rain

Friday - Mostly sunny, with a high near 68.

Time to trade in those shorts and sandals for a sweater and socks as temperatures drop and precipitation enters the area at the end of the weekend.

A quick moving weather front moving through the Lake Tahoe Basin on Sunday is expected to leave behind 1-2" of snow over the passes and less than 1/2" at lake level. Sunny skies and fall temperatures will return by Tuesday.

The forecast from the National Weather Service:

Today - Sunny, with a high near 63. Southwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

The UCCE Master Gardeners of Lake Tahoe are holding a free workshop on how to plant and grow fall alliums with a focus on garlics and onions September 28 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Lake Tahoe Community College Demonstration Garden.

On April 9, 2016, Lake Tahoe reached its natural rim for the first time in ten months after a wet winter gave much needed water to the lake. Since then the melting snowpack was enough to keep water levels above its natural rim, that is, until today.

The natural rim is 6,223 feet.

There is 20-50 percent chance of rain in the area through Wednesday, but rainfall amounts aren't forecast to be measurable.

Zephyr Cove Resort will remain open for business as soil impacted by a 2011 underground fuel release is removed from an area near the south beach volleyball courts starting Monday, September 12.

Even though those driving by and visiting the resort will see the activity, impact to operations is expected to be minimal. There may be some disruption to parking and the volleyball area but watercraft rentals and sightseeing boats will continue to operate during the excavation.

The Food Bank of El Dorado County will be stopping by South Lake Tahoe on August 24 with their truck full of fresh fruit and vegetables and other emergency food supplies for those in need.

There is one allocation of supplies available for each qualifying household at the pantry distribution which will take place at the American Legion Hall at 2748 Lake Tahoe Blvd. from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Some rain and thunderstorms may hit the South Shore by the end of the week, but at this point weather models don't think there is much precipitation associated with them. This biggest chance for rain is on Friday when there is a 50 percent chance of precipitation. The rest of the week is 20 percent chance of rain.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 84. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Sunday Night: Clear, with a low around 44. West wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Mother Nature hasn't been bringing the normal summer rain she normally does, so help from the Sugar Pine Foundation and their volunteers are helping the newly planted baby sugar pines to survive.

SOS Outreach Camp students recently helped water the seedlings in the Gondola Fire Area in South Lake Tahoe, and more watering trips are planned.

There are more watering days lined up that the public can participate in:

Tue, August 2, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Watering with Starbucks
Spooner Picnic Area

Wed, August 3, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Watering with Camp Explore
Sand Harbor NV State Park

Tens of thousands of people will be enjoying the Lights on the Lake fireworks show over Lake Tahoe Monday, most of them unaware of the hundreds of hours of work put into their enjoyment.

"We love out job," said Zambelli Fireworks Western Region Project Manager John Hagan. "We can use explosives to make people happy."

Zambelli is the company hired to produce the 25 minute pyrotechnic show over Lake Tahoe on July 4, starting at 9:45 p.m.

To keep Tahoe cherished and known for its beauty, locals try in their best efforts to “keep Tahoe blue.” Sadly, negative effects in our ecosystems come from humans which could damage the clarity of the lake and the air quality. Bad air quality comes from numerous sources, such as car emissions, uncontained fires, and contributors to toxic runoff into the forest; these sources of pollution must be stopped.

May in South Lake Tahoe is always unpredictable, with the only thing weather watches can count on is change. This weekend is no different.

The National Weather Service forecast for the area calls for winds, rain, a trace of snow for the next seven days.

Friday - Scattered rain and snow showers. Some thunder is also possible. Partly sunny, with a high near 46. Breezy, with a southwest wind 20 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Sledders and snowboarders this season were not kind to the new Bijou Bike Park, breaking down banked trails, overturning tables and benches, and leaving the area full of trash.

At Thursday's South Lake Tahoe Parks & Recreation Commission meeting, City staff, commissions and bike enthusiasts discussed how to ensure the damage and some other issues at the park come to an end.

After Sunday, the National Weather Service is forecasting a dry week for South Lake Tahoe with no rain and warming temperatures.

Here is their forecast:

Monday - Mostly sunny, with a high near 63. West wind 5 to 10 mph.

Monday Night - Mostly clear, with a low around 33. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light in the evening.

Tuesday - Sunny, with a high near 61. East wind around 5 mph.

Tuesday Night - Mostly clear, with a low around 33. East wind around 5 mph.

Wednesday - Sunny, with a high near 65.

Wednesday Night - Mostly clear, with a low around 37.

