SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Freezing rain this evening into the morning of New Year`s Day will be light and isolated, but could create slick, icy roadways for
holiday travel across the colder valleys of northeast California and the eastern Sierra.
The National Weather Service (NWS) in Reno has issued a Winter Weather Advisory and a Winter Storm Watch for the Greater Lake Tahoe area and Mono County. The advisory is in effect until noon on New Year’s Day.
The Winter Storm Watch is from 4 p.m. Friday through 10 a.m. Sunday, January 4.
While the advisory is just for freezing rain, the storm watch calls for heavy snow with snow accumulations of 1-2 feet above 7000 feet and up to 12 inches below that. Sierra crest ridgetops could see wind gusts as high as 100 mph.
Difficult travel conditions are possible. The hazardous conditions could impact holiday travel tonight and Thursday morning. For this weekend, travel could become very difficult at times due to heavy snow.
The storm detail for lake level is not clear at this time, as temperatures may be too high for snow as the storm hits, and the impact could be more rain than snow below 6600 feet.
New Year’s Day
Rain before 4 pm, then rain and snow likely. Snow level 8900 feet, lowering to 7500 feet in the afternoon. High near 44. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. The chance of precipitation is 90%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
Thursday Night
Rain and snow likely before 5 am, then a slight chance of snow. Snow level 7000 feet. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26. Southwest wind around 5 mph, becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
Friday
A slight chance of snow before 9 am, then a slight chance of rain and snow between 9 am and 10 am, then a slight chance of rain after 10 am. Snow level 6600 feet rising to 7200 feet in the afternoon. Partly sunny, with a high near 47. Calm wind. The chance of precipitation is 20%.
Friday Night
Rain and snow likely, mainly after 10 pm. Snow level 6800 feet. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 29. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. The chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch is possible.
Saturday
Rain and snow. Some thunder is also possible. Snow level 7100 feet. High near 41. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Saturday Night
Rain and snow. Some thunder is also possible. Snow level 6600 feet. Cloudy, with a low around 29.
Sunday
Rain and snow before 7 am, then snow between 7 am and 10 am, then rain and snow after 10 am. Snow level 6400 feet. Cloudy, with a high near 40.
Sunday Night
Snow. Cloudy, with a low around 25.