Winter storm, high wind and flood warnings for Lake Tahoe Basin

"If you want to see the sunshine, you have to weather the storm," says the old quote, and if you want to see this weekend's clear and sunny skies you'll have to get through two days of rain, wind and snow.

The National Weather Service has issued three warnings for the Lake Tahoe Basin:

High Wind Warning in effect until Thursday at 4:00 p.m. Winds will be from the southwest 25 TO 40 mph with gusts 65-70 mph. Gust over 80 mph likely in wind prone areas around Reno, Carson City and Minden. Sierra ridge gusts up to 130 mph. Waves on the lake will be 3 to 7 feet.

Winter Storm Warning in effect from 10:00 a.m. Thursday to 4:00 a.m. Friday above 7000 feet. The heaviest snowfall will be between 4:00 p.m. Thursday and 1:00 a.m. Friday. Elevation above 8000 feet could see 1 to 3 feet of snow, with 6 to 12 inches between 7000 and 8000 feet. Snow could make it to the valley floor by Friday morning. Lake level elevations may see an inch or two of both rain and snow. The snow that falls will be heavy, wet snow. Visibilities will drop to less that 1/4 mile at times. The highest elevations will be impacted the entire duration of the storm, especially Mt. Rose, Carson Pass, Donner Pass and Echo Summit.

Flood Watch in effect from 10:00 a.m. Thursday through 4:00 a.m. Friday. Heavy rain on saturated soils will lead to an increased threat for flooding near creeks, streams, drainage ditches.

The forecast from the National Weather Service in Reno:

Thursday Night - A 30 percent chance of rain after 4am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42. Windy, with a southwest wind around 30 mph, with gusts as high as 55 mph.

Thursday - Rain, mainly after 10am. High near 51. Breezy, with a southwest wind 20 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 55 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Thursday Night - Rain before 10pm, then rain, possibly mixed with snow. Low around 28. Breezy, with a southwest wind around 20 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Friday - Snow likely before 10am, then a chance of snow showers after 10am. Partly sunny, with a high near 30. Breezy, with a west wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Friday Night - A 30 percent chance of snow showers before 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 10. West wind 5 to 15 mph becoming north in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Saturday - Mostly sunny, with a high near 29.

Saturday Night - Partly cloudy, with a low around 10.

Sunday - Mostly sunny, with a high near 28.

Sunday Night - Partly cloudy, with a low around 14.

Monday - Sunny, with a high near 28.

Monday Night - Partly cloudy, with a low around 14.

Tuesday - Mostly sunny, with a high near 40.

Tuesday Night - Partly cloudy, with a low around 23.

Wednesday - Partly sunny, with a high near 38.