The resort is now the ninth in the Tahoe region to close early this season, as persistently warm temperatures and below-average snowfall have thinned snowpack across the Sierra.
“Saying this is a tough call is an understatement,” the resort said in a social media post announcing the closure. “Our team gave it everything we had. Moving snow, patching runs together, enduring some record high temperatures. But even with this recent dusting, we’re losing some key throughways and it’s time to wrap it up.”
Heavenly had planned to operate through April 19. Instead, its lifts will stop spinning Sunday — the same day nearby Northstar is set to close.
The early shutdown follows a winter that state water officials have described as one of the weakest for snowpack in recent years.
During the California Department of Water Resources’ final snow survey of the season on Thursday, some sites showed patches of bare ground where snow typically blankets the landscape this time of year.
After a solid start in December, snowy conditions quickly unraveled. January brought dry weather, and an unusually warm March — the warmest on record in South Lake Tahoe — melted much of the remaining snow, according to regional reporting.
“It’s no secret this ski and ride season had its challenges with warmer weather and lower snowfall totals,” Cole Zimmerman, Heavenly’s senior manager of communications, said in a statement. “Even so, there were plenty of bright spots.”
Across Tahoe, those challenges have been stark. As the Chronicle previously reported, March temperatures ran roughly 9 degrees above average, accelerating snowmelt and forcing resorts to scale back terrain or close altogether.
Even late-season storms have done little to help.
Heavenly picked up about 8 inches of snow this week — not enough to keep key runs connected — while higher-elevation resorts such as Kirkwood, which received 18 inches, plan to stay open longer.
Heavenly will keep its gondola open for sightseeing through April 19. The resort also plans to mark its final ski weekend, coinciding with its 70th anniversary, with events and celebrations.
“Let’s send it off right this weekend,” the resort said.