Skip to content
Palisades Tahoe Logo Palisades Tahoe Logo Palisades Tahoe Logo
Explore
Main Menu
  • Explore Palisades Tahoe
  • Base to Base Gondola
  • Our New Name
  • Explore Legendary Lifts
  • Palisades Tahoe Blog
  • About Lake Tahoe
  • About Us
Plan Your Visit
Main Menu
  • Tickets & Passes
  • Lodging
  • Lessons & Guides
  • Deals & Packages
  • Rentals & Demos
  • Travel Here
  • Getting Around
Mountain Information
Main Menu
  • Snow and Weather
  • Lift and Grooming Status
  • Webcams
  • Hours of Operation
  • Trail Maps
  • Parking & Road Conditions
  • Snowfall Tracker
Events & Activities
Main Menu
  • Events Calendar
  • Activities
  • Dining & Apres
  • Shopping
  • Things To Do In Lake Tahoe
  • Groups, Meetings & Weddings
  • Ski & Snowboard Teams
Explore
Main Menu
  • Explore Palisades Tahoe
  • Base to Base Gondola
  • Our New Name
  • Explore Legendary Lifts
  • Palisades Tahoe Blog
  • About Lake Tahoe
  • About Us
Plan Your Visit
Main Menu
  • Tickets & Passes
  • Lodging
  • Lessons & Guides
  • Deals & Packages
  • Rentals & Demos
  • Travel Here
  • Getting Around
Mountain Information
Main Menu
  • Snow and Weather
  • Lift and Grooming Status
  • Webcams
  • Hours of Operation
  • Trail Maps
  • Parking & Road Conditions
  • Snowfall Tracker
Events & Activities
Main Menu
  • Events Calendar
  • Activities
  • Dining & Apres
  • Shopping
  • Things To Do In Lake Tahoe
  • Groups, Meetings & Weddings
  • Ski & Snowboard Teams
IKON PASS HOLDER LODGING DISCOUNT

Ikon Pass holders save up to 20% on slopeside lodging at The Village at Palisades Tahoe.

SLOPESIDE LODGING
Icon / FlashCreated with Sketch.
View All Offers
  • Weather

Snow For Thursday, Bigger Storms Next Week

  • Dec 8, 2021
  • 8:14 am

Last night we did see colder air on the upper mountains and warmer at the bottom finally, but due to some cloud cover, it never got as cold as the models were showing. Temperatures cold enough for snowmaking looked to be above 8000 ft.

Wednesday Night – Thursday Storm:

We will see some clouds and sun Wednesday morning, increasing clouds and winds into the afternoon. Ridgetop winds gusting up to 60+ mph from the west. Highs in the 40s for the base and 30s for the upper mountain.

The latest forecast model runs have slowed the arrival of showers ahead of the front. We could see a few rain & snow showers reach the mountain during the afternoon, and then we could see showers increase through the evening. Snow levels start out around 7000 – 7500 feet. 

Overnight showers should increase with snow levels likely falling below the base after midnight. The heaviest snow could fall during the early morning hours into daybreak as the cold front moves through. Then scattered showers behind the front Thursday morning before clearing during the afternoon.

We could see snowfall totals of 1-4 inches at the base and 4-8 inches on the mountain by Thursday afternoon when the storm ends.

Much colder behind the front for Thursday. Highs only in the 30s at the base and 20s for the upper mountain. We could see the snowmaking fire up tonight along with the natural snow, and that could continue on the mountain through Thursday into Thursday night as the mountains can finally start to build a base and expand terrain.

Friday – Saturday:

Dry but cold for Friday into Saturday with some sun. Highs in the 30s at the base and 20s for the upper mountain. The winds are lighter Friday but increase Saturday with ridgetop gusts to 70+ mph from the southwest by afternoon. That will make for cold wind chills on the mountain. Snowmaking could continue around the clock on the upper mountain.

Sunday – Monday Storm:

There is not agreement on timing and snowfall amounts among the forecast models yet, but there is agreement and consistency that significant snowfall will happen which is building confidence in a big storm for some time Sunday into Tuesday.

A deep trough is going to dig south along the West Coast Sunday into Monday. The trough will be bringing down more cold air which is going to help keep snow levels low with this storm. Initially, a front moves into northern CA on Sunday and could almost stall. Ridgetop winds could increase to 100 mph.

Some models are showing only light showers making it into the Tahoe Basin Sunday into Sunday night, or and some models are showing steady snow arriving as early as Sunday morning. An area of low pressure will be slowly moving south down the coast through Tuesday. The next wave that rotates in Monday into Monday night is the one that could bring heavy snow.

We will have to iron out the timing and total snowfall amounts as we get closer. The snow levels don’t look to be an issue right now and should stay below the base. Hopefully, that doesn’t change. Upper mountain snow:water ratios could be running at 12:1 or better, with 9-11:1 for the lower elevations. Initial estimates for total snowfall by Tuesday morning are 2-3 feet at the base and 3-5 feet on the mountain.

Tuesday Snow:

The final wave could move in Tuesday with snow continuing. The average of the models suggest that an additional foot or two could be added to the totals, but we need to get the whole storm into the 5-day window tomorrow to get a better idea of potential storm totals through Tuesday night.

Long-Range:

The forecast models diverge some starting next Wednesday. Some forecast models suggest additional systems for Wednesday – Friday, while a few suggest these systems stay to our north. So we will have to see if we will add more snow to the forecast later next week.

The long-range models are showing high pressure for the weekend of the 18th – 19th. We could see sunny and cold weather behind the storms. The mountain may have enough natural snow by then to open the entire mountain if everything works out just right next week, but if not snowmaking should be able to continue.

Then the models suggest we could see troughing again during the week of the 20th. That could allow additional storms into the West Coast. Stay tuned as winter finally gets going!

BA

lake tahoe weather palisades tahoe weather forecast snowfall forecast
Bryan Allegretto
Bryan Allegretto

Share this article:

Recent Posts

  • Weather ·
  • March 28, 2023·

Snow & Strong Winds Tuesday

Tuesday  – Wednesday Storm: Snow showers are pushing in Tuesday morning, with heavier snow expected later in the morning into…
Read more
  • Weather ·
  • March 27, 2023·

Snowstorm Tuesday, Snow Showers Wed-Sun

Monday: Monday will start out sunny with highs in the 30s at the base and 20s up top. Some high…
Read more
  • Weather ·
  • March 26, 2023·

Storms Continue into Next Weekend

Sunday Weather: We are starting the day Sunday with some scattered snow showers still around and temperatures in the teens.…
Read more

Social

Instagram Twitter Facebook Youtube

Contact

   Email Us
   1.800.403.0206

Our Partners

U.S. Forest Service Logo
1960 Olympic Valley Road
Olympic Valley, CA 96146

©2022 Palisades Tahoe

Alterra Mountain Company
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Photo Upload Terms of Use
  • Accessibility
  • Do Not Sell My Personal Information
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Photo Upload Terms of Use
  • Accessibility
  • Do Not Sell My Personal Information