This week South Lake Tahoe hit a record high of 59 degrees, beating the previous record of 56, set three years ago.
At ski areas, the higher temperatures are softening ice and reducing avalanche danger. But in a condition known as a temperature inversion, cold air is trapped below warm air. That means it’s freezing at lower elevations but not at higher elevations, even at night.
“Some of the snow is getting so soft that we can open it first thing, but once skier traffic gets to the point where it is getting scraped down, we have to close it," says Ski Patroller John Weglarz.
Resorts on the north and east sides of the lake have also recorded daytime highs in the mid-50’s. The National Weather Service in Reno says the inversion and unseasonably warm temperatures are expected to continue through next week.
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