Southern California Mountain Resorts Long for Snow as Northern California Celebrates a White Christmas

Southern California Resorts Await Snow, Northern California Enjoys a White Christmas

This Christmas season, California's contrasting winter tales are on full display. While Northern California's ski resorts are blanketed with fresh snow, Southern California’s mountain destinations, like Big Bear, are left yearning for winter’s embrace.

In the north, Boreal Ski Resort near Lake Tahoe is celebrating a winter wonderland. With four feet of fresh powder, skiers and snowboarders revel in the ideal holiday conditions. And there's more on the way, with snow levels expected to drop to 5,000 feet, potentially adding 5–10 inches by midweek.

Meanwhile, just 400 miles south, Big Bear tells a different story. Machine-made snow forms narrow white stripes on otherwise bare mountainsides, providing limited runs for holiday visitors. A typical December at Big Bear sees around 20 inches of snow, but this year, holiday traffic and business are noticeably lighter.

The outlook for Southern California's snow seasons grows increasingly bleak. A Dartmouth College study reveals the region now receives 40% less snow on average compared to pre-1980 levels. Last winter’s first substantial snowfall didn’t arrive until late January, leaving resorts dependent on snowmaking to attract skiers and snowboarders.

Despite the sunny, warm days enjoyed by visitors hiking in the mountains or walking their dogs along Big Bear Lake's rocky shores, resort operators are holding out hope for an old-fashioned Christmas storm to revive the slopes.

As Mary Strong reports for NBC Palm Springs, it’s a tale of two Californias this holiday season: one reveling in fresh snow and another waiting patiently for its winter wonderland to arrive.