sierra

Could the strong high pressure system that's been over Northern California and Northern Nevada finally show signs of weakening and could snow return to the Sierra?

Temperatures will remain above average after a weekend that saw record high temperatures. Saturday's 61, Sunday's 58 both broke records, and Monday's forecast of a high of 53 is close to the record 54 from 2012.

Kirkwood Mountain Resort has been fined $754,732 after their snow removal practices resulted in asphalt pavement grindings to get into drainages that flow into Kirkwood Creek and Kirkwood Meadows during the winter of 2015-16.

The financial settlement was with the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board over the alleged violations of the federal Clean Water Act, the Board announced on December 28.

With no storms are on the horizon and snow-making operations ramped up, both Heavenly Mountain Resort and Northstar California have unwrapped more terrain for holiday skiers and riders, and they are joined by other area resorts with plenty to do for holiday visitors.

Abundant mid and high clouds and periods of gusty winds in the high Sierra are expected through the weekend, leaving Lake Tahoe with party sunny conditions for Christmas. Abundant mid and high clouds and periods of gusty winds in the high Sierra are expected through the weekend.

A very weak system is passing through Northeastern California and Northern Nevada next week, and with it comes a very slight chance of snow coming into the Lake Tahoe Basin, but more precipiation will be staying near the Oregon border.

The following are the 78 incidents the South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue and Cal-Tahoe JPA ambulances responded to from Dec. 11 - Dec. 19, 2017.

12/11

00:24 - 1500 block of Black Bart Ave - EMS call, excluding vehicle accident with injury
09:17 - 900 block of Modesto Ave - Public service assistance, other
15:18 - 400 block of Ala Wai Blvd - Smoke detector activation, no fire unintentional
15:21 - 1300 block of Johnson Blvd - EMS call, excluding vehicle accident with injury
15:20 - 3600 block of Spruce Ave - EMS call, excluding vehicle accident with injury

For seven years the South Lake Tahoe Moose Lodge 1632 has supplied boxes of food supplies for local families in need, and this year will be no different.

This week, members of the lodge will deliver 50 decorated boxes, each packed full of a ham, vegetables, canned goods, pasta, potatoes, bread, tortillas and everything else needed to feed a family a big holiday meal, and then more for leftovers.

This year's recipients will be selected by the Family Resource Center.

A quick moving, weak weather system will affect the area Friday night through Saturday morning bringing very light snowfall across the region. The inversions we've seen in the Reno-Tahoe area are likely to strengthen again early next week before a cold front moves through in the middle of next week and breaks them down.

A weak ridge will be in place early next week which will again provide dry conditions, light winds, and the valley inversions. However, models do continue to show a potential for a more potent slider type system on Wednesday.

All winter long, Sierra at Tahoe and Lake Tahoe Aleworx are sponsoring Sierra Cinemas, movies under the stars and next to the fire pits at The Crossing in South Lake Tahoe.

This Saturday, December 16, there are two movies for everyone of all ages to enjoy for free. Sierra Avalanche Dogs will be the beneficiary of fundraising efforts during the evening.

Starting at 5:00 p.m., "Christmas Vacation" by National Lampoon will be on the screen, followed by “Tight Loose” by Teton Gravity Research.

The following are the 140 incidents the South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue and Cal-Tahoe JPA ambulances responded to from Nov. 22 - Dec. 10, 2017.

11/22
07:54 - 1200 block of Monument Dr - Assist invalid
09:15 - Barton Hospital - Interfacility Transfer
16:48 - 4000 block of Azure Ave - Arcing, shorted electrical equipment
18:59 - 3900 block of Saddle Rd - EMS call, excluding vehicle accident with injury
21:03 - 1800 block of Venice Dr - Smoke detector activation, no fire unintentional

11/23

EpicPromise grants and donations were given away on Wednesday to dozens of non-profits who serve the communities around both Heavenly Mountain Resort and Kirkwood.

Grants and donations are given by Vail Resorts in all of the communities where they have operations and go to programs who serve youth or environmental initiatives.

This year's recipients:

Alpine County Unified School District
Alpine Watershed Group
American Youth Soccer Association #282
Austin's House
Barton Memorial Hospital Foundation (3)
Boys and Girls Club of Lake Tahoe
Bread & Broth
CASA El Dorado

The rerouting of a 1.3 mile section of the joint Tahoe Rim Trail and Pacific Crest Trail near Echo Summit has been proposed in order to move hikers away from the noisy highway and instead traverse the far side of a ridge that offers more pristine views and less traffic noise.

This will be a partnership between the Tahoe Rim Trail Association (TRTA), the Pacific Crest Trail Association (PCTA), the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit and the Eldorado National Forest.

The Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team (TFFT) will continue prescribed fire operations over the next several weeks, weather permitting. Lake Valley, North Lake Tahoe and Tahoe Douglas fire protection districts, California State Parks, California Tahoe Conservancy and the U.S. Forest Service will conduct prescribed fire operations in multiple areas around Lake Tahoe. Smoke may be present.

