Squaw Valley snow history

10 years of snow depth, snowfall and conditions at California, USA · 6,230ft to 9,049ft

Over the last 10 seasons Squaw Valley, USA has averaged 249in of snowfall, a peak snow depth of 80in, 13 powder days and 25 bluebird days a year, with skiable cover from around December 15 to May 17.

Snow history & climate

10-year averages for Squaw Valley

249 in
Snowfall / season
Nov-May total
80 in
Peak depth
typical season high
13
Powder days
6in+ in a day
25
Bluebird days
sun after snow
23
Rain days
0.04in+ of rain
148
Skiable days
12in+ cover

Month by month

Monthly averages

Average snowfall, snow depth, rain, sunshine and day counts by month at Squaw Valley, over the last 10 seasons.
MonthSnowfallAvg depthRainSun/dayTempPowderBluebirdRain days
Jan50 in36 in0.6in7.0 h33° / 17°3.04.92.5
Feb53 in49 in0.9in7.7 h33° / 16°3.33.42.0
Mar49 in61 in0.4in8.8 h37° / 19°2.54.42.2
Apr19 in51 in0.6in11.1 h44° / 23°1.02.93.0
May7 in25 in0.8in12.7 h52° / 28°0.21.25.3
Jun0 in4 in0.4in13.6 h67° / 38°0.00.02.5
Jul0 in0 in0.3in13.9 h76° / 46°0.00.02.1
Aug0 in0 in0.5in13.1 h74° / 46°0.00.03.0
Sep1 in0 in0.7in11.6 h65° / 41°0.00.03.6
Oct5 in0 in1.7in9.9 h54° / 32°0.20.23.8
Nov23 in4 in1.1in8.0 h42° / 23°0.73.63.9
Dec49 in17 in1.5in6.6 h34° / 19°2.74.24.0

Averages across the last 10 seasons. Powder, bluebird and rain columns are the average number of such days per month.

Season by season

SeasonSnowfallPeak depthPowder daysBluebird daysSkiable days
2025/26161 in74 in101990
2024/25232 in68 in1018175
2023/24212 in83 in1024136
2022/23390 in126 in2327201
2021/22217 in72 in1216157
2020/21leanest152 in47 in627125
2019/20194 in66 in919161
2018/19350 in108 in2430182
2017/18185 in49 in62768
2016/17best401 in112 in2439180
How these numbers are calculated
  • Powder day — at least 6in of new snow in 24 hours.
  • Bluebird day — sunshine for at least 60% of daylight, following at least 4in of snow over the previous 3 days.
  • Rain day — at least 0.04in of rain (not snow) at this elevation.
  • Skiable day — at least 12in of settled snow on the ground.
  • Snow depth is modelled from Open-Meteo / ERA5 reanalysis at 7,641ft, not measured at the resort. Use it to compare seasons and resorts; use the resort's own report for today's conditions.

How Squaw Valley compares

Measured against 40 other resorts across 18 countries, each analysed exactly the same way. The line down the middle of each bar is the median.

Snowfall per season
among the very best we track
249 in
Ahead of 95% of resortsMedian 111 in

Total new snow between November and May.

Peak snow depth
among the very best we track
80 in
Ahead of 90% of resortsMedian 33 in

How deep the settled base gets at its yearly high.

Powder days
among the very best we track
13
Ahead of 98% of resortsMedian 2

Days with 6in or more of new snow.

Bluebird days
among the very best we track
25
Ahead of 98% of resortsMedian 10

Sun and fresh snow on the same day.

Rain days
below average
23
Drier than 72% of resortsMedian 32

Days with 0.04in or more of rain, not snow.

Skiable days
well above average
148
Ahead of 75% of resortsMedian 115

Days holding 12in or more of settled snow.

The season at Squaw Valley

Typical stretch holding 12in or more of settled snow, averaged over the record.

SepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAug
Cover arrives
December 15
Season ends
May 17
Days of cover
155 days

When to go

These rarely land in the same month, so it is worth deciding which one matters most before you book.

Deepest base
March
61in average depth
Most new snow
February
53in and 3.3 powder days
Best bluebird odds
January
4.9 bluebird days, 7.0h sun a day
Wettest month
May
5.3 rain days

Is Squaw Valley a good place to ski or board?

heavy snowfalla deep, reliable basefrequent powder daysplenty of bluebird daysvery little raina long season

On 10 years of record, Squaw Valley stands out for heavy snowfall, a deep, reliable base, frequent powder days, plenty of bluebird days, very little rain and a long season.

Figures are modelled at 7,641ft from reanalysis data and describe an average year, not a forecast.

Squaw Valley snow record in detail

How much snow does Squaw Valley get?

Squaw Valley averages 249in of snowfall over a full season, measured from November to May across the last 10 winters. That is among the very best we track: more snow than 95% of 40 resorts we have analysed the same way, where the median season brings 111in.

Season to season the spread is wide. The best of the last 10 winters was 2016/17 with 401in, and the leanest was 2020/21 with 152in — a difference of 250in between a good year and a poor one. The most recent complete season, 2025/26, delivered 161in.