An Incline Village woman was rescued from the cliffs above Vikingsholm in Emerald Bay on Thursday after she slipped while climbing down the mountain.

Jane Rylander had been climbing in the steep cliff bands from Vikingsholm parking lot down towards the main castle. She slipped and slid down the embankment becoming stuck on the cliff band. She was not injured but could not climb up or down and was in the need of rescue.

Outdoor Earth Day festivities in South Lake Tahoe has meant a return of winter in past years, and 2016 will be no different. Good news for the festival is the Friday night snow will make room for a sunny and warmer Saturday before the next system moves in.

A series of storms are headed to the Sierra, the first set to arrive Thursday night/Friday morning.

It is also closing weekend at Heavenly Mountain Resort, and they should have a fresh layer of powder for the skiers headed to the slopes. Both Kirkwood and Sierra-at-Tahoe are both closed for the season.

A relatively weak Spring storm is headed to Lake Tahoe, bringing with it modest rain and snow amounts as it moves through the Sierra and western Nevada on Thursday, according to the National Weather Service in Reno.

Snow levels will be down to around 4500 - 5500 feet. Although it will be cold enough for widespread snow showers, there won't be much in the way of snow totals with this storm though the West Slope should see more than the Lake Tahoe Basin and Reno. On Wednesday, the NWS in Sacramento forecast 4"-8" for the higher elevations.

As the ski season winds down, this is the last ski and snowboard report for the season. Planned closing dates for local resorts are listed below.

The following is the ski, snowboard and weather report for Saturday, April 9, 2016 for South Lake Tahoe, brought to you by Lake Tahoe SkiBum.

Weather - South Lake Tahoe will have a high today of 49 and a low tonight of

South Lake Tahoe will see high in the 60s this week, with a chance of rain coming into the Basin by April 8. 2016.

According to the National Weather Service in Reno, forecast simulations are coming into better agreement in a transition to a wet pattern starting the end of the upcoming week into next weekend. The Climate Prediction Center’s 6-10 day and 8-14 day outlooks both agree on this as well.

The latest storms to hit the Sierra and Lake Tahoe kept wter content in the snowpack close to average, with some areas of California going above average in the precipitation they've received.

Officials from the Department of Water Resources (DWR) will be making their last monthly snowpack measurement near Sierra-at-Tahoe next week, but electronic readings taken March 22, 2016 show the snowpack is at 92 percent of average.

Most of the ski resorts around the lake, while still below average snowpack, are experiencing the best measured snow in a few years.

The following is the ski, snowboard and weather report for Monday, March 21, 2016 for South Lake Tahoe, brought to you by Lake Tahoe SkiBum.

Lake Wind Advisory until 11 p.m. Because of this, lift operations may be affected by winds Monday.

High pressure off the California coast will be moving slowly inland, bringing continued dry weather and generally light winds with a steady warming trend through Saturday.

The warm temperatures and clear skies will move out and make way for cooler temperatures and gusty winds. The next chance for precipitation returns Sunday into Tuesday as a storm moves through northern California and northern Nevada.

It is slow going over Echo Summit this morning with reported delays of up to an hour. As you can see on the photos here, once past the Meyers chain controls it is much smoother moving.

As of 11:45 a.m. Sunday:

Highway 50 - Chains or 4WD with snow tires from 3 miles east of Kyburz to Meyers

State Route 89 is closed at Emerald Bay. Chains are required on all vehicles except 4WD with snow tires from Picketts Junction to Christmas Valley. Chains required on all vehicles except 4WD with snow tires from 5 miles north of the Y to Emerald Bay.

The next way in a series of storms over the Sierra has made its way into Lake Tahoe tonight, with forecasters predicting up to two feet of snow at lake level by Monday morning.

Interstate 80 has had chain controls up for much of the afternoon, and Highway 50 has just put theirs up.

As of 8 p.m. Saturday, controls are now up on Highway 50 from Twin Bridges to Meyers, with chains required on all vehicles except 4WD with snow tires.

The following is the ski, snowboard and weather report for Friday, March 11, 2016 for South Lake Tahoe brought to you by Lake Tahoe SkiBum.

Lake Wind advisory in place until 6:00 p.m. Friday
Winter Storm Watch in effect from 4:00 p.m. Saturday until 11 a.m. Monday
Flood Watch in place until 6:00 p.m. Sunday

The following is the ski, snowboard and weather report for Thursday, March 10, 2016 for South Lake Tahoe brought to you by Lake Tahoe SkiBum.

Wind advisory in place until 4:00 p.m. Thursday
Flood Watch in place until 6:00 p.m. Sunday