Winter arrives the first week of Spring in Lake Tahoe

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There is a Winter Storm Warning in place for the Lake Tahoe Basin through Tuesday, March 17 at 11:00 a.m. Expect heavy snow with additional snow accumulations through Tuesday of 4 to 10 inches and 12 to 18 inches above 7000 feet. Winds gusting as high as 50 mph.

Chilly and unsettled weather is expected to persist into the first half of next week with a stormer weather pattern possibly continuing through the end of March according to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Reno.

Aas the current storm moves on, expect occasional rain/snow showers Thursday and

Friday with slightly below normal temperatures then some minor warming for Saturday as the next significant low pressure begins moving toward the forecast area. The models are not consistent about next weekend - some models bring precipitation into the region as early as Saturday afternoon while others hold off
until Sunday.

Forecast from the National Weather Service in Reno:

Today - Snow before 2pm, then rain and snow. High near 39. Southeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.

Tonight - Snow, mainly before 11pm. Low around 21. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.

Tuesday - A 40 percent chance of snow. Partly sunny, with a high near 37. South wind around 5 mph. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Tuesday Night - A 20 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 13. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Wednesday - A 30 percent chance of snow, mainly after 11am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 39. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Wednesday Night - A 30 percent chance of snow, mainly before 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 15. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Thursday - A 30 percent chance of snow showers, mainly after 11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 41. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Thursday Night - A slight chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 16.

Friday - A chance of snow after 11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 45.

Friday Night - A slight chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 16.

Saturday - A chance of snow. Partly sunny, with a high near 44.

Saturday Night - A chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 20.

Sunday - A chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 45.