Major Winter Storm Drops Big Snow in Tahoe

Skiers and snowboarders in California, Oregon, Idaho and parts of Montana are rejoicing as an early-season winter storm has dropped more a foot of snow in some areas. 

And the best news is …  according to the National Weather Service, which has issued a Winter Storm Warning; snow will continue to fall through Thursday for the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Northern Idaho and Western Montana. This same storm system will also roll into Utah and Colorado midweek, and is forecasted to drop up to a foot of snow.

Loveland Ski Area opened for the season Tuesday, joining Arapahoe Basin as the only two resorts open in Colorado. Both areas will see snow and snow showers starting Wednesday and continuing through the first half of the upcoming weekend.

With the 2012-13 ski and snowboard season set to kick off Thanksgiving weekend for most major resorts, this week’s storm will go a long way toward building base depths, cooling snowmaking ponds and setting the stage for a great season. 

In the meantime, enjoy the snow images from Monday, Oct. 22, 2012.

UPDATED: Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows open for one-day only on Thursday, Oct. 25. Also, Mt. Norquay in Banff, Alberta, will open for the season on Thursday. Nakiska is set to open for the season on Saturday, Oct. 27.

Photos:

Right: Almost a foot of new snow had fallen by mid-day at Boreal / Boreal Mountain Photo

Snow is falling at Mammoth Mountain / Mammoth Photo 

Snow in the Sierras at Squaw Valley / Squaw Valley Photo 

Lots of fluffy at Tahoe-Donnor / Tahoe-Donnor Photo Hello Mr. Snowman / Homewood Photo