Skip to main content
Sugar Bowl ski resort

Part of Lake Tahoe · 8 ski areas

Palisades TahoeNorthstar at TahoeHeavenlyKirkwood+3 more
View all Lake Tahoe conditions →
Mountain CollectiveView resorts
Tier A — Prime El Niño terrain

📷 Sugar Bowl

North America

Sugar Bowl

Closed for the season

Season ended April 12, 2026 · reopens November 20, 2026

Conditions data updated Sat, Aug 29, 01:04 PM UTC · informational only

Closed for the season — closed April 12

Weather data is still collected for informational purposes.

Last Snowfall

--

Past 24 Hours

0cm

Past 48 Hours

0cm

Past 10 Days

0cm

14-Day Forecast

0cm

Snow Depth

--

🎿

Powder Days

2

2026–27 season

Updated: Aug 29, 1:04 PM•Weather at base: 2098m

Overview

Sugar Bowl is a ski resort in North America, United States, currently closed for the season (Season ended April 12, 2026 · reopens November 20, 2026). Conditions last updated 2026-08-29 13:04 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
Visit Resort Website →Follow on Instagram →

Season dates

Season endedApril 12, 2026 · reopens November 20, 2026
Projected openingNovember 20, 2026

Future dates are operator estimates and may change.

Ski passes

Mountain Collective

Mountain Collective

View resorts →

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 Aug 29, 2026 at 1:04 PM

0cm
24h
0cm
Past 10d
14-Day Forecast
0
Prev10d
—
Now29
—
S30
—
M31
—
T1
—
W2
—
T3
—
F4
Past
Today
Forecast

Snowfall Forecast Maps

California & Sierra Nevada region

Current Conditions

Reported Sat, Aug 29, 01:04 PM 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

2098m

Temp

9.1°C

Wind

5.2km/h

Snow Depth

--

14-Day Forecast

0cm

Mid-Mountain

2327m

Temp

--°C

Wind

6km/h

Snow Depth

--

14-Day Forecast

0cm

Summit

2555m

Temp

6.1°C

Wind

5.2km/h

Snow Depth

--

14-Day Forecast

0cm

El Niño Outlook · Winter 2026-27

Sugar Bowl El Niño rank & forecast

Sugar Bowl ranks #81 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).

#81 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), Sugar Bowl averaged +10% 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 Sugar Bowl with confidence. Individual analog winters: '97-98 +17%, '15-16 -12%, '23-24 +24%. A lean, not a law — but the lean is firmly up.

'97-98 +17%'15-16 −12%'23-24 +24%

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 →

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 Aug 29, 1:04 PM

Hourly Forecast Detail
 
Today
17 / 5
Sun, Aug 30
19 / 2
Mon, Aug 31
19 / 4
Tue, Sep 1
13 / 3
Wed, Sep 2
13 / 1
Thu, Sep 3
12 / 2
PeriodAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNight
Snow (cm)000000000000000000
Temp (°C)111771019611187913571346114
Wind (km/h)1020631238165142110132210152312
Gusts (km/h)325522153615244620435643415243456351

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

29

🌤️

17.1°

4.9°

20 km/h

Sun

30

☀️

19.3°

1.9°

14 km/h

Mon

31

⛅

18.5°

4.2°

18 km/h

Tue

1

⛅

13.3°

2.7°

21 km/h

Wed

2

☁️

13.3°

1.4°

22 km/h

Thu

3

⛅

11.5°

1.7°

24 km/h

Fri

4

⛅

14.3°

-0.7°

16 km/h

Sat

5

☁️

16.8°

0.5°

14 km/h

Sun

6

🌧️

13°

2.9°

13 km/h

Mon

7

☀️

18°

0.1°

9 km/h

Summit elevation (2555m) • 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 May 4, 10:38 PM

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 at Sugar Bowl. There are no active chain controls or closures on the highways SnowSure monitors near the resort, including routes I-40 and I-80, which all report R-0 status with no restrictions in effect. Remember, 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 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.

Season vs Historic

Updated Sat, Aug 29, 01:04 PM UTC

0cm

Season Total

This Season to Date

—

vs 5-Year Avg

Off-season · 736cm full-season avg

—

vs 30-Year Avg

Off-season · 603cm full-season avg

736cm

5-Yr Avg by Now

The last completed season totaled ~544.6 cm. That's 26% below the 5-year average (736 cm). Versus the 30-year baseline: 10% below the 30-year average (603 cm).

Sugar Bowl Snow History

Average annual snowfall is 656cm with an average of 88 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
November61.8cm10 days9cm28cm20cm
December130.6cm14 days44cm80cm30.3cm
January123.3cm13 days83cm121cm29cm
February128.2cm14 days111cm147cm28.1cm
March114.6cm14 days132cm165cm28cm
April60.3cm11 days111cm143cm18.4cm
May20.6cm6 days51cm85cm9.3cm

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 Sugar Bowl, ERA5 season snowfall median was 649 cm (256 in), about 8% 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

649 cm

10 El Niño winters · 8% above median

All-season median

601 cm

Across 30 ERA5 seasons (2026-27)

PhaseSeasonsMedianp25–p75Recent analogs
El Niñocurrent10649 cm569 cm – 756 cm2023, 2019, 2018, 2015, 2014, 2009
La Niña12639 cm489 cm – 755 cm2022, 2021, 2020, 2017, 2011, 2010
ENSO-neutral8538 cm471 cm – 667 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 Sugar Bowl

Where is Sugar Bowl?
Sugar Bowl is a ski resort in the United States.
How high is Sugar Bowl?
Sugar Bowl runs from a base elevation of 2,098 m (6,883 ft) to a summit of 2,555 m (8,383 ft), giving a vertical drop of 457 m (1,499 ft).
How big is Sugar Bowl?
Sugar Bowl has 1,650 acres (668 hectares) of skiable terrain, 103 marked runs and 13 lifts.
Which ski pass covers Sugar Bowl?
Sugar Bowl is on the Mountain Collective. 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 Sugar Bowl?
Sugar Bowl 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 Sugar Bowl get in a typical season?
Sugar Bowl averages 500 inches / 1270 cm of snowfall in a typical season. Any individual season can run well above or below that.
How will El Niño affect Sugar Bowl in winter 2026-27?
El Niño Signal Rank: #81 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), Sugar Bowl averaged +10% 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 Sugar Bowl with confidence. Individual analog winters: '97-98 +17%, '15-16 -12%, '23-24 +24%. A lean, not a law — but the lean is firmly up.