A. Airport East - 1 acre
B. West 1st Creek - 25 acres
C. Diamond Peak Ski Area - 23 acres
D. Champagne Rd - 9 acres
E. Dale Drive - 1 acre
F. Cave Rock Area - 5 acres
G. Upper Kingsbury - 3 acres

The longstanding tradition of a decorated fire engine continues in South Lake Tahoe as the SLT Fire Rescue team sets out on nightly travels through neighborhoods December 10-24. Each nigh the South Lake Tahoe Christmas Engine will leave Station 3 at the Y at 5:00 p.m. and the firefighters will be passing out candy canes to everyone who comes out to see them!

Sunday December 10 - Keys/Venice Blvd
Monday December 11 - Glenwood area
Tuesday December 12 - Keys Blvd/State streets
Wednesday December 13 - Barton/Tahoe Island park
Thursday December 14 - South Y / Tata Lane area

The grand hall at MontBleu Casino Resort has been turned into a holiday paradise, a winter wonderland with the main attraction being the specialty Christmas trees.

On Thursday, local celebrities and media strolled by each of the designer trees, selecting those that won top honors of Most Elegant, Best Theme, Most Creative and Best of Show.

The excellent work on each made it almost impossible to come up with a winner, but four were chosen after much deliberation. Each tree will be paired with a special prize package during a live auction at Saturday's Gala.

Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless is grateful to the Sierra Health Foundation for awarding a grant of $15,000 for the operation of the South Lake Tahoe Warm Room in 2017-2018. The Sierra Health Foundation is an independent foundation committed to supporting health-related activities in Northern California. The South Lake Tahoe Warm Room is an overnight emergency shelter that operates only during the winter months in our community.

The forecasted storm hit the Lake Tahoe area starting Sunday evening, and is now moving on. A Winter Storm Advisory is in place until 10:00 a.m. Monday. The week ahead should be clear and sunny and cold with a new storm coming in next Saturday.

As of 8:30 a.m. the following chain controls are in place. For up to the minute reports, visit http://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/ in California and http://nvroads.com/ in Nevada.

Twin Bridges to Meyers on Highway 50

Very mild conditions will prevail through Saturday with a few record high temperatures possible. Things will start changing Saturday ahead of a strong cold front which will bring snow to the Sierra and northeast California Sunday and Sunday night.

The National Weather Service has issued a High Wind Watch for Lake Tahoe on Saturday, November 25, 2017 from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. as a potent Pacific storm moves inland, bringing rain and mountain snow along with those gusty winds.

Three skiers in the Hourglass Bowl area on Tamarack Peak near Mt. Rose triggered a 600 foot long avalanche around 10:45 a.m. Thursday. Nobody was seriously injured though two of the party were slammed into trees and rocks according to the Sierra Avalanche Center.

Heavy new snow was falling rapidly at the time. The avalanche was about three feet deep and 200 feet wide.

A group of 4 or 5 were skiing in the area, with three of them involved in the slide. Two of the skiers lost their skis and another had a possible broken ankle.

The temperatures started dropping early this evening, turning the rain to snow and chain controls are now in place on several highways around Lake Tahoe.

At 6:49 p.m. Thursday, R2 controls went into effect from Meyers to Twin Bridges. Chains or traction devices are required on all vehicles except four wheel/ all wheel drive vehicles with snow-tread tires on all four wheels. (Four wheel/all wheel drive vehicles must carry traction devices in chain control areas).

11:20PM Update: The power outages, which occurred at 10:01 p.m. still affect over 14,000 customers of NV Energy. The estimated time of restoration is 12:45 a.m. Thursday.

* * *
Many NV Energy customers in Incline Village, much of the Douglas County portion at Lake Tahoe and Carson City are currently without power. 14,207 homes and businesses are affected.

A winter storm is currently passing through the Sierra with high winds and rain at lake level, gusts over 100 mph and heavy snow over the passes. The winter storm warning is in effect until 4:00 a.m. Friday, November 17.

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is testing their avalanche control above Highway 50 and Echo Summit on Tuesday, November 14. Some cannons were tested during the morning and another set will be tested in early afternoon.

Some loud booms will be heard around the South Shore during testing.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE - The following is a recap of activity the South Lake Tahoe Police Department responded to 418 calls between October 23 - November 5, 2017.

Calls Resulting in Arrests/Citations:

10/23 - 24 Total Calls

Transient Homeless in the 2600 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd
Warrant in the 1900 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd
Resisting in the 1200 block of Bonanza
Warrant in the 3900 block of Pioneer Trail

10/24 - 23 Total Calls

Suspicious Activity in the 1000 block of Emerald Bay Rd

The Friends of the Library present Sierra Strings of Tahoe for an afternoon of music to usher in winter and the holiday season. This locally celebrated group will enchant you with a variety of songs. Free and open to all ages, light refreshments provided.

Location

There are slick roads Thursday morning as rain is falling at lake level and snow fluctuating above 7,000 feet.

The California Highway Patrol is reporting a jackknifed big rig on SR-88 just west of Silver Lake near Tragedy Springs Road. The truck is blocking the west bound lane and part of the east bound lane. Crews are on the scene of the incident which was reported at 7:43 a.m.

Chain controls are up east of Kirkwood on SR-88.