Ski resorts: Fresh powder from Southern California to Tahoe

Ski resorts from Southern California to Lake Tahoe are crowing over the latest series of storms that brought much-needed snow to a dry season in which they’ve been playing catch-up all winter.

Bear Mountain and Snow Summit in Big Bear Lake received 24 to 27 inches of snow as of Sunday afternoon. Snow-making machines were turned off as the storm blew through the mountains. (Roads are open but chains are required on Highways 38, 18 and 330 that lead to the resorts.)

The storm also dumped 18 to 22 inches of powder at Mountain High in Wrightwood where the East and West resorts opened Sunday. Mt. Baldy in the Angeles National Forest received 20 to 24 inches and plans to open its tube park and ski runs every day this week -- and hopes to remain open into April.

The snowfall was much higher in the Sierras, of course. Mammoth Mountain in Mammoth Lakes reported 42 inches of fresh snow in 48 hours as of Sunday night. The resort has a 6-foot to 8-foot base. The total dump from storms at Squaw Valley in Lake Tahoe was 26.5 inches at the 6,200-foot level and 80 inches at the 8,200-foot level.