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At least two California ski resorts are closing early for the season as a heat wave has brought record daily temperatures to the state.
Mount Shasta Ski Park, a small mountain in northern California, broke the news last week that it would be closing and plans to reopen before next winter. The ski area was temporarily closed due to uncooperative weather and reopened in February.
“Thank you to everyone who came out to support us this year and we wish you all the best on your skiing,” the resort wrote in a recent social media post. “Cheers to the epic snow we have coming next year!”
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Dodge Ridge Mountain Resort
(Dodge Ridge Mountain Resort)Mt. Shasta has completed just 55 days of the season, five short of the 60-day guarantee for pass holders. To make up for the lost time, the ski area said it will email points to existing pass holders.
Despite closing earlier than expected, Mount Shasta is welcoming winter with a positive attitude and hosting a St. Patrick’s Day themed party on Saturday, March 14, with green beer, festive cocktails and a scavenger hunt.
Further south, Dodge Ridge Mountain Resort confirmed it would suspend operations on Sunday, March 15, due to “unusually warm weather.”
“We hope this is not the end of our ski season and if heavy snow arrives later, we aim to resume operations,” the ski area wrote in an update, leaving the door open for another storm. Last season, Dodge Ridge ended on April 13, 2025.
Both closures come as skiers across the West face a warm but frustrating season.
By Monday, California’s snowpack was below 50% of normal across the state, following weeks of downhill snow slides that began in late February.
While a big storm about a month ago did temporarily shift the state’s mountains and create good skiing conditions, it soon began to rain and most of the snow melted almost as soon as it arrived.
This week, California forecasters expect temperatures to rise, resembling summer rather than winter. The National Weather Service’s San Francisco office has issued heat warnings for the entire Bay Area and beyond through Friday. Daily temperatures have hit record highs in San Rafael and Redwood City.
“This is our first major heat wave of the year, and it’s going to be a marathon,” the National Weather Service said.
High in Tahoe’s Palisade Mountains, temperatures can reach the 50s, 60s, or even near the 70s, depending on the altitude.
“We need major storms, but they are not in the forecast for more than two weeks as we expected,” the ski area said in a weather forecast. “Hopefully that will change.”
While March may be one of the snowiest and stormiest months of the year in California, right now, if you plan on skiing, it makes more sense to opt for sunscreen and a T-shirt over waterproof Gore-Tex.
Many California resorts have yet to reveal how the heat wave may or may not affect their closing dates. Outside of Lake Tahoe, Mammoth Mountain previously announced plans to stay open until at least Memorial Day.
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This article was originally published by Powder on March 16, 2026 and first appeared in the News section. Click here to add powder as your preferred source.
