Long awaited storm due to hit Lake Tahoe this weekend

A fairly dry February didn't add much needed water to the Sierra snowpack, but a storm system heading to the Lake Tahoe this weekend may help make up the deficit.

Low pressure will brush by the region and produce gusty winds on Tuesday afternoon and evening. A Lake Wind Advisory is in effect for both Lake Tahoe and Pyramid Lake on Tuesday from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Southwest winds from 15-25 mph are expected with gusts up to 40 mph.

Conditions will become hazardous on these lakes through the afternoon with wave heights two to four feet from mid-lake to the north and east shores. Anyone planning to head onto the lakes with small boats, including kayaks and paddleboards, should consider postponing these activities until a day with less wind.

According to the National Weather Service in Reno, confidence is increasing for a pattern change by next weekend, with some model simulations showing a rather stormy pattern developing. Although it is much too early to hammer down the finer details, it is early enough to give a heads up for the potential of travel impacts. Confidence is medium-high for seeing at least one decent storm between Sunday and Tuesday, but details such as snow/rain/wind magnitudes and timing are low confidence for now. There are two scenarios for the storms next weekend based on the most recent simulations pictured in this article. They are warning travelers that the timing of the storms is still unpredictable, so to be prepared.

Sunday looks like the big day with a potentially strong system, but as mentioned, timing isn't certain.

Snow levels will start high, above 7000 feet before crashing behind the cold front late Sunday. The active weather pattern looks to continue through the middle of
next week, and possibly into the middle of March, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said today.

Forecast:

Tonight - Partly cloudy, with a low around 30. Southwest wind around 5 mph.

Tuesday - Mostly sunny, with a high near 59. Breezy, with a south wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Tuesday Night - Partly cloudy, with a low around 35. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph.

Wednesday - Sunny, with a high near 59. South wind 5 to 15 mph.

Wednesday Night - A 30 percent chance of showers after 4am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph.

Thursday - A 30 percent chance of showers before 10am. Partly sunny, with a high near 49.

Thursday Night - Partly cloudy, with a low around 30.

Friday - Mostly sunny, with a high near 52.

Friday Night - A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 31.

Saturday - A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 48.

Saturday Night - Rain likely. Cloudy, with a low around 35. Breezy.

Sunday - Rain and snow likely. Cloudy, with a high near 40. Breezy.

Sunday Night - Snow likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26.

Monday - A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 38.