Christmas Storm:
Increasing clouds and winds through the day on Friday, with gusts up to 70+ mph up top Friday morning & 80+ mph for the afternoon, likely affecting some upper mountain lifts. Highs in the 30s on the mountain to near 40 degrees at the base.
The next storm moves into northern California Friday afternoon, but light snow showers could break out ahead of the storm in the morning, with steadier snow showers moving in later in the day. Then a cold front with a period of heavier snow is possible Friday night, and snow showers lingering into Saturday morning before ending. Snow levels may initially start just above the base around 6500 ft, but falling during the evening below the base.
Not much change to the forecast this morning. Here is the final snowfall forecast for this storm. We could now see 3-6 inches of snow at the base, 6-9 inches at mid-mountain, and 7-11 inches up top by Saturday morning when the snowfall ends.
Strong winds Saturday morning drop off through the day with clearing skies through the afternoon. Highs only in the 20s on the upper mountain and 30s at the base.
Sunday Night Storm:
We should see a break in the action through most of Sunday with increasing clouds & colder temperatures. Highs in the 20s on the mountain and 30s at the base. South/southwest winds gusting up to 30 mph up top.
The next system moves in Sunday evening and lasts into Monday morning bringing the chance for light snow showers. This system is a closed low moving in to our south over central/southern CA with the heaviest snowfall staying to the south.
This storm is colder with all snow to the base and higher snow ratios with a more powdery snow up top. We could an additional 1-3 inches at the base, and 2-4 inches on the mountain by Monday morning. We begin to clear out Monday afternoon with a few scattered snow showers still possible. Cold with highs in the 20s on the mountain to around 30 degrees at the base.
Tuesday – Wednesday:
Expecting a drier pattern for Tue – Wed behind the Monday system. Mostly sunny skies Tuesday with highs in the 20s on the upper mountain, warming into the 30s at the base by Wednesday. Wednesday we could see increasing clouds ahead of the next storm approaching.
Long-Range:
The next storm could possibly move in for New Year’s Eve, but the long-range models are still in disagreement on whether this storm tracks into northern CA or stays just to the north of the Tahoe Basin. Stay tuned all week as we fine-tune the forecast for this system.
The pattern may remain active with additional storms moving through northern CA through the 1st week of January.
BA