February is reliably the snowiest month, averaging 53in and 10 days with fresh snow.

How deep does the snow get at Squaw Valley?

Snowfall totals flatter resorts that lose their snow quickly, so the more useful number is how deep the settled base actually gets. At Squaw Valley the snowpack peaks at an average of 80in each season. That is among the very best we track, deeper than 90% of 40 resorts we have analysed the same way, against a median peak of 33in.

The base is deepest in March, averaging 61in through the month and topping out around 73in in a typical year.

How many powder days does Squaw Valley get?

Counting any day that delivers at least 6in of new snow, Squaw Valley averages 13 powder days a season. That is among the very best we track, more powder days than 98% of 40 resorts we have analysed the same way, where the median is 2 a season.

February has the most, 3.3 on average.

How often does Squaw Valley get bluebird days?

Squaw Valley averages 25 bluebird days a season — days of sunshine for at least 60% of daylight after 4in or more of fresh snow. That is among the very best we track, more than 98% of 40 resorts we have analysed the same way, against a median of 10.

January is the best month for it, averaging 4.9 bluebird days and 7.0 hours of sunshine a day.

Does it rain at Squaw Valley?

At mid-mountain Squaw Valley sees an average of 23 days a season with 0.04in or more of rain rather than snow. That is below average: 28% of the 40 other resorts we have analysed the same way see fewer wet days, against a median of 32.

May is the wettest month of the season, with 5.3 rain days and 0.8in on average.

When is the best time to ski or board Squaw Valley, and when does the season end?

Squaw Valley typically holds at least 12in of settled snow from around December 15 through to May 17, which works out at roughly 155 days of skiable cover in an average year. 148 of those fall inside the November to May season. On season length that is well above average compared with the 40 other resorts we have analysed the same way.

For the deepest base, go in March; for the most new snow, February; for fresh snow with sunshine, January.

Comparisons use 40 resorts across 18 countries, each measured over 5 recent seasons at mid-mountain height. Glaciated locations, where the model never melts the snow out, are excluded. Figures for Squaw Valley are taken at 7,641ft. Corpus last rebuilt September 2, 2026.

Squaw Valley month by month

What to expect in each month of the season, from the same ten-year record. Figures are averages for mid-mountain; a good or poor winter can move them a long way.

Squaw Valley in November

Too early

In November cover at mid-mountain is usually too thin to rely on, averaging 4in through the month. It brings 23in of new snow in an average year, with 7 snow days and 0.7 powder days. Average highs are 42°F and lows 23°F, with 8 hours of sunshine a day and 3.6 bluebird days. Expect the odd wet day — 3.9 on average at mid-mountain.

Squaw Valley in December

Base building

December is when the base starts to build, averaging 17in and deepening towards its March peak. It is the third-snowiest month of the season, with 48in of new snow on average, 8 snow days and 2.7 powder days. Average highs are 34°F and lows 19°F, with 6.6 hours of sunshine a day and 4.2 bluebird days. Rain is a real risk: 4 days with rain rather than snow at mid-mountain in an average December.

Squaw Valley in January

Base building

Through January the base keeps building, to an average of 36in. It is the second-snowiest month of the season, with 50in of new snow on average, 10 snow days and 3 powder days. Average highs are 33°F and lows 17°F, with 7 hours of sunshine a day and 4.9 bluebird days, the most of any month. Expect the odd wet day — 2.5 on average at mid-mountain.

Squaw Valley in February

Base building

By February the base is close to its March peak, averaging 50in. It is the snowiest month of the season, with 53in of new snow on average, 10 snow days and 3.3 powder days. Average highs are 33°F and lows 16°F, with 7.7 hours of sunshine a day and 3.4 bluebird days. Expect the odd wet day — 2 on average at mid-mountain.

Squaw Valley in March

Best all round

March is when the base at Squaw Valley is at its deepest, averaging 61in through the month and peaking around 73in in a typical year. It brings 48in of new snow in an average year, with 12 snow days and 2.5 powder days. Average highs are 37°F and lows 19°F, with 8.8 hours of sunshine a day and 4.4 bluebird days. Expect the odd wet day — 2.2 on average at mid-mountain. Taking cover, fresh snow, sunshine and rain together, it is the best all-round month at Squaw Valley.

Squaw Valley in April

Still deep

April still has a deep base, averaging 51in — only a little down on the March peak. It brings 19in of new snow in an average year, with 6 snow days and 1 powder days. Average highs are 44°F and lows 23°F, with 11.1 hours of sunshine a day and 2.9 bluebird days. Expect the odd wet day — 3 on average at mid-mountain.

Squaw Valley in May

Late season

In May the base averages 25in, past its March peak of 61in and thinning. It brings 7in of new snow in an average year, with 3 snow days and 0.2 powder days. Average highs are 52°F and lows 28°F, with 12.7 hours of sunshine a day and 1.2 bluebird days. Rain is a real risk: 5.3 days with rain rather than snow at mid-mountain in an average May.

More on Squaw Valley

Ski resorts near Squaw Valley

Distances are straight-line, not by road.