Winter Weather Advisory in place for Lake Tahoe; series of storms heading to area

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The National Weather Service (NWS) in Reno has issued a Winter Weather Advisory to be in effect from 10 a.m. Wednesday to 10 a.m. Thursday.

Snow is expected in the Greater Lake Tahoe Area and Lassen-Eastern Plumas-Eastern Sierra Counties.

Expect snow accumulations of 6-12 inches above 5500 ft and accumulations between 10-20 inches above 7000 ft. Winds gusting 35-55 mph in the valleys and gusting to 65-85 mph over ridges.

Travel could be very difficult over mountain passes. The hazardous conditions could impact the Wednesday evening and Thursday morning commutes. Strong winds could cause damage to trees, and power lines and may impact travel conditions along Highway 395.

Wave heights on Lake Tahoe could be as high as 2-4 feet.

Caltrans is alerting motorists about the upcoming series of winter storms in the Sacramento Valley and the Sierra Nevada that will create challenging travel conditions through the President’s Day holiday weekend.

The National Weather Service forecast calls for three waves of precipitation bringing rain, snow, and gusty winds. The first wave is expected tomorrow through Thursday.

Motorists should be prepared for chain controls, reduced visibility, additional travel times and delays. Caltrans advises to pack extra supplies in the event of an emergency or if traffic is held for an extended period of time. Those supplies should include extra snacks, water, a blanket and a flashlight.