LAKE TAHOE - According to one regional ski resort, the big snow storm that pounded the Sierra and Truckee/Tahoe area from Friday through Tuesday was the largest modern-day storm in terms of snowfall to strike in November.
The five-day storm left 75 inches of new snow at Alpine Meadows Ski Resort's base lodge (6,853 feet), and 105 inches at mid-mountain (elevation 7,500 feet), the resort said Wednesday, making it the largest single storm to be recorded during the month of November in the resort's history.
Combined with snowfall that fell earlier in the month, Alpine Meadows has accumulated a total of 89 inches at its base lodge and 124.6 inches at mid mountain - making this month the second-snowiest November in the resort's history, said spokeswoman Rachael Woods, since it began keeping snowfall totals by month in 1970.
"The mountain changed literally overnight," she said in a Wednesday press release. "We're thrilled with the snow conditions. Skiers and riders will experience world-class conditions on November 26, which is Alpine's opening day."
The storm indeed was kind to the ski resorts. Here's a sampling of snow reports as of Wednesday morning at some regional resorts, according to their websites:
• Squaw Valley USA: Storm total is reported at 66 inches for lower mountain (6,200 feet) and 99 inches for upper mountain (8,200 feet).
• Northstar-at-Tahoe: Storm total is reported at about 7 feet. So far in November, 58 inches have fallen at mid mountain, with 93 inches at the summit.
• Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe: Storm total is reported at 52 inches at lower mountain and 64 inches at mid mountain. So far in November, those numbers are at 61 and 74 inches, respectively.
• Heavenly: Storm total is reported at 53 inches. So far in November, 70 inches have fallen at mountain, with 79 inches at mid mountain.