A series of winter weather events will hit Tahoe this week, right on time for the start of ski season. Look for snow by Tuesday night, followed by a potential of a 'foot or two' of snow at lake level by the end of the week. Daytime temperatures around Tahoe will hit 50 ahead of the front on Monday, and drop into the upper 30's by Wednesday. Overnight lows will remain in the upper 20's.

The National Weather Service has issued the following Special Weather Statement:

454 AM PST MON NOV 16 2009

...TWO STORMS WILL AFFECT THE SIERRA...NORTHEAST CALIFORNIA AND WESTERN NEVADA THIS WEEK...

A FAST MOVING AND WEAK SYSTEM WILL AFFECT THE SIERRA TUESDAY NIGHT. A SECOND MUCH STRONGER SYSTEM WILL IMPACT THE SIERRA AND VALLEYS OF NORTHEAST CALIFORNIA AND WESTERN NEVADA THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY.

...SNOW ACCUMULATIONS...

TUESDAY NIGHT...EXPECT 1 TO 2 INCHES IN THE LAKE TAHOE BASIN AND NEAR FREDONYER SUMMIT WITH 2 TO 4 INCHES ABOVE 7000 FEET IN THE TAHOE BASIN.

LOWER WESTERN NEVADA VALLEYS AND THE HIGHWAY 395 CORRIDOR WILL SEE LITTLE IF ANY ACCUMULATION. THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY... SIGNIFICANT SNOW IS POSSIBLE IN THE SIERRA. A FOOT OR 2 OF SNOW IS POSSIBLE AT LAKE LEVEL WITH SEVERAL FEET AT HIGHER ELEVATIONS. LOWER VALLEY LOCATIONS INCLUDING HIGHWAY 395...I-80 AND HIGHWAY 50 COULD PICK UP SEVERAL INCHES OF SNOW FRIDAY.

...TRAVEL IMPACTS...

TRAVELERS OVER THE SIERRA PASSES AND AROUND THE TAHOE BASIN SHOULD EXPECT SLICK CONDITIONS TUESDAY NIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY MORNING. FOR THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY IT IS LIKELY THAT HEAVY SNOW AND GUSTY WINDS WILL AFFECT THE SIERRA. FRIDAY COMMUTES IN VALLEY LOCATIONS COULD BE IMPACTED BY SNOW AND SLICK ROADS AS WELL.

Read the Special Weather Statement.

Tahoe City/Lake Tahoe Forecast as of Monday morning:

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 51. South wind between 5 and 10 mph.

Monday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 30. South wind around 5 mph.

Tuesday: A slight chance of rain after 10am. Snow level 7200 feet. Increasing clouds, with a high near 49. South wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Tuesday Night: Snow. Low around 30. Southwest wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 40. West wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Wednesday Night: A slight chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 27. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Thursday: A slight chance of rain and snow. Snow level 6500 feet. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 41. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Thursday Night: Snow. Cloudy, with a low around 29.

Friday: Snow. Cloudy, with a high near 32.

Friday Night: A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 27.

Source: NWS Reno.

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