Storm could bring Sierra Nevada snowpack to ‘near-normal’ levels. When will it hit Tahoe?

Heavy snow and strong winds are in the forecast for the Tahoe area that could potentially create dangerous highway and mountain conditions, the National Weather Service said.

A winter storm warning is in effect through Thursday night for much of the mountains as a storm system is forecast to bring new snowfall to the Sierra Nevada, according to the weather service.

Several feet of snow is expected during the early spring system, which could bring 2025 snowpack levels to “near-normal,” according to Gigi Giralte, a meteorologist with the weather service’s Reno, Nevada office.

High winds could create whiteout conditions during the storm’s peak times, making travel in the mountains difficult, Giralte said.

How much snow will Tahoe receive? When?

Much of the Sierra is expected to see between 1 and 3 feet of snow, while high-elevation peaks of the Tahoe basin could receive up to 4 feet, according to Giralte.

The weather service is putting the Greater Lake Tahoe area under a winter storm warning starting at 11 p.m. Tuesday and lasting through 11 p.m. Thursday.

The weather service forecast indicates snowfall could start after 5 a.m. Wednesday and continue through Thursday night.

Giralte said the storm’s peak hours are forecast between 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. Wednesday, when snow could fall at a rate of up to 4 inches per hour. Winds could reach 70 mph over the mountain ridge, she said.

Two smaller systems are expected to pass through the Sierra Nevada after the large initial storm, according to Giralte.

Additional snowfall is expected on Friday after a brief break overnight Thursday and a Sunday snowstorm after break on Saturday.

John Rice, president and CEO of Ski California, said in an email to The Bee that the organization is hopeful the heavy snow could bring this year’s snowpack to normal levels or more.

“The snowpack typically supplies nearly a third of the state’s water supply in the form of water storage,” Rice wrote. “We welcome these storm events for spring skiing and for our state water supply.”

Are snowstorms in March normal?

Early spring snow is “becoming the new normal” in the Sierra, according to Giralte. Snow systems in recent years have been particularly heavy in March, she said.

Rice said ski resorts in the Sierra “always look forward to March, as historically it can be a big producer of snow.”

Weather service historical data shows March had the highest snowfall amounts for the Tahoe area in four of the last seven years.

Are road closures expected?

The California and Nevada transportation agencies had not announced highway or lane closures on mountain roads as of Tuesday.

However, Giralte said travelers could expect chain controls or road closures across mountain paths, particularly during heavy snowfall.

The weather service encourages drivers to complete travel over the Sierra Nevada before 11 a.m. Wednesday to avoid delays of “several hours.”

Travelers can monitor road conditions and closures in the Lake Tahoe area on the CalTrans QuickMap and on Nevada 511.

Is there an avalanche risk?

As of Tuesday morning, the Sierra Avalanche Center said there was a “moderate” risk of avalanche due to loose wet snow.

The Sierra Avalanche Center measures the risk of danger in the Sierra Nevada backcountry on a scale of one to five, with one representing a “low” risk and five presenting an “extreme” risk.

Tuesday’s forecast was at a level two risk.

The avalanche center expects the danger level to rise to level three on Wednesday, which is a “considerable” danger to humans.

As of Tuesday, the Sierra Avalanche Center had not predicted the risk of an avalanche during the storm’s peak or after it.

People are advised to monitor the avalanche center’s website if they are planning on doing backcountry skiing or snowboarding in the new snowfall.

If you’re planning on doing snow sports at a Tahoe-area resort or ski area, Rice shared these tips for safely skiing or riding in deep snow:

• Respect all trail closures and signs

• Always ski or ride with a buddy and stay in sight of each other

• Carry resort information and tools

• Avoid tree wells

You can find more tips for safe deep-snow skiing on the Ski California website.

What does the forecast say for the mountains?

The weather service’s Reno office forecasts South Lake Tahoe to be sunny on Tuesday, with a high near 48 and a low around 33.

Snow is expected to start after 2 a.m. Wednesday, with up to 2 inches expected during the day. The lakeside city could see 11 inches of new snow in the overnight hours.

The high Wednesday is forecast to be around 41 with a low of 23. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph during the day.

The weather service said Thursday could bring up to 3 inches of snow, and showers are expected to end before 11 p.m.

Temperatures on Thursday are forecast at a high of 30 and a low of 20.

Friday has a high chance of daytime snowfall up to 3 inches, with a high temperature at 34 and low around 23.

Camila Pedrosa

The Sacramento Bee

Camila Pedrosa is the California Diversions Reporter at The Sacramento Bee. She previously worked on The Bee’s service journalism team and was a summer reporting intern for The Bee in 2024. She graduated from Arizona State University with a master’s degree in mass communication.