April Begins To Drop Curtain On California's 2024-2025 Ski, Ride Seasons
As usual, Pacific Ocean storms fed plenty of snow onto the Sierras this ski and snowboard season, but their arrivals were sporadic and temperatures were above normal most of the winter.
After plentiful snowfall in November, most of the state got a decent amount around Christmas. But it all went dry in January. Mammoth Mountain received just 10 inches total, and Sierra-at-Tahoe got just nine. Even snow-hog Palisades Tahoe had a meager 15 inches during the first month of 2025.
Luckily, the weather turned wintry in February and March. Most of the state's resorts piled up enough to catch up to their average snowfall season marks. No mountain set any records this season, partly because overnight temperatures stayed warmer for longer and produced spring-like conditions at a number of resorts in January.
Anecdotally, skiing and riding conditions on California mountains were, at best, unpredictable. The central Sierra Nevada had its fourth warmest winter on record. On April 1, the overall snowpack on the range was at 89% of normal (Western Regional Climate Center), and the snowmelt has already begun.
All indications is that spring mud season will arrive more quickly than ever, so now is the time to get in your last turns for the season. Check websites and social media sites before heading to the hills, as closing dates can be fluid in season like this one.
A dozen or so California resorts have already closed for the season, and the month of April will see another 20 shutting down operations. Here's the list (if a resort isn't on the list, it's either closed or will extend into May):
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April 13: Boreal, Soda Springs, Mt. Shasta, Snow Summit
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April 20: Bear Mountain, Bear Valley, Heavenly, June Mountain, Mountain High, Northstar, Sierra-at-Tahoe, Kirkwood, Diamond Peak (Nevada) and Lee Canyon (Nevada),
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April 27: Dodge Ridge, China Peak, Sugar Bowl, Mt. Rose Tahoe (Nevada)
