Snow showers Saturday morning will intensify as a strong and moist Pacific system heads into the Sierra Saturday. Heavy snow, up to 2" per hour is possible late Saturday, creating whiteout conditions and dangerous travel. The NWS has issued the following Winter Storm Warning.

Winter Storm Warning
407 AM PST SAT DEC 12 2009

...WINTER STORM WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM PST SUNDAY...

THE WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW IS NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM PST SUNDAY.

* TIMING: SNOWFALL WILL BECOME WIDESPREAD THIS MORNING...BECOMING HEAVY AT TIMES THROUGH LATE TONIGHT.

* TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: 1 TO 2 FEET AT LAKE LEVEL WITH 2 TO 4 FEET ABOVE 7000 FEET. THE HIGHEST AMOUNTS WILL OCCUR ALONG THE WEST SHORE OF LAKE TAHOE.

* WINDS: SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST WINDS 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH TODAY BELOW RIDGES. RIDGE GUSTS UP TO 90 MPH THROUGH TONIGHT.

Read the complete Winter Storm Warning.

Current Pacific Satellite Image

Tahoe City/Lake Tahoe Short Term Forecast
Updated: 3:50am PST Dec 12, 2009

Saturday: Snow. High near 37. Southwest wind around 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 5 to 9 inches possible.

Saturday Night: Snow. Low around 26. Southwest wind around 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 9 to 13 inches possible.

Sunday: Snow showers, mainly before 10am. High near 36. Breezy, with a southwest wind between 15 and 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.

Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of snow showers, mainly before 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 22. West wind between 5 and 10 mph.

Source: NWS Reno.

Three Day Forecast