Winter Storm Watch in place for Lake Tahoe Basin; Up to 2 feet of snow expected at passes this week

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Advisories and storm watch in place this week for the Lake Tahoe Basin though some forecasted snowfall totals have been adjusted.

A series of weak to moderate winter storms will affect the area over the next few days, each with snow and wind impacts for the region according to the National Weather Service in Reno. Light to moderate snow is expected tonight and tomorrow night for the Sierra and northeast California. Very strong winds are expected for much of the region Monday Night into Tuesday morning. A stronger winter storm moves in Wednesday night through Thursday with heavy mountain snow and strong winds. A drier period is setting up the following week, starting with the Martin Luther King holiday weekend.

Lake Wind Advisory remains in effect until 7:00 a.m. Monday. Expect Southwest winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 45 mph and waves 2 to 4 feet. Highest waves along east shore. The strongest winds will be between 10:00 p.m. Sunday night and 4:00 a.m. Monday.

Winter Weather Advisory in effect from 7:00 p.m. Monday to 10:00 a.m. Tuesday. Snow is expected. Total snow accumulations of 2 to 4 inches for Truckee and Lake Tahoe, with amounts of 6 to 10 inches for the passes. Winds gusting as high as 55 mph with Sierra crest ridges over 100 mph.

Winter Storm Watch in effect from late Wednesday night through Thursday evening. Heavy snow is possible with total snow accumulations of 10 to 14 inches for Truckee and Lake Tahoe, with amounts 18 to 24 inches for passes. Winds could gust as high as 50 mph.

Forecast from the National Weather Service in Reno:

Monday- A slight chance of snow before 10am, then a chance of snow after 4pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 38. Southwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Monday Night - Snow, mainly after 10pm. Low around 20. Windy, with a southwest wind 15 to 20 mph increasing to 25 to 30 mph in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 50 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.

Tuesday - Snow likely, mainly before 10am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 35. Windy, with a southwest wind 20 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 50 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Tuesday Night - A 20 percent chance of snow before 10pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 15. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Wednesday - A 30 percent chance of snow, mainly after 4pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 40. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Wednesday Night - Snow, mainly after 10pm. Cloudy, with a low around 20. Breezy.

Thursday - Snow. Cloudy, with a high near 32. Breezy.

Thursday Night - Snow likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 12. Breezy.

Friday - A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 36.

Friday Night - A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 16.

Saturday - A slight chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 41.

Saturday Night - Mostly cloudy, with a low around 18.

Sunday - Partly sunny, with a high near 42.