Next storm could drop up to 4 feet of snow above 7,000 feet; Rain and snow at lake level

9:30 p.m. update: The National Weather Service has upgraded the storm to a Winter Weather Warning from 4:00 p.m. Saturday to 10:00 a.m. Monday. Heavy snow is expected. Total snow accumulations of 4 to 10 inches, except 1 to 4 feet above 7000 feet. Winds gusting 25 to 40 mph, except 60 to 100 mph over exposed ridges.

Snow is expected to mix with, or change to, rain for Tahoe Basin valleys Sunday, with Donner and Echo Summits possibly mixing with rain Sunday night into Monday.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Another round of the holiday storm is heading to Lake Tahoe Saturday afternoon. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued what is currently a Winter Storm Watch for 4:00 p.m. November 30 to Monday morning at 10:00 a.m.

At lake level, and all areas under the 6500-7500 foot range, that snow could change to rain by Sunday afternoon at 4:00 p.m. Weather models are still uncertain with snow levels, all depending on how long the cold air will stay with the system. This is the reason for the Weather Watch and not a Weather Warning.

If all pans out with the cold scenario, heavy snow is possible with total snow accumulations of 8 to 16 inches at the lake, and 2 to 4 feet possible above 7000 feet. Winds could gust as high as 40 mph starting Sunday.

"This is one of the more complicated forecasts we`ve had in a while," said a weather discussion at NWS Reno. "Therefore, plan for a mixed bag of wintry weather with an eventual trend to rain for lower valleys throughout the day on Sunday. This could be a situation where it`s raining at Lake Tahoe and snowing in Reno."

The weekend NWS-Reno forecast:

This Afternoon - Scattered snow showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 28. West wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Tonight - A 20 percent chance of snow before 10pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 7. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Saturday - A 30 percent chance of snow after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 32. South wind around 5 mph. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Saturday Night - Snow before 1am, then rain and snow. Low around 29. South wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.

Sunday - Rain and snow. High near 37. South wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Sunday Night - Rain. Low around 32. Chance of precipitation is 100%.

Monday - Rain. High near 42. Chance of precipitation is 90%.