Weather pattern to change for Lake Tahoe - rain, wind, upper elevation snow in forecast

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Are you ready for a change to the Lake Tahoe weather pattern? The mild conditions we've been experiencing will make way for a chance of showers, upper-elevation snow, and gusty winds.

The change will start this afternoon into early Friday. The first wave is a relatively warm low-pressure system. Plan on periods of breezy winds along with light rain and high-elevation across the northeastern side of California and into northwest Nevada. Temperatures will remain mild and above average through Saturday, followed by a pronounced cooling trend into next week.

The next system this weekend will bring better chances for valley rain, mountain snow generally above 8,000 feet, and much stronger gusty winds, according to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Reno.

Additional systems with breezy winds and even better chances for rain/mountain snow are possible from Saturday into early next week.

The five-day forecast for South Lake Tahoe from NWS Reno:

Today - Mostly sunny, with a high near 65. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight - Mostly cloudy, with a low of around 34. Southwest wind around 5 mph.

Friday - Mostly sunny, with a high near 64. Calm wind, becoming west around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Friday Night - Increasing clouds, with a low around 38. Southwest wind around 5 mph.

Saturday - A 30 percent chance of rain, mainly before 11 am. Partly sunny, with a high near 61. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Saturday Night - A 30 percent chance of rain. Snow level 9600 feet lowering to 9000 feet. Mostly cloudy, with a low of around 36. Breezy, with a southwest wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Sunday - A 30 percent chance of rain, mainly after 11 am. Snow level 8900 feet. Partly sunny, with a high near 56. Breezy.

Sunday Night - A chance of rain. Snow level 8500 feet. Mostly cloudy, with a low of around 32. Breezy.

Monday - A chance of rain. Snow level 7800 feet. Partly sunny, with a high near 52.

Monday Night - A chance of rain before 11 pm, then a chance of rain and snow. Snow level 7700 feet lowering to 7000 feet after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26.

Tuesday - A chance of rain and snow. Snow level 6800 feet. Partly sunny, with a high near 48.

Tuesday Night - A chance of rain and snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 21.