Powder Compass

Atlas · California/Tahoe · CA

Heavenly

10,067′ summit · 3,500′ vert · 4,800 acres · avg 360″/yr

Solid odds — Mar 16–31

Delivered 30″+ in 7 of the last 10 seasons

Over 20 winters: 10 of 20 · typical 29", most land 11"–43"

Before you book

This bet missed 3 of the last 10.

None of the last 10 came in under 10″ — a bust, under a third of the bet.

Odds count natural snowfall only. At snowmaking-dependent resorts, early-season cover can be fine in a low-natural-snow year.

The season, window by window

The bet: 12″ of new snow per week, scaled to each window. Counted from real seasons — how our odds work.

Heavenly · the shape of a typical winter

Typical new snow, window by window

The middle season — median new snow per window, counted from the last 20 winters. A picture of timing, not a forecast. Snow is streaky; hover any window for the usual range.

0 20 40 60" NovDecJanFebMarApr
Window Bet Delivered Verdict Typical Biggest Leanest
Nov 1–15 24″+ 2 of 10 · 3 busts Long shot 11" 50" 2022 0" 2019 · 3 of 20
Nov 16–30 24″+ 5 of 10 · 2 busts Coin flip 15" 76" 2017 0" 2022
Dec 1–15 24″+ 5 of 10 · 3 busts Coin flip 21" 120" 2022 0" 2025
Dec 16–31 30″+ 5 of 10 · 1 bust Coin flip 28" 130" 2021 0" 2011
Jan 1–15 24″+ 6 of 10 · 1 bust Solid odds 14" 225" 2017 0" 2015
Jan 16–31 30″+ 5 of 10 · 2 busts Coin flip 26" 90" 2017 0" 2022
Feb 1–15 24″+ 5 of 10 · 3 busts Coin flip 21" 194" 2019 1" 2016
Feb 16–28/29 24″+ 5 of 10 · 3 busts Coin flip 25" 106" 2017 2" 2020
Mar 1–15 24″+ 7 of 10 · 1 bust Solid odds 27" 127" 2023 0" 2007
Mar 16–31 30″+ 7 of 10 Solid odds 29" 105" 2011 2" 2015
Apr 1–15 24″+ 5 of 10 · 2 busts Coin flip 12" 63" 2017 2" 2008
Apr 16–30 24″+ 1 of 10 · 5 busts Long shot 9" 45" 2022 0" 2013

Biggest and leanest are the two ends of the same 20 winters Typical is counted from — the year is when it happened, most recent first where more than one season ties.

At the snow sensor

Reading the snow sensor…

Field notes

A sprawling straddle of the Nevada line with the best lake views in skiing — Mott and Killebrew Canyons bring real steeps, but the mountain's essence is long cruisers above an unreal blue backdrop. More scenery-forward than terrain-forward.

South Lake Tahoe basing means casinos, cheap beds, and crowds. Epic Pass. The California and Nevada base areas load very differently — the Stagecoach side dodges the gondola masses. Wind closes the upper mountain regularly.

Watch this window

We'll email you when Heavenly's odds move on the Mar 16–31 window — and the quote gets recorded as it stands today, so we can be graded on it later.

Planning a whole season? See the season outlook.

These are historical odds from the last 20 winters — not a forecast. Inside 16 days of a trip, a forecast is the better instrument; beyond that, counting real seasons is the honest play. Every number on this page is quoted under methodology v1.2.0, the same math we grade ourselves against in public.