NOAA has issued a Winter Storm Warning for Lake Tahoe, CA. Higher elevations could see as much as 8-12″ of snow with 2-12″ in the Tahoe basin. Snow levels will be as low (down to 4,500) with fast moving system.
NOAA is calling for snowfall rates to be 1-2″ of snow per hour with this storm.
SNOWFALL RATES OF 1 TO 2 INCHES PER HOUR ARE POSSIBLE.
– NOAA Reno
Winter Weather Advisory
URGENT – WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
* TIMING: STRONG GUSTY SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL MOVE INTO THE REGION THURSDAY MORNING…WITH PEAK WINDS EXPECTED FROM MIDDAY THROUGH LATE AFTERNOON. SNOW IS LIKELY TO BEGIN LATE THURSDAY AFTERNOON OR EARLY EVENING…LASTING THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT…WITH THE HEAVIEST SNOW IN THE EVENING.
* WIND: SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST WINDS 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 55 MPH. GUSTS ON RIDGES OF 90 TO 115 MPH.
* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: 2 TO 6 INCHES AT LAKE LEVEL. 6 TO 12 INCHES ALONG THE SIERRA CREST INCLUDING AROUND DONNER AND ECHO PASSES. SNOW MAY BRIEFLY MIX WITH RAIN AT LAKE LEVEL THURSDAY AFTERNOON.
* IMPACTS: HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR STRONG GUSTY WINDS. BOATERS ON LAKE TAHOE ARE ADVISED TO AVOID GOING ONTO THE LAKE THURSDAY AS WATER CONDITIONS WILL BE ROUGH. WAVES UP TO 4-6 FEET ARE EXPECTED. SNOW ACCUMULATIONS ARE LIKELY BY LATE THURSDAY AFTERNOON OR EARLY EVENING ON ROADS SUCH AS I-80 AND HIGHWAY 50. EXPECT DELAYS AND CHAIN CONTROLS.
