Winter weather advisory Wednesday as first of three quick storms hit Lake Tahoe

The National Weather Service (NWS) in Reno has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for the Lake Tahoe Basin beginning at 4:00 p.m. Wednesday. This quick moving storm will be out Thursday morning.

Expect snow accumulations above 7000 feet of 6"-11" and 3"-6" at lake level. Winds with this storm will be from the southwest 15-20 mph with gust 30-45 mph.

Snow levels will begin just above lake level at 6500 feet, dropping to valley floors by 6:00 p.m.

The storm trended drier than initially expected.

According to NWS, subsequent quick moving and colder systems are possible Friday through early Saturday and again Sunday into Monday. The Sunday storm has the potential to be the strongest storm in this series. Snow levels are likely to start near western Nevada valley floors in each of these storms leading to more widespread travel impacts across both the Sierra and western Nevada.

Anyone with travel plans during this time frame should continue to monitor the
forecast over the upcoming week.

NWS Forecast:

Today - Mostly sunny, with a high near 46. South wind around 5 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.

Tonight - Mostly cloudy, with a low around 30. Southwest wind around 10 mph.

Wednesday - Rain, possibly mixed with snow, mainly after 4pm. High near 42. Breezy, with a southwest wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Wednesday Night - Rain and snow, becoming all snow after 10pm. Low around 26. Breezy, with a southwest wind 20 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 7 inches possible.

Thursday - Snow likely, mainly after 4pm. Cloudy, with a high near 35. Southwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of around an inch possible.

Thursday Night - Snow. Low around 24. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.

Friday - Snow. High near 35. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 4 to 8 inches possible.

Friday Night - Snow. Cloudy, with a low around 21.

Saturday -A chance of snow showers before 4pm, then a chance of snow after 4pm. Cloudy, with a high near 32.

Saturday Night - Snow likely, mainly after 10pm. Cloudy, with a low around 23.

Sunday - Snow. Cloudy, with a high near 37.

Sunday Night - Snow. Cloudy, with a low around 22. Breezy.

Monday - Snow likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 32.