Just when you thought it couldn’t get any deeper after January’s historic and record breaking accumulations, another atmospheric river is on deck with some serious snow in the forecast for Lake Tahoe.
Related:Â Welcome To The White Room | DEEP Snow Returns To The Sierra + Northern Rockies
According to NOAA, February is going to start with bang with up to 3 feet predicted above 7000ft. Those snow levels should drop to lake level by Friday evening, making for a weekend to remember in the Tahoe area.
“Pacific storm systems will work their way towards the California coast and bring moderate to heavy rain back to central and northern California, and also Oregon. 1 to 3 inches of rain is possible in these areas, with up to 3 feet of snow in the mountains.” weather.gov
In addition to the snow, models are also calling for ridge gusts of up to 90+ mph and waves on Lake Tahoe reaching 3 feet in height. Those swells will likely be isolated to the northern and northeast shores.
*If the mountain closes due to avy danger, break out the surfboard.Â
Winter Storm Warning
GREATER LAKE TAHOE AREA- 502 AM PST WED FEB 1 2017
…WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM THURSDAY TO 4 AM PST SATURDAY ABOVE 6500 FEET…
* TIMING: SNOW WILL MOVE INTO THE SIERRA LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT… BECOMING MODERATE TO HEAVY THURSDAY MORNING. SNOW IS EXPECTED TO DECREASE SUBSTANTIALLY IN INTENSITY THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING BEFORE BECOMING MODERATE TO HEAVY AGAIN FOR LATE THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY.
* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: 1 TO 3 FEET ABOVE 7000 FEET…HIGHEST ALONG THE SIERRA CREST…WITH 6 TO 12 INCHES FROM 6500 TO 7000 FEET AND UP TO 6 INCHES DOWN TO LAKE LEVEL.
* WINDS: SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST 10 TO 20 WITH GUSTS TO 35 MPH. RIDGE GUSTS UP TO 90 MPH.
* WAVE HEIGHTS ON LAKE TAHOE: 1 TO 3 FEET…WITH THE HIGHEST WAVES FROM MID LAKE TO NORTH AND NORTHEAST SHORES.
* SNOW LEVELS: RISING TO AROUND 7000 FEET THURSDAY AFTERNOON. SNOW LEVELS WILL FALL TO AROUND 6500 FEET FRIDAY, THEN TO LAKE LEVEL FRIDAY NIGHT.
* IMPACTS: TRAVEL WILL BECOME DIFFICULT DUE TO SNOW COVERED ROADS AND LOW VISIBILITY ACROSS SIERRA PASSES…ESPECIALLY THURSDAY MORNING TO EARLY AFTERNOON AND AGAIN LATE THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY. AVALANCHE RISK MAY INCREASE WITH DANGEROUS CONDITIONS POSSIBLE FOR BACK COUNTRY ACTIVITIES.