mean (527.6 cm) by over 30%. This period includes an exceptional anomaly in 2022, when snowfall reached 1,154.5 cm—more than double the 30-year average—skewing the short-term trend upward. The most recent season's snowfall, however, is notably lower, at just 63% of the 5-year average and 83% of the 30-year average, indicating a sharp decline from recent highs. Overall, while the short-term trend has been upward, the current season reflects a significant drop, highlighting increased variability and the influence of outlier years.

Sugar Bowl Snow History

Average annual snowfall is 474cm with an average of 60 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
November39.5cm6 days10cm29cm19.6cm
December97cm10 days45cm77cm31.7cm
January94cm10 days80cm115cm29.7cm
February94.9cm10 days108cm145cm29.6cm
March84.4cm11 days131cm162cm29.5cm
April41.9cm7 days107cm138cm19.6cm
May14.1cm4 days50cm81cm9.7cm

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.

Best Months to Visit

February

Peak Season

January

Peak Season

March

Good

December

Good

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