SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Last week, weather forecasters were alerting the public about an incoming atmospheric river that, at the time, looked like it could aim at the Sierra. They did state it was too early to tell the exact impact and it now looks to be heading north of the Lake Tahoe Basin. It still has the potential to change course and bring heavy rain and snow to the West Coast and the Sierra.
The National Weather Service (NWS) in Reno today said the biggest impact will be in the Pacific Northwest, and the Tahoe region will see lighter rain, high elevation snow, and mostly wind. Winds will start increasing on Friday, with the strongest on Saturday and gusty on Sunday.
There is a Lake Wind Advisory in place for the Lake Tahoe Basin from 5 a.m. Saturday to 5 a.m. Sunday. Expect Southwest winds 15 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph and wave heights 2 to 4 feet on Lake Tahoe. Gusts over the Sierra ridge will reach up to 100 mph.
Weekend forecast for South Lake Tahoe from NWS Reno:
Friday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 68. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Friday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Saturday
A 50 percent chance of rain. Snow level 7300 feet rising to 8600 feet in the afternoon. Partly sunny, with a high near 53. Breezy, with a southwest wind 10 to 15 mph increasing to 15 to 20 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph.
Saturday Night
A 40 percent chance of rain, mainly before 11pm. Snow level 8200 feet lowering to 7600 feet after midnight . Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
Sunday
A 40 percent chance of rain. Snow level 7600 feet rising to 8500 feet. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 49. Southwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Sunday Night
A 20 percent chance of rain before 11pm. Snow level 8500 feet. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 30.