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First Snowfall Of Season Reported At Tahoe Resorts

LAKE TAHOE (CBS SF) - The first snowfall of the season in the Sierra Nevada is raising the hopes of skiers and snowboarders after a dry winter.

The National Weather Service said an inch or so of snow was reported Friday on high peaks around Lake Tahoe, while several inches of snow fell around Mammoth Mountain to the south.

Forecasters are calling for a return to clear skies through the weekend.

Ski resorts are hoping for better skiing and snowboarding conditions this season after last winter produced a subpar Sierra snowpack.

Most resorts usually open for the season sometime after Thanksgiving Day.

Vail Resorts, operator of Heavenly and Kirkwood ski resorts in Lake Tahoe, reported as much as an inch of snow was recorded overnight, the first measurable snow of the coming ski season.

The snowfall was welcome news for California ski industry, which saw unusually light snowfall early last season.

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All signs are pointing to the first El Nino winter since 2009. While the phenomenon is known for huge storms, a weak one could mean drier conditions for the Bay Area, according to CBS 5 Chief Meteorologist Paul Deanno.

Video from Heavenly Mountain Resort:

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