Red Flag Warning, Lake WInd Advisory and snow forecast for South Lake Tahoe in days ahead

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Mark Twain said "the air up there in the clouds is very pure and fine, bracing and delicious," and this week that air will be colder than it has been. There is a little bit of everything in the five day forecast for South Lake Tahoe.

Starting Thursday, November 5, the National Weather Service (NWS) in Reno has issued a Red Flag Warning for the Lake Tahoe Basin. It will be in effect from 10:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. on Friday. The forecast gusty winds and critically dry fuels could cause fire to rapidly grow in size and intensity.

Winds will be from the southwest 15 to 25 mph with gusts to 40 mph. Local gusts to 55 mph in wind prone areas with gusts to 100 mph over the Sierra Crest.

After that warning expires a Lake Wind Advisory is in place on Friday from 1:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Southwest winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 40 mph expected with waves 2 to 4 feet. Small boats, kayaks and paddle boards will be prone to capsizing and should remain off lake waters until conditions improve.

Those two weather events are the prelude to a strong cold front that will push through the Sierra and western Nevada on Friday bringing gusty winds, much colder temperatures, and chances for rain and snow showers. This storm does appear to
herald in a pattern that may possibly stick around through much of November with the potential for lingering cold temperatures and maybe even additional chances for rain and snow.

Afternoon temperatures will drop significantly from Friday to Saturday, with western Nevada and Sierra valleys in the 30s and 40s. Overnight lows will be well below freezing with a few single digit and sub zero readings possible in the colder Sierra valleys.

The forecast for the next five days:

Thursday - Widespread haze between 2pm and 3pm. Sunny, with a high near 72. Light and variable wind becoming southwest 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.

Thursday Night - A 30 percent chance of rain after 4am. Snow level 8300 feet. Partly cloudy, with a low around 36. Breezy, with a southwest wind 10 to 15 mph increasing to 15 to 20 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph.

Friday - Rain likely before 1pm, then snow likely. Snow level 8100 feet lowering to 6300 feet in the afternoon . Mostly cloudy, with a high near 48. Breezy, with a southwest wind 15 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Friday Night - A 50 percent chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 22. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Saturday - A 40 percent chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 38. West wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Saturday Night - Snow showers likely, mainly after 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 21. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Sunday - Snow showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 35.

Sunday Night - Mostly cloudy, with a low around 12.

Monday - Mostly sunny, with a high near 41.

Monday Night - Partly cloudy, with a low around 18.