South Lake Tahoe, California 7 Day Weather Forecast

Wx Forecast - Wx Discussion - Wx Aviation

476
FXUS65 KREV 142119
AFDREV

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Reno NV
219 PM PDT Fri Mar 14 2025

.KEY MESSAGES...

* Snow showers will bring bringing travel impacts and gusty
  winds to the Sierra and northeast CA through this evening.

* After a brief lull Saturday, another winter storm will move in
  with strong winds starting Sunday afternoon, then heavy Sierra
  snowfall arrives Sunday night through Monday.

* After the early week storm, chilly temperatures Tuesday will be
  followed by slight warming and periods of additional unsettled
  weather mid-late next week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

Storm through This Evening:

* High resolution guidance favors the peak snow intensity through
  mid-afternoon across the Sierra and northeast CA, then
  transitioning to isolated-scattered snow showers by late
  afternoon before ending this evening. Compared to yesterday, the
  air mass is not quite as unstable so fewer convective snow
  shower bands are expected to spread across the Sierra from
  central CA. For western NV, a few snow or pellet showers will
  continue through this afternoon, followed by isolated flurries
  into the evening with no accumulations expected. Windy
  conditions will continue into early evening, with Sierra ridge
  gusts of 70-80 mph and valley gusts 35-45 mph in most lower
  elevations, except stronger gusts in Mineral and Lyon counties.
  For more details on snowfall totals and wind impacts, refer to
  the latest Winter Weather Advisories for northeast CA and the
  Sierra, and the Wind Advisory for Mineral-S Lyon counties.

Break on Saturday, Next Storm Late Sunday into Monday:

* Saturday-Sunday morning will bring a temporary break in the
  active pattern, allowing for improved travel conditions across
  the region. Temperatures will remain below average with
  widespread cloud cover and west breezes keeping chilly
  conditions in place. Then by late Sunday, a stronger winter
  storm is set to impact the Sierra and western Nevada. Strong
  southwest winds will develop Sunday afternoon with potential for
  widespread gusts of 45-55 mph across much of western NV, and
  even higher gusts could occur through early evening.

* The wind will be followed by increasing chances for moderate to
  heavy Sierra snowfall Sunday evening into Monday. There are
  still some differences in timing and duration of this storm, but
  confidence is solid for significant winter travel impacts again
  especially from Tahoe northward with at least 80% chance for a
  foot of snow or more along the Sierra crest. More aggressive
  scenarios bring around 2 feet of snow to the crest west of
  Tahoe, although farther south into Mono County, these snow
  projections drop off to less than 1 foot. For the Tahoe basin
  northward to higher terrain above 5000-5500 feet in northeast
  CA, the most likely scenarios produce about 6-12 inches of snow.
  This storm appears to be a bit milder during peak precip
  intensity, resulting in little to no accumulating snow for
  western NV valleys, although the cold front passage may lead to
  a few snow showers toward the evening for Monday`s green-themed
  festivities. With daytime temperatures only in the 40s and brisk
  west winds, blue may be a more fitting color for the outdoor
  conditions!

Colder Than Normal Temperatures Next Week, Weaker Storms Possible:

* Following Mondays storm, Tuesday will dry out but remain chilly
  with high temperatures about 10 degrees below average colder air
  mass will settle into the region. For mid-late next week,
  temperatures will attempt a rebound to near seasonal average,
  but another weaker storm could brush across the region Wednesday
  night or Thursday, preventing any notable warmup. MJD

&&

.AVIATION...

* MVFR to IFR conditions continue with snow at the Sierra/Tahoe
  terminals with brief LIFR in heavier snow mainly thru 00Z. The
  snow will diminish to off and on -SHSN thru this evening.
  Western Nevada terminals (KRNO, KCXP, KMEV) will see mainly VFR
  conditions, though brief MVFR is possible in rain/snow showers
  mainly prior to 00Z.

* Gusty SW-W winds of 25-35 kt will continue into this evening
  across the main terminals, with winds easing up around Tahoe
  terminals prior to 03Z and between 03-06Z for far western NV.
  These wind gusts may linger overnight at KMMH. LLWS and
  widespread turbulence continue into this evening with FL100
  gusts up to 70 kt, but areas of mountain wave turbulence will
  likely continue overnight through Saturday as FL100 gusts remain
  near 40-50 kts, with surface west winds 20-25 kt across western
  NV terminals by Saturday afternoon.

* A stronger storm system Sunday afternoon into Monday will bring
  gusty southwest winds (35-50 kts), significant mountain wave
  turbulence, LLWS, and heavy Sierra snowfall, with IFR/LIFR
  conditions likely at Sierra terminals and potential impacts
  extending into western NV. MJD

&&

.AVALANCHE...

Moderate snow showers will impact the area today but will wrap up
late tonight. Mostly cloudy skies Saturday with another round of
Sierra snow Sunday night through Monday night.

* SWE, SLR, and Snow Levels: Less than 1" of SWE expected through
  the remainder of this system with SLRs between 10-12:1. Snow
  levels will remain below 4000 ft for the remainder of this system.

* Snowfall totals and rates: An additional 3-6" of snow expected
  through late tonight, with up to 8" along the highest peaks in
  the Tahoe Basin. The heaviest snowfall rates will take place
  this afternoon through early evening with rates of 1-2"/hr,
  mainly in short bursts from heavier shower bands. Rates will
  taper off during the evening.

* Ridge top gusts: Strongest wind gusts (S-SW, up to 80 mph) will
  occur this afternoon until around sunset.

-Giralte

&&

.REV Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
NV...High Wind Watch from Sunday morning through Sunday evening
     NVZ003>005.

     Winter Weather Advisory until 11 PM PDT this evening NVZ002.

     Winter Storm Watch from Sunday afternoon through Monday evening
     NVZ002.

     Wind Advisory until 8 PM PDT this evening NVZ001.

CA...High Wind Watch from Sunday morning through Sunday evening
     CAZ070.

     Winter Weather Advisory until 11 PM PDT this evening CAZ071>073.

     Winter Storm Watch from Sunday afternoon through Monday evening
     CAZ071-072.

&&

$$