Storms good for the lake, ski resorts

A backcountry skier plays in the fresh snow near Carson Pass on Feb. 8. Photo/LTN

According to the National Weather Service in Reno, the precipitation runoff since Friday has caused Lake Tahoe to rise 4.8 inches. Another way of looking at it is the last two storms added 16 billion gallons of water to the lake.

While the storms that blew through the basin were at times warm and never brought enough snow to stick at lake level, some ski resorts are reporting a foot or more of white stuff. Enough fell that today Mount Rose is opening its chutes. Other resorts are expanding their offerings. Homewood Mountain Resort is reopening Friday in time for the long Presidents weekend.

But the Lake Tahoe Basin is in for a dry spell for at least the next week. Temperatures are expected to be balmy by Thursday when highs will be in the low 60s.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report