A powerful late-season storm is moving through the Sierra Nevada, bringing significant snowfall and dangerous wind conditions to mountain areas across Northern California and the Lake Tahoe region through Thursday morning.
The National Weather Service has issued Winter Weather Advisories for multiple zones, with impacts expected to persist until 8am PDT Thursday. Ski resorts across the range stand to benefit from fresh snow, though the storm comes with serious hazards that will affect travel and on-mountain conditions.
Above 6,000 feet on the West Slope of the Northern Sierra Nevada, including Donner Pass, forecasters are calling for 6 to 12 inches of total snow accumulation, with locally higher totals over peaks. Wind gusts up to 55 mph are expected, with snow levels dropping from 6,500 to 7,000 feet down to 5,500 to 6,500 feet by Wednesday evening.
The Lake Tahoe area is looking at some of the most significant accumulations in the region. Along the Sierra crest, forecasters are projecting 6 to 12 inches of new snow for Wednesday through Thursday morning, with 4 to 8 inches west of Highway 89. Even lake-level locations could see 1 to 3 inches. Wind gusts of 45 to 55 mph are forecast in Sierra valleys, and ridgetop gusts could reach a dangerous 100 mph. Wave heights on Lake Tahoe itself may reach 3 to 6 feet. The strongest winds are anticipated Wednesday night between 8pm and 5am.
Further south, Yosemite and the Upper San Joaquin River area are facing a 60 to 70 percent probability of 6 or more inches of snow, along with a 70 to 80 percent probability of wind gusts exceeding 55 mph. Whiteout conditions are possible.
Travelers heading to any Sierra resort should check road conditions through Caltrans at quickmap.dot.ca.gov or by dialing 511 before departing.
