Wind gusts up to 100 mph, 3"- 5" of rain, and upper elevation snow headed to Lake Tahoe

With Wednesday's calm and sunny skies, and mild temperatures, it's the perfect time to prepare for a new weather system that is headed to Lake Tahoe. It's also the perfect time to head to Hope Valley for a last glimpse of their fabulous fall color since forecast winds and rains should remove the last of the leaves.

Two waves of the weather system will hit Lake Tahoe, the first Thursday night and Friday morning, the second on Saturday.

Gusts over the Sierra will be over 100 mph along with south to southwest winds 50 to 70 mph are expected according to the National Weather Service in Reno. The winds bring with them high fire danger to the south of Interstate 80. A high wind warning for Lake Tahoe is in effect from 8:00 p.m. Thursday to 11:00 a.m. Friday.

Heavy mountain rain is expected with the first round along with very high elevation snow (above 8500 ft) on Thursday evening. Snow levels will lower Sunday into Sunday night with travel impacts possible due to snow along the Sierra passes, especially for Donner, Echo, and Mt. Rose.

Rain totals will be between 3"-5” for the Sierra from Thursday night through late Sunday. Western Nevada will most likely be shadowed by the Sierra and have much less rain, closer to .5" to 1".

Forecast from the National Weather Service:

Wednesday Afternoon - Mostly sunny, with a high near 66. West wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Wednesday Night - Partly cloudy, with a low around 35. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Thursday - Partly sunny, with a high near 66. Breezy, with a southwest wind 10 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Thursday Night - A 50 percent chance of rain after 11 p.m. Cloudy, with a low around 47. Windy, with a southwest wind 20 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 55 mph.

Friday - Rain. High near 56. Windy, with a southwest wind 25 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 55 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Friday Night - A 50 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40. Breezy.

Saturday - A 20 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 53. Breezy.

Saturday Night - Rain. Cloudy, with a low around 51. Breezy.

Sunday - Rain likely. Cloudy, with a high near 51. Breezy.

Sunday Night - Rain. Cloudy, with a low around 40. Breezy.

Monday - A chance of rain and snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 48.

Monday Night - A slight chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 30.

Tuesday - A slight chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 53.