Lake Tahoe Ski Resorts Blanketed with Early Season October Snow

Predicted El Niño Winter Storms On Track for Another Epic Season for Ski Lake Tahoe Resorts

Lake Tahoe, CA & NV (Oct. 5, 2009) - The Ski Lake Tahoe resorts welcomed the first significant early season snowfall over the weekend, helping kick start winter preparations and also set the stage for what is rumored to be an epic snow season in the Sierra Nevada. Top weather experts are predicting an El Niño scenario for the Sierra Nevada, which historically results in larger than normal snowfall totals that can be truly colossal. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Weather Service and Western Weather Group, this El Niño weather pattern is predicted to last throughout the 2009-10 winter season with a strong likelihood of these conditions strengthening as the winter progresses.

Cyclical El Niño weather patterns driven from the Pacific Ocean are a welcomed scenario by avid skiers and snowboarders and Lake Tahoe's close proximity to the coast results in massive snowfall totals for the region. With Lake Tahoe's propensity for winter storms that bring high concentrations of snow of 10 feet or more in a single storm system, the El Niño scenario is a great reason to book a ski vacation in Lake Tahoe this winter. 

The most recent El Niño pattern in Lake Tahoe created near record snowfall with annual totals surpassing 700 inches and an exceptionally long ski season ranging from mid-October to July. The El Niño season of 1997-98 brought heavy early season snowfall and created ski resort base depths nearing 200 inches.

The seven Ski Lake Tahoe resorts are building momentum for the upcoming 2009-10 winter season, offering travelers improvements, new amenities and activities including new lifts, enhanced terrain, new base area developments, noteworthy new dining options, new camps, clinics and family programs. As a winter destination, Lake Tahoe offers more affordable, quality ski vacations and unique visitor experiences than any other U.S. winter destination. Countless options in sports, entertainment, luxury and overall fun are matched with Tahoe's authentic welcoming culture, active lifestyle and laid-back attitude. For more information, log onto www.skilaketahoe.com.

About Ski Lake Tahoe

Surrounding North America's largest alpine lake, the seven resorts that make up Ski Lake Tahoe are Alpine Meadows, Heavenly, Kirkwood, Mt. Rose-Ski Tahoe, Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort, Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort and Squaw Valley USA. Lake Tahoe boasts over 300 days of sunshine a year, and the region has some of the highest annual snowfall amounts in North America. The seven resorts, all offering unparalleled scenic vistas of panoramic mountain and lake views, are located less than an hour from the Reno-Tahoe International Airport. For further information and to directly book travel, lodging and transportation for Ski Lake Tahoe resorts and its travel partners, visit www.skilaketahoe.com.