Donner Summit, CA – While the first wave of a moist Pacific storm has been slamming the Sierra Nevada today, snow levels have remained high at around 7,000 feet or higher, prompting one California ski resort to already announce that it will remain closed on Saturday.

“These storms are actually great early season base builders and it’s snowing pretty good up top,” explained resort operations director Scott Ferguson, “but with strong winds impacting lift operations and mixed precipitation limiting visibility, and perhaps more importantly in the interest of maintaining the lower-level base we’ve already got, we’ve made the decision to close for this Saturday.”

Sugar Bowl’s base elevation sits a bit over 100 feet below 7,000 feet. The storm, which is currently bringing mixed precipitation to the area, is forecast to deliver up to seven feet of new snow at elevation by the time it exits the Sierra. If weather conditions permit and conditions moderate, Sugar Bowl is hopeful that their lifts will be open for Sunday. Mountain management plans to reassess the situation on Saturday morning.