Another little burst of winter in the Lake Tahoe forecast

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - It will be mild and quiet through Monday. The next storm moves in Tuesday for another round of strong winds, especially in eastern
California and far western Nevada. Rain and higher elevation snow are likely later Tuesday and Wednesday with travel in the Sierra affected. Temperatures will fall closer to average for the middle to the latter portion of the week, according to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Reno.

There is a High Wind Watch and a Winter Weather Watch in place for the Lake Tahoe Basin, though lake level should not see much snow.

Tuesday - South winds 20 to 35 mph with gusts up to 60 mph possible. Stronger wind gusts to 75 mph are possible for wind-prone areas. The strongest winds in the Tahoe area below ridges are likely to be in the South Lake area, the Martis Valley, and on slopes west of Lake Tahoe. Expect high winds throughout the day and evening.

The Winter Storm Watch is from Tuesday afternoon to Wednesday afternoon for areas above 6500 feet. At that elevation, expect heavy, wet snow with total snow accumulations of up to 6 inches between 6500 and 7000 feet, with 12 to 18 inches above 7000 feet, possible. Peak snowfall rates likely late Tuesday through Wednesday morning. Locations below 6500 feet could see between nothing and 3 inches of snowfall, mainly late Tuesday night into Wednesday. Winds could gust as high as 60 mph Tuesday, with over 100 mph for exposed Sierra ridges, before decreasing by evening as precipitation moves in.

The South Lake Tahoe forecast from NWS Reno:

Today- Mostly sunny, with a high near 67. Southwest wind around 5 mph.

Tonight - Partly cloudy, with a low around 37. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Tuesday - Rain likely, mainly after 4 pm. Snow level 7100 feet. Mostly sunny, with a high near 56. Windy, with a southwest wind 25 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 55 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Tuesday Night - Rain. Snow level 7100 feet. Low around 33. Breezy, with a southwest wind around 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. The chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Wednesday - Rain, mainly before 4 pm. Snow level 7100 feet. High near 45. Southwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Wednesday Night - A chance of rain before 10 pm, then a slight chance of rain and snow between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m., then a slight chance of snow after 4am. Snow level 6700 feet lowering to 6300 feet after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 25. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New snow accumulation of less than a half-inch possible.

Thursday - A 20 percent chance of rain after 10 am. Partly sunny, with a high near 48.

Thursday Night - Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26.

Friday - Mostly sunny, with a high near 47.

Friday Night - Mostly clear, with a low around 22.

Saturday - Sunny, with a high near 48.

Saturday Night - Partly cloudy, with a low around 23.

Sunday - Mostly sunny, with a high near 53.