Winter Storm Warning for Lake Tahoe; Up to a foot of snow at lake level, 2 feet along Sierra crest

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A strong winter storm will move through the region tonight through Thursday. This storm will bring heavy mountain snow, strong gusty winds, and plenty of travel headaches. Once through Thursday, expect less active weather over the Martin Luther King holiday weekend with the possibility of more storms next week.

There is a Winter Storm Warning in effect for the Lake Tahoe Basin on January 16 from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. During this time, the National Weather Service says to expect heavy snow and strong winds. At lake level, they are calling for total snow accumulations of 6 to 12 inches, with 10 to 18 inches above 7000 feet and up to 24 inches along the Sierra crest. Winds gusting as high as 55 mph with ridge wind gusts over 100 mph.

In South Lake Tahoe the wind will be from the south at 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph.

The five-day forecast from the National Weather Service in Reno:

Thursday - Snow. High near 36. Breezy, with a south wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 7 to 11 inches possible.

Thursday Night - Snow, mainly before 4am. Low around 12. Southwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.

Friday - A 20 percent chance of snow before 10am. Partly sunny, with a high near 37. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the morning.

Friday Night - Mostly cloudy, with a low around 18. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the evening.

Saturday - Partly sunny, with a high near 44.

Saturday Nigh - tPartly cloudy, with a low around 21.

Sunday - Mostly sunny, with a high near 46.

Sunday Night - Partly cloudy, with a low around 23.

M.L.King Day - A slight chance of rain and snow. Partly sunny, with a high near 46.

Monday Night - A chance of rain and snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 24.