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.

This weekend is also prom for both area high schools.

The National Weather Service forecast for the Lake Tahoe Basin is:

Thursday – Mostly sunny, with a high near 63. South wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph.

Thursday Night – A 20 percent chance of rain after 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36. Breezy, with a south wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Friday – Rain. High near 47. Breezy, with a south wind 20 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Friday Night – Whittell High School Prom – Rain and snow showers before 11pm, then a chance of snow showers. Low around 30. Breezy, with a southwest wind 10 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

Saturday – A 20 percent chance of snow showers before 11am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 51. West wind around 5 mph.

Saturday Night – South Tahoe High Prom – Partly cloudy, with a low around 30.

Sunday – A slight chance of rain and snow showers before 11am, then a slight chance of rain showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 47. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Sunday Night – A chance of rain and snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 31.

Monday – A chance of snow showers before 11am, then a chance of rain and snow showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 40.

Monday Night – A chance of snow showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 27.

Tuesday – Partly sunny, with a high near 47.

Tuesday Night – A slight chance of rain and snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 30.

Wednesday – A chance of rain and snow showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 42.