Storms headed to Lake Tahoe: 2'-6' of snow at lake level, 5'-10' above 7000 feet

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - We could see the coldest air of the season this next week after the storms leave the Lake Tahoe Basin on Tuesday, but in the meantime, it's snow, snow, snow.

A Winter Storm Warning is in place for Lake Tahoe until February 5 at 4:00 p.m., calling for heavy snow and gusty winds. Total snow accumulations of 2 to 6 feet at lake level, with 5 to 10 feet above 7000 feet is expected. Snow drifts could be deeper than 10 feet. Winds gusting as high as 50 mph Sunday afternoon into Monday with gusts to 100 mph over ridges. A period of blizzard conditions is possible Sunday night into Tuesday morning.

The heavy snow and gusty winds will make travel nearly impossible at times through Tuesday. Lower valleys will see rain on Saturday changing to snow by Sunday evening. Heavy accumulations are possible on valley floors by Tuesday morning. A cold air mass is expected behind the storms.

Around 10 feet of new snow is expected to fall in the high Sierra above 7000 feet with 2 to 6 feet down to Lake Tahoe level. Mammoth Lakes could exceed 5 feet in town. If you do plan to travel in this storm, plan to be able to be stuck for a long time since it will be very difficult for first responders to reach your location, according to the National Weather Service in Reno.

The snow will largely fall in two waves. The first is taking a west-to-east trajectory with moderately cold air and snow levels starting generally 6500-7000 feet tonight before dropping to around 5000 feet by early Saturday morning. Snow
will be on the wetter side with total accumulation through early Sunday morning will generally be around a foot around Lake Tahoe, Mammoth Lakes, and Truckee with up to 3 feet along the Sierra crest.

After a brief reload period Sunday morning where "only" a few additional inches are expected, a colder, double-barrel low pressure moves into the region dropping out of the Gulf of Alaska. Expect snow to really pile up with virtually no break between waves. Another 2 to 4 feet can be expected around the Tahoe Basin at Lake level with an additional 7 feet possible above 7000 feet from the Tahoe Basin
through Mono County.

The forecast from the National Weather Service in Reno:

Saturday - Rain and snow, becoming all snow after 10 am. Some thunder is also possible. High near 36. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 6 to 10 inches possible.

Saturday Night - Snow showers. Low around 25. South wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.

Sunday - Snow showers are likely. Cloudy, with a high near 36. Breezy, with a southwest wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of 4 to 8 inches possible.

Sunday Night - Snow. Low around 22. 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 9 to 13 inches possible.

Monday - Snow. High near 29. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 10 to 14 inches possible.

Monday Night - Snow. Low around 13. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 7 to 11 inches possible.

Tuesday - Snow likely before 10 am, then a chance of snow showers, mainly between 10 am and 4 pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 28.

Tuesday Night - A slight chance of snow showers before 10 pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 8.

Wednesday - Sunny, with a high near 30.

Wednesday Night - Mostly clear, with a low around 9.

Thursday - Sunny, with a high near 39.

Thursday Night - Partly cloudy, with a low around 14.

Friday - Mostly sunny, with a high near 37.