NOAA: Winter Storm Watch for Lake Tahoe Tomorrow | 2-12″ of Snow Forecast w/ High Snow Levels

Ok, it more or less looks like another huge amount of precipitation with high snow levels again.  There is going to be big snow, but mostly above 8,000′.

Problems:  high snow levels (up to 8,000′) and big wind (up to 95mph) leading to upper mountain wind holds and rain on lower mountains.

Solutions:  keep an eye on the higher elevation ski resorts like Mt. Rose, Kirkwood, Heavenly to get above the snow line.

NOAA has issued a Winter Storm Watch for Lake Tahoe that is forecasting 2-12″ of snow with snow levels as high as 8,000′ and winds as high as 95mph.

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: POTENTIALLY A FOOT OR MORE ABOVE 8000 FEET
  WITH 4 TO 12 INCHES BETWEEN 7000 AND 8000 FEET. 2 TO 6 INCHES
  ARE POSSIBLE BELOW 7000 FEET.

* WINDS: SOUTHWEST 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH. SIERRA
  RIDGE GUSTS UP TO 95 MPH.

* SNOW LEVELS: NEAR LAKE LEVEL ON TUESDAY THEN RISING TO ABOVE
  7500 FEET LATE TUESDAY EVENING.
- NOAA Reno, NV today

Fingers crossed for lower snow levels and lighter winds…

WINTER STORM WATCH for TAHOE:

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
338 AM PST MON DEC 12 2016

GREATER LAKE TAHOE AREA-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, TRUCKEE, STATELINE,
AND INCLINE VILLAGE

...WINTER STORM WATCH NOW IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY MORNING THROUGH
LATE TUESDAY NIGHT...

THE WINTER STORM WATCH IS NOW IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY MORNING
THROUGH LATE TUESDAY NIGHT.

* TIMING: SNOW WILL BEGIN BY LATE TUESDAY MORNING AND CONTINUE
  INTO TUESDAY NIGHT. SNOW MAY BE HEAVY AT TIMES TUESDAY AFTERNOON
  AND EVENING IN THE SIERRA.

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: POTENTIALLY A FOOT OR MORE ABOVE 8000 FEET
  WITH 4 TO 12 INCHES BETWEEN 7000 AND 8000 FEET. 2 TO 6 INCHES
  ARE POSSIBLE BELOW 7000 FEET.

* WINDS: SOUTHWEST 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH. SIERRA
  RIDGE GUSTS UP TO 95 MPH.

* SNOW LEