Lake Tahoe seeing rain, snow and wind; Winter Storm Warning in place

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A powerful “atmospheric river” storm is starting to make its presence known with heavy rain, high winds and snow throughout much of California and into the Sierra.

Initial forecasts had just rain at lake level Wednesday, but it is snowing as of 8:30 a.m.

Wednesday and Thursday: Heavy high elevation snow and damaging winds are expected. Rainfall amounts are expected to be between one and two inches in South Lake Tahoe on Wednesday. Expect chain controls on mountain passes. Winter Storm Warning in place until 10:00 p.m. Thursday.

Friday through Saturday: Another colder storm is expected Friday into Saturday with heavy mountain snow and lighter valley snow possible. New Winter Weather Advisories and Warnings could be issued over the next day or so. After the rain changes back to snow in the Tahoe/Truckee/Mammoth Lakes elevations, we could see snowfall accumulations of 1 to 2 feet, or more, with the highest accumulations expected around the Tahoe region.

The updated forecast from the National Weather Service in Reno:

Today - Rain. High near 42. Windy, with a south wind 20 to 25 mph increasing to 25 to 30 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 50 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Tonight - Rain. Low around 36. Windy, with a southwest wind around 30 mph, with gusts as high as 50 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Thursday - Rain before 1pm, then rain and snow. High near 41. Windy, with a southwest wind around 30 mph, with gusts as high as 55 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.

Thursday Night - Snow. Low around 20. Windy, with a southwest wind 25 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 55 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 8 to 12 inches possible.

Friday - Snow. High near 29. Breezy, with a southwest wind 20 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 45 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 6 to 10 inches possible.

Friday Night - Snow showers. Low around 14. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.

Saturday - Snow showers likely, mainly before 10am. Partly sunny, with a high near 29. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.

Saturday Night - Snow showers likely, mainly before 4am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 12.

Sunday - Snow showers likely, mainly after 10am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 28.

Sunday NightA chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 9.

Washington's Birthday - A slight chance of snow showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 30.

Monday Night - Mostly clear, with a low around 8.

Tuesday -Sunny, with a high near 33.