Two storms forecast for the first week of 2024 at Lake Tahoe

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There will be dry conditions along with light winds to kick off 2024, but the week ahead could be very different. This upcoming week the pattern remains progressive with two storms projected to move through the Sierra and western Nevada. Be sure to monitor road conditions midweek as well as next weekend with snow in the forecast.

Temperatures will be dropping, with highs below freezing by next weekend. Here is a report from the National Weather Service (NWS) in Reno for the week ahead at Lake Tahoe:

Storm #1 Wednesday-Thursday: After a couple of quiet, dry days the next storm arrives on late Tuesday night bringing increased mountain breezes and potential for precipitation. This storm is colder than previous systems and snow levels will start around 4500-5000 feet on Wednesday. The best potential for snowfall will be on the west slopes of the Sierra up to the Sierra crest.

Blended guidance indicates there is a 60-70% chance for up to 12" of snowfall along the crest, a 60-70% chance for 4" in the Tahoe Basin and the Eastern Sierra, and a 10-20% chance for measurable snowfall (>=0.1") for the Greater Reno-Tahoe-Minden areas. Some deterministic solutions are showing a secondary low forming Wed night into Thursday which may promote wraparound moisture and additional snow potential into Thursday morning for the west
slopes of the Sierra and western Nevada.

Storm #2 for next Weekend: A deeper, more potent storm is in line to push through the Sierra and western Nevada for next weekend. Ensemble cluster analysis remains on track for sweeping a cold, Gulf of Alaska low in with increased potential for strong winds and heavy snow. Exact Snow amounts are TBD but it`s beneficial that it will be a fairly deep, cold storm. Blended guidance still showing a 60-70% chance to bring 12" of snow to the Sierra crest along with a 40-60% chance for 1"+ of snow even in western Nevada.

The South Lake Tahoe forecast for the first week of 2024 from NWS Reno:

New Year's Day - Sunny, with a high near 41. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph.

Monday Night - Mostly clear, with a low around 19. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Tuesday - Increasing clouds, with a high near 42. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the morning.

Tuesday Night - A 50 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 21. South wind 5 to 10 mph. New snow accumulation of around an inch is possible.

Wednesday - Snow. High near 35. West wind around 5 mph. The chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches is possible.

Wednesday Night - Snow likely, mainly before 10 pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 18. The chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch is possible.

Thursday - A chance of snow, mainly before 10 am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 37.

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

Friday - A slight chance of snow after 10 am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 42.

Friday Night - Snow likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low of around 20.

Saturday --Snow. The snow could be heavy at times. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 35. Breezy.

Saturday Night - Snow. The snow could be heavy at times. Mostly cloudy, with a low of around 11.

Sunday - A chance of snow. Partly sunny, with a high near 28.