Sierra-at-Tahoe has announced its 2018-19 opening date, and it’s coming a bit earlier than expected thanks to some winter storms in the forecast.

The South Shore resort will open Friday, Nov. 30, according to an announcement earlier today. Conditions permitting, Sierra plans to fire up three lifts and one surface lift.

“Early season conditions are present throughout the mountain and guests are asked to obey all signs and closures, watch for unmarked obstacles and to stay on groomed runs,” states the announcement from Sierra.

General Manager John Rice credited the recent weather for helping prepare Sierra for the season. A series of winter storms could bring multiple feet of snow to the high country by Friday.

Months before the first taste of winter weather, Sierra-at-Tahoe said it hoped to open by Dec. 1, but that was all dependent on the weather.

“Mother Nature has been delivering the goods this past week,” Rice said in Tuesday’s announcement. “We are excited to have a snowy start to the season and look forward to seeing everyone on the mountain this Friday.”

What’s new for the 2018-19 ski season at Lake Tahoe’s downhill resorts

Sierra is scheduled to spin Grandview Express, Nob Hill and Easy Rider Express, as well as Magic Carpet. Sierra Snowsports School will be offering adult and children’s lessons, and snowplay at Blizzard Mountain will be open.

The first hundred chairs on Grandview Express will be treated to a cup of Drink Coffee Do Stuff coffee and KIND Snacks. Guests, of legal drinking age, are invited to Solstice Plaza at noon to sample local brews from Sierra while kicking off the season with a toast.

Dining will be available in Mama’s Kitchen, Java Junction and The Pub.

Sierra-at-Tahoe is the third and final South Shore resort to open for the season. Heavenly Mountain Resort opened in mid-November, followed by Kirkwood Mountain Resort, which opened Nov. 24.

All of them trailed Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe, which kicked off the season in October. The North Shore resort started daily operations Nov. 16, the same day as Heavenly.

Updates on terrain and conditions at Sierra-at-Tahoe can be found at sierraattahoe.com.