Snow storms are coming to Tahoe area. How long will flurries last?

Headed to Lake Tahoe? Be sure to grab your puffer jackets and boots and pack your car chains.

Snow is expected to hit the area, according to the National Weather Service’s Reno office.

In an area forecast discussion issued at 2:14 a.m. Wednesday, the weather agency said the Sierra Nevada and Sierra foothills could see up to three snow storms through early next week.

That’s good news for anyone planning a trip to a Tahoe-area ski resort over the weekend.

A series of storms will “create likely travel impacts in the Sierra Wednesday night into Thursday followed by a wetter system Friday night into Saturday,” the weather service said on its website.

The area could see snowfall rates of one inch per hour during a four to six-hour period from 4 to 8 a.m. Thursday, weather service meteorologist Chris Johnston said.

“Basically, it’s not a good time to travel over the pass for the morning commute,” Johnston said. “We could see some troubles down here into the (Sierra) foothills surrounding Reno just with some snow showers, which might create some slick road conditions.”

“The biggest concern will be over the pass around 4 to 8 a.m.,” he added.

When will snow start falling in Lake Tahoe area?

Snow will begin falling mainly after 1 a.m. Thursday, according to the National Weather Service’s latest seven-day forecast. Snowfall accumulation will be one to two inches.

The low temperature will be around 23 degrees with south winds of 5 to 10 mph and an 80% chance of precipitation, the weather service said.

“This storm, the colder of the two systems this week, has been trending wetter over the past 48 hours,” the weather agency said in its area forecast discussion. “Snowfall will primarily impact the Sierra, with light snow showers possible down to western Nevada valleys during the Thursday morning commute.”

Snow rates will decrease by late Thursday morning, according to the weather service.

How much snow will we get?

On Thursday, snow levels will be around elevations of 4,000 to 5,000 feet, according to the National Weather Service.

Parts of the Sierra Nevada could see 4 to 8 inches of snow in total, while 1 to 4 inches of snow could fall at the lake level and in Mono County, including June Lake and Mammoth Lakes.

Western Nevada valleys could see minor snow accumulations above elevations of 5,000 to 5,500 feet.

Through the Washoe Valley western foothills and north valleys, there’s a 40 to 50% chance of a half inch of snow, the weather service said.

What else is in the weather forecast?

The Tahoe area could see winds of 30 to 35 mph early Thursday morning with gusts up to 45 mph in wind-prone areas, the weather service said, particularly through the Highway 395 corridor in Mono County.

Snow will continue Thursday, mainly before 1 p.m. with accumulations of up to 3 inches possible.

The high temperature will be 37 degrees with wind gusts up to 20 mph, while the overnight low temperature will be 17 degrees. The chance of precipitation is 80%.

After 4 a.m. Friday, there will be a 10% chance of snow showers, according to the forecast.

There’s a chance of snow showers on Friday before 4 p.m., the weather service said, and followed by a chance of rain and snow showers.

It’ll be partly sunny on Friday with a high of 43 and winds between 5 to 10 mph.

Little or no snow accumulation is expected, as the chance of precipitation is 30%.

Rain or snow is expected Friday night, most likely after 10 p.m., when snow levels drop to an elevation of 6,500 feet.

The low will be around 28 with wind gusts as high as 25 mph. There’s a 60% chance of precipitation, with expected snow accumulation of less than half an inch.

Snow levels will rise to elevations around 6,000 to 7,500 feet along the Sierra on Friday night.

Snowfall from the storm could total around 8 to 12 inches along the Sierra crest, the forecast discussion said.

Lower-elevation communities in the Sierra could see 2 to 6 inches of snow in total.

How long will storms last?

According to the weather service’s area forecast discussion, a wetter but warmer storm could produce snow in the mountains and rain with gusty winds in the valleys on Saturday.

Rain and snow is likely before 7 a.m. Saturday, followed by snow, the forecast said. The high will be 38 degrees, with an 80% chance of precipitation and new snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches.

There will mainly be spillover rainfall on Saturday, especially in the western Nevada valleys, the forecast discussion said.

Winds could reach 30 to 40 mph, in some areas, while wind-prone locations along Highway 395 through Lassen County see winds of 40 to 50 mph and gusts at Sierra ridgetops could exceed 100 mph.

More snow is expected before 10 p.m. Saturday, the forecast said, and there’s a chance of snow showers after 10 p.m. The skies will be mostly cloudy and the low will be around 15.

It’ll be mostly sunny on Sunday with a high near 42 and a low around 20.

However, there’s a slight chance of snow showers after 4 a.m. Sunday.

Rain and snow will taper off throughout Sunday with another quick-moving storm due to arrive Monday, the forecast discussion predicted.

“This storm is looking similar to our system on Thursday with a quick hit of Sierra snowfall with lower snow levels,” the weather agency said. “Early projections put about 6 inches (of snow) along the Sierra crest, which could create another round of Sierra travel impacts.”

The forecast said Monday will be mostly cloudy with a chance of snow and a high near 44.

Monday night has a chance of snow showers. It’ll be mostly cloudy with a low of 19 degrees.

Although the sun will shine again on Tuesday with a high near 40, there will be a slight chance of snow showers.

This story was originally published December 11, 2024 at 2:50 PM.