Storm headed to Lake Tahoe; 4-8" of snow expected at lake level

A winter weather advisory has been issued for Lake Tahoe from 2:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 5, 2016.

The National Weather Service changed the storm from a "winter weather warning" to the advisory. Expect snow accumulations of 4-8" at lake level and 8-15" at the upper elevations. The strongest snow is forecast to begin at 4:00 a.m.

There will be some winds associated with this system with south winds gusting to 25 mph in the valleys and gusts of 80-100 on the ridges.

Unsettled weather will remain in Lake Tahoe all week as several weather systems head to California. There will be rain in the northern and southern portions of the state and snow to the Sierra Nevada. A first wave arrives Monday, the larger one Tuesday and another on Thursday. These will be followed by yet another weather system which is forecast to arrive late Saturday.

This week's forecast from NWS-Reno:

Today - Snow showers, mainly after 10am. High near 42. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Tonight - Snow showers, mainly after 4am. Low around 27. South wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

Tuesday - Snow showers before 10am, then snow, mainly after 10am. High near 38. South wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 7 inches possible.

Tuesday Night - Snow likely before 10pm, then a chance of snow showers after 10pm. Cloudy, with a low around 20. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Wednesday - A 50 percent chance of snow, mainly after 10am. Cloudy, with a high near 31. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Wednesday Night - Snow likely. Cloudy, with a low around 21. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

Thursday - A 40 percent chance of snow showers. Cloudy, with a high near 33. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Thursday Night - A chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 16.

Friday - A slight chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 34.

Friday Night - Mostly cloudy, with a low around 15.

Saturday - A chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 35.

Saturday Night - A chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 24.
SundayA chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 37.