The snow is expected to be heavy this week at Tahoe ski resorts, where 2-4 feet could drop.
The National Weather Service (NWS) is forecasting a major winter storm that should impact the Lake Tahoe area in a big way Tuesday through Thursday (Jan. 17). High winds, heavy snowfall, and blizzard-like conditions are all in the NWS forecast.
“A series of storms will move through the region this week with the strongest storm impacting the region late Wednesday through Thursday,” according to the NWS. “Several feet of snow are possible above 8,000 feet with up to 2 feet of accumulation down to 6,000 feet in the Sierra.”
Opensnow California Snow Forecaster Bryan Allegretto is predicting 2-4 feet of snow by Thursday evening. Like the NWS, Allegretto believes the hardest snowfall will take place between Wednesday and Thursday.
“Wednesday we could see more light to moderate snow with snow levels increasing to 6,500 feet, and ridgetop winds increasing to 65-plus mph,” Allegretto wrote. “Then Wednesday night, heavy snow pushes in with snow levels rising to 7,000 to 7,500 feet and then falling to 6,000 feet by Thursday morning. We could see an additional 12-27 inches of snow on the mountains by Thursday morning.
Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows received just 1 inch overnight on Monday. However, the resort says it could get 5-6 feet of snow by Friday morning. For the 2018-19 season, Squaw Valley has accumulated 164 inches. The resort’s average January snowfall is 70 inches and it already had 65 by Tuesday morning.
That intensity of the midweek storm has the potential to create some significant travel headaches on the region’s roads and mountain passes. Expect travel over Interstate 80 to be very treacherous and also extremely hazardous on Highway 50 heading into South Lake Tahoe.
Blizzard conditions are possible in the mountains Thursday when the NWS says the stretch between Wednesday and Thursday could result in 2-4 feet of snow in the mountains. The NWS says ridge gusts of 60-80 mph may take place Wednesday and possibly increase to more than 100 mph Thursday.
Chances of rain and snow will persist Friday and Saturday, according to the weather service. Friday and Saturday appear to be the best days this week for skiing and snowboarding. Allegretto is forecasting light snow throughout Sunday.
