Change in weather ahead for Lake Tahoe

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The high pressure system that was sitting off the coast of California looks like it will buckle and allow for a couple of weak storms to impact the West midweek. In turn, those systems will open the path for a stronger storm by the weekend. Forecaster confidence is increasing for a period of rain and snow Saturday and Sunday.

High-level clouds across the eastern Pacific are beginning to inundate the west ahead of a weak system forecast to move through the Sierra late tonight into Tuesday. Generally, impacts will be limited with this first system, but plan for periods of light snow above 7500 feet and light rain in the lower elevations. While this system is a quick-hitter that will mostly be out of the Sierra and western Nevada by Thursday afternoon, be aware that road conditions may be impacted even after the system`s exit, according to the National Weather Service in Reno.

The exact storm path for the weekend is unclear as of today. Snow levels with this system will be dependent on the exact track of the jet stream and area of low pressure. Snow levels could be around 7000-7500 feet Friday and then falling to around 5000-5500 feet Saturday. It will be colder.

The forecast from the NWS in Reno:

Today - Partly sunny, with a high near 48. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph in the morning.

Tonight - A 10 percent chance of rain after 4 am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 28. East wind around 5 mph becoming southwest after midnight.

Tuesday - A 30 percent chance of rain, mainly between 10 am and 4 pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 48. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the morning.

Tuesday Night - A 20 percent chance of rain before 10 pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26. Calm wind.

Wednesday - A 20 percent chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 47. Southwest wind around 5 mph.

Wednesday Night - A chance of rain before 4 am, then a slight chance of rain and snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Thursday - A slight chance of rain and snow before 10 am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 46. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Thursday Night - A slight chance of rain and snow after 4 am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 27.

Friday - A chance of rain and snow, mainly after 10 am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 43. Breezy.

Friday Night - Rain and snow likely. Cloudy, with a low around 25.

Saturday - Snow likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 38.

Saturday Night - A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 23.

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