national weather service

A 'Slider' storm is expected to move into the Reno/Lake Tahoe area Sunday night through Monday.

Snow accumulations are likely above 5500 feet and possible down to the lowest valleys including Reno and Carson City and could affect their morning commute on Monday.

Daytime high temperatures will drop around 20 degrees between Sunday and Monday, with freezing temperatures possible overnight on Sunday.

High pressure off the California coast will be moving slowly inland, bringing continued dry weather and generally light winds with a steady warming trend through Saturday.

The warm temperatures and clear skies will move out and make way for cooler temperatures and gusty winds. The next chance for precipitation returns Sunday into Tuesday as a storm moves through northern California and northern Nevada.

Could this be a "Miracle March?" With almost two feet of new snow added to ski resorts last weekend, and another two feet expected this weekend, signs are pointing to getting well above average on the Sierra snowpack totals. The precipitation is there, but all depends on the temperature.

The National Weather Service in Reno today said, "Higher confidence this afternoon with potent winter storm expected to arrive Saturday with rain, snow and wind this weekend into Monday morning."

After a month of temperatures close to record breaking and very little precipitation, South Lake Tahoe will see a series of storms heading to the Sierra starting Thursday, March 3.

The active weather pattern actually begins this weekend as a series of moderate to strong atmospheric river type storms impact the Sierra this weekend and into next week, according to the National Weather Service.

There is a 30 percent chance of rain on Thursday and Thursday evening which would be mostly in the form of rain due to a high of 52 degrees and a low of 32.

12:30 p.m. update February 18:

The sun is coming out over Lake Tahoe after a quick moving storm left over two feet of snow at the upper elevations, one foot at lake level.

Chain controls remain at this time, with chains are required on all vehicles except 4WD with snow tires on all 4 wheels from Meyers to Twin Bridges.

Spring-like forecast for the Lake Tahoe basin this week with a chance of precipitation over the weekend. It's going to be a warm week ahead!

Temperatures will be close to record highs and well above seasonal averages. Periods of warmth in the middle of winter are not uncommon for the Sierra and Western Nevada.

In the long-range forecast, temperatures will trend back to colder and protect the snowpack.

Forecast from the National Weather Service:

Today - Sunny, with a high near 47. East wind 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight - Clear, with a low around 18. East wind around 5 mph.

The most recent storm to hit the Lake Tahoe basin brought with it more rain than snow, but it allowed the lake to rise .20 feet which equals 7.89 billion gallons of water.

The Truckee River in Reno rose 3.71 feet and Donner Lake added 1.72 feet, or 385 million gallons of water.

Ski areas in the basin all got a boost in snow with Mt. Rose seeing the most at 16 inches. Heavenly added 4" and both Sierra-at-Tahoe and Kirkwood saw 10" added to their base.

A new storm is headed to Lake Tahoe, making its first push into Northern California and Nevada with rain and snow on Friday. Even though the storm should be a moderate sized one, significant shadowing will keep the precipitation along the Sierra crest westward, with little if any spillover from Lake Tahoe eastward.

The Lake Tahoe Basin will see more rain and snow with the next system moving in Sunday night.

Forecasters have had difficulty nailing down this system as their forecast guidance has been all over the board, according to the National Weather Service. Currently, the main core of moisture and best storm dynamics are expected to be over the southern Cascades of Oregon and the front range of Northern California. Still, decent moisture will stream into the Northern Sierra Sunday afternoon into Monday.

The snow in South Lake Tahoe on Thursday started almost exactly at the time the winter weather advisory said it would: 2 p.m. The advisory is in effect until 10:00 a.m. Friday, January 15.

Chain controls are up on all mountain roads around Lake Tahoe, and with 3-5" snow expected during the evening, expect them to stay up all night.

Chain controls as of 4:30 p.m. Thursday:

Kingsbury Grade - Chains or snow tires
Spooner Summit / Hwy 50 - Chains or snow tires
Echo Summit / Hwy 50 - Chains or 4WD with snow tires from 1.5 miles west of Kyburz to Meyers

A few weak weather systems are headed to Lake Tahoe, but they don't bring with them much of a chance for precipitation.

A weak storm will pass to the north on Monday and Tuesday with 20% chance of it leaving a little snow according to the National Weather Service.

A winter weather advisory has been issued for Lake Tahoe from 2:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 5, 2016.

The National Weather Service changed the storm from a "winter weather warning" to the advisory. Expect snow accumulations of 4-8" at lake level and 8-15" at the upper elevations. The strongest snow is forecast to begin at 4:00 a.m.

There will be some winds associated with this system with south winds gusting to 25 mph in the valleys and gusts of 80-100 on the ridges.

Bundle up if you are celebrating the new year outdoors. Wind chills will below zero in South Lake Tahoe tonight!

Here is the forecast from the National Weather Service:

Tonight - A 20 percent chance of light snow. Partly cloudy, with a low around 7. East wind around 15 mph.

New Year's Day - Mostly sunny, with a high near 23. East wind around 10 mph.

Friday Night - Partly cloudy, with a low around 8. East wind around 5 mph.

Saturday - Mostly sunny, with a high near 27. South wind around 5 mph.

Saturday Night - Mostly cloudy, with a low around 16. Southeast wind around 5 mph.

A tornado warning for parts of El Dorado and Amador counties has been lifted, but the National Weather Service reports that a tornado did touch down in El Dorado Hills near Folsom Lake and in Cameron Park.

Eric Kurth, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said the tornado touched down in the Browns Ravine area and damage was reported in the area of Hill View Hidden Acres and Mormon Island drives, south of Green Valley Road, in El Dorado Hills about 3 p.m. and moved eastward also touching down in Cameron Park.

Lake Tahoe rose almost two inches yesterday which equals 63.9 billion gallons of added water.

The National Weather Service in Reno has provided this chart on how much water actually was in yesterday's storm. As of 5 a.m. Tuesday, they report the lake rose 1.92 inches and more precipitation is expected today and Thursday.

All waterways through El Dorado County were rising on Monday, prompting local flood warnings which have now expired. Placerville received 3.08 inches of rain in this storm ad they are now at 97% of average for season to date totals.

A pattern change begins today as the Pacific storm track continues to slip southward. Areas north of the Sacramento region should see some light precipitation Thursday with increasing rain and mountain snow on Friday. By Friday night and Saturday, all of northern California will be shifting into a wetter pattern with rain or mountain snow expected during parts of every day through at least Christmas day next Friday.

In the graphic in this story, South Tahoe Now created a comparison of the last four years on December 16 from NASA images of the snowpack.

It is still a few days away, but the warnings are already being issued for a winter storm headed to the Sierra Nevada.

A winter storm warning has been issued for Lake Tahoe, starting late Wednesday day and going until Thursday night. The National Weather Service issued the warning, saying there is a potential for significant snow accumulations that may create hazardous driving conditions.

Residents and visitors in South Lake Tahoe are waking up to some very chilly temperatures with 0 degrees on the thermometer. Clear skies and no snow expected through Wednesday.

Forecast for South Lake Tahoe from the National Weather Service:

Today - Mostly sunny, with a high near 33. East wind around 5 mph.

Tonight - Mostly clear, with a low around 8. Southeast wind around 5 mph.

Sunday - Sunny, with a high near 35. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming east in the afternoon.

Sunday Night - Mostly clear, with a low around 12. South wind around 5 mph.

Ski resorts, local businesses, visitors and residents welcomed several inches of snow during Tuesday's storm, lending hope that the winter will be a good one for both outdoor sports and the South Lake Tahoe economy.

Heavenly Mountain Resort is reports 8" of new snow and they will have almost half of their runs open Wednesday. Sierra-at-Tahoe received 9" at the base, 10" at the summit and will have five lifts and 13 trails open. Over at Kirkwood, they received 16" of new snow and have four of their 15 lifts open.

The path of the next storm headed to the Lake Tahoe area is still uncertain and weather experts are keeping a close eye on the situation to keep drivers informed during one of the most heavily traveled holidays. The National Weather Service is advising motorists to be informed as snow totals are still uncertain.

The National Weather Service warning: There are uncertainties with the exact tract of a strong winter storm heading into the Sierra. The storm will drop south-southeast into Eastern California and Western Nevada Tuesday, then linger through the remainder of the week.

This just in from the National Weather Service in Reno: The next storm rolls into the Sierra late Saturday night through Sunday evening. Sunday will begin breezy, and a Lake Wind Advisory has been issued for Lake Tahoe. This system will move through the region more quickly than the last storm. Travel impacts can be expected in the Sierra from western Lassen County through the Tahoe Basin into Mono County.

Residents are waking up to a fresh layer of snow in South Lake Tahoe Monday morning, with more snow due later in the day.

Just over an inch of fresh snow fell at lake level.

As of 8:30 a.m., chain controls were lifted over Echo Summit but remain on I-80, Hwy 88 at Ham's Station,

The National Weather Service forecast says to expect more snow showers Monday morning, mainly after 10 a.m. There is even a chance for some thunder.

A fast moving low pressure system will move through Lake Tahoe, the Sierra and Western Nevada Sunday and Sunday night, bringing with it another chance of snow.

Snow could impact travel in the Sierra on Sunday and in the valleys of western Nevada by Monday. Temperatures will be cold to start the week with well below freezing overnight low temperatures throughout the region.

The National Weather Service in Reno says that South Lake Tahoe snow totals from the storm headed to the Sierra will be less than two inches.

When most of the moisture from this storm hits the area Sunday night, the snow levels will be above 9,000 feet, leaving the South Shore with rain. The Lake Tahoe Basin should expect 1" to 1.5" of rain.

Even though the snow levels will drop to near 6,000 feet by Monday morning, the bulk of the moisture from the storm will already have passed according to NWS.