Winter Storm Warning now in place for Lake Tahoe

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The National Weather Service (NWS) has upgraded the storm this weekend to a Winter Storm Warning with an increase in their previous forecast for snow accumulations and added winds. It begins Friday at 11:00 p.m. and goes until Monday at 11:00 a.m.

They are calling for heavy snow with total accumulations of 1-2 feet under 7,000 feet and 2-4 feet above. Winds gusting as high as 50 mph with ridge winds gusting to 100 mph in the Greater Lake Tahoe area.

The winds will create areas of blowing and drifting snow.

The forecast from NWS Reno through Monday:

Friday Night - A chance of rain before 11pm, then rain and snow likely between 11pm and 2 am, then snow likely after 2am. Snow level 7500 feet lowering to 6400 feet after midnight . Increasing clouds, with a low around 25. Windy, with a southwest wind 20 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 50 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Saturday - Snow. High near 44. Windy, with a southwest wind 25 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 50 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Saturday Night - Snow. Low around 22. Breezy, with a southwest wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 6 to 10 inches possible.

Sunday - Snow. High near 37. Breezy, with a southwest wind around 20 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 8 to 12 inches possible.

Sunday Night - Snow. Low around 19. Breezy, with a southwest wind 15 to 20 mph decreasing to 5 to 10 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 7 inches possible.

Monday - Snow. High near 39. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 7 inches possible.

Monday NightSnow. Cloudy, with a low around 18.