High wind and winter weather watches issued for Lake Tahoe

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There are two new weather watches issued for the Lake Tahoe Basin this week, but most of the impacts will be above the 6500 foot elevation.

First come the winds. A High Wind Watch is in effect Tuesday from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Winds will be front the south 20 to 35 mph with gusts up to 60 mph possible. Stronger wind gusts to 75 mph are possible in Nevada for wind-prone areas along and west of Highway 395 and Interstate 580. Exposed ridges are likely to gust over 100 mph.

The strongest winds in the Tahoe area below ridges are likely to be in the South Lake area, the Martis Valley, and on slopes west of Lake Tahoe according to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Reno.

Damaging winds could blow down trees and power lines. Power outages are possible. Travel could be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.

During the last wind warnings on November 13, gusts at Lake Tahoe ranged from 62 mph on the Mt. Rose Highway and Kingsbury Grade to 111 mph at the Squaw Summit.

The winds will be followed by a Winter Storm Advisory for locations above 6500 ft which is in place Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. to Wednesday at 4:00 p.m.

Heavy, wet snow possible above 6500 feet. Total snow accumulations of up to 6 inches between 6500 and 7000 feet, with 12 to 18 inches above 7000 feet, possible. Peak snowfall rates likely late Tuesday through Wednesday morning. Locations below 6500 feet could see between nothing and 3 inches of snowfall, mainly late Tuesday night into Wednesday according to NWS Reno. Winds during these 24 hours could gust as high as 60 mph Tuesday, with over 100 mph for exposed Sierra ridges, before decreasing by evening as precipitation moves in.

Travel could be difficult for area roadways, especially over passes. The hazardous conditions could impact the Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning commutes. Strong winds could cause tree damage with blowing snow possibly reducing visibility Tuesday evening.