Lake Tahoe forecast: Wet week ahead with more snow at upper elevations
Submitted by paula on Mon, 10/18/2021 - 9:16am
Pacific moisture into northern California and Nevada (primarily north of
Highway 50). Winds will increase ahead of this system, but wind gusts should remain in the 25 to 35 mph range. With the warmer nature of this storm, temperatures will be mild but still below normal for this time of year.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Gusty winds have dropped off considerably this morning as rain and snow showers have developed across much of the eastern Sierra and western Nevada. Residual showers will continue through the day
as the storm exits the region. Plan on variable road conditions for the morning commute, especially along the higher passes, as there were some road closures, chain controls, and delays overnight.
Tuesday into Wednesday will kick off a series of potential waves of moisture making landfall across the West coast, according to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Reno. Late Tuesday night into early Wednesday morning, the next shortwave pushes into the Pacific Northwest. This storm will be deliver a glancing blow to the northern Sierra and far northwestern Nevada, but it will bring another round of showers and winds. This remains largely
Pacific moisture into northern California and Nevada (primarily north of
Highway 50). Winds will increase ahead of this system, but wind gusts should remain in the 25 to 35 mph range. With the warmer nature of this storm, temperatures will be mild but still below normal for this time of year.
From Thursday through the weekend, this period should start off with a slight break from moisture before two possible atmospheric rivers head toward Lake Tahoe. The first could be Friday into Saturday. This is the one without a strong potential to affect Tahoe and snow levels should remain high, above 7000 feet. The second stronger system Saturday night-Sunday could bring higher precipitation amounts with precipitation also spreading farther east across the region. Snow levels could rise back up to near Sierra pass levels. Breezy to windy conditions look probable for much of the weekend and could become very strong next Sunday-Monday.
The weekly forecast from NWS Reno:
Today - A 30 percent chance of snow, mainly before 9am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 45. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
Tonight - Partly cloudy, with a low around 19. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Tuesday - Mostly sunny, with a high near 56. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night - A 30 percent chance of snow after midnight. Snow level 7700 feet lowering to 6300 feet after midnight . Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
Wednesday - Rain likely, mainly before noon. Snow level 7200 feet rising to 9100 feet in the afternoon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 54. Southwest wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Wednesday Night - A 40 percent chance of rain, mainly before midnight. Snow level 9300 feet. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Thursday - A 30 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 62.
Thursday Night - A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42.
Friday - Rain likely, mainly after noon. Snow level 9100 feet rising to 9900 feet in the afternoon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 55.
Friday Night - A chance of rain. Snow level 9300 feet lowering to 8600 feet after midnight . Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39.
Saturday - A chance of rain. Snow level 8300 feet lowering to 7800 feet in the afternoon . Mostly cloudy, with a high near 52.
Saturday Night - Rain likely. Snow level 8600 feet. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37.
Sunday - Rain and snow likely. Snow level 8300 feet. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 52.