Wind and winter weather advisories up for Lake Tahoe

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CALIF. – A fast moving storm system will reach the Sierra on Wednesday, January 24, bringing with it wind, snow and rain before it leaves as quickly as it arrived.

A Lake Wind Advisory is in effect from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Wednesday for Lake Tahoe. Winds will be from the southwest 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 50 mph. Waves will be 2-4 feet with the highest mid-lake to to north and east shores. Winds will continue into Wednesday evening as a Winter Weather Advisory starts at 4:00 p.m.

The Winter Weather Advisory is in effect until 10:00 a.m. Thursday. The heaviest snow is expected from 6 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.

Plan on difficult travel conditions, including during the evening commute on Wednesday. Total snow accumulations of 5 to 8 inches at lake level, with localized amounts up to 14 inches above 7000 feet and up to 2 feet along the crest.

Long range forecast models are showing another period of dry weather is looking more and more likely along the west coast for the first part of February.

Forecast from the National Weather Service in Reno.

Tonight – Partly cloudy, with a low around 26. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Wednesday – A 20 percent chance of snow after 11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 48. Windy, with a southwest wind 20 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 50 mph.

Wednesday Night – Snow, mainly before 5am. Low around 21. Breezy, with a southwest wind 15 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 4 to 8 inches possible.

Thursday – Snow likely, mainly after 11am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 31. West wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

Thursday Night – Snow likely, mainly before 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 17. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

Friday – Partly sunny, with a high near 36.

Friday Night – Mostly cloudy, with a low around 20.

Saturday – Partly sunny, with a high near 47.

Saturday Night – Partly cloudy, with a low around 25.

Sunday – Mostly sunny, with a high near 53.

Sunday Night – Mostly cloudy, with a low around 27.

Monday – Partly sunny, with a high near 51.

Monday Night – Mostly cloudy, with a low around 27.

Tuesday – Mostly sunny, with a high near 46.