Wednesday-Thursday:
Wednesday we will have mostly sunny skies with highs in the 30s, then warming a bit with 40s at the base for Thursday with sun and the chance for some high clouds. Breezy up top for Wednesday with ridgetop winds from the east up to 70+ mph in the morning and 30+ mph for the afternoon, possibly causing some upper mountain lift delays. Then lighter winds expected Thursday.
Christmas Night Storm:
The next storm may push into northern California as early as Friday afternoon with light snow showers. Then a cold front with periods of heavier snow Friday night, and snow showers lingering into Saturday morning before ending by afternoon. Increasing clouds and gusty winds through the day on Friday, with gusts up to 80+ mph up top by Friday afternoon likely affecting some upper mountain lifts.
Snow levels may initially start just above the base around 6500 ft, but falling during the evening below the base. Snow showers linger behind the cold front into Saturday morning before clearing by afternoon. Strong winds drop off through the day on Saturday.
The forecast hasn’t changed much this morning. We could see 5-9 inches of snow at the base, 9-13 inches at mid-mountain, and 11-15 inches up top by Saturday afternoon.
Sunday Night Storm:
We should see a break from Saturday afternoon through most of Sunday with colder temperatures and highs in the 20s on the mountain. The next system moves in Sunday evening/night into Monday morning bringing more snow to the mountain. This system is a closed low moving in to our south over central/southern CA and may split apart as it moves through CA. Those are not the best dynamics for heavy snow over the Tahoe Basin.
This storm is colder with all snow to the base and higher snow ratios with a more powdery snow. We could an additional 1-3 inches at the base, 2-4 inches at mid-mountain, and 3-5 inches up top by Monday afternoon. We should begin to clear out later Monday.
Long-Range:
We may see a break next Tuesday – Wednesday. The next storm is possible on New Year’s Eve, but the long-range models are still in disagreement on whether this storm tracks into northern CA or stays to our north. Stay tuned because if it tracks farther south we could see more snow for New Year’s Eve.
BA
