Blizzard warning issued for Lake Tahoe region

The National Weather Service has issued a blizzard warning for the Lake Tahoe area, effective from 8 a.m. Thursday to 4 a.m. Friday.

Included are the cities of South Lake Tahoe, Truckee, Stateline and Incline Village.

Strong winds and heavy snowfall rates will cause whiteout conditions with blowing snow, the statement warns. Total snow accumulations of 2 to 5 feet are forecast in the high Sierra, at elevations above 7,000 feet, with 1 to 3 feet of snow at the 6,000 foot level, including the Lake Tahoe Basin.

Motorists are warned that travel will be difficult to impossible in the area, especially Thursday into Friday morning, with the potential for significant reductions in visibility. High winds also are likely to damage trees and power lines.

This story was originally published February 28, 2018 at 7:07 PM with the headline "Blizzard warning issued for Lake Tahoe region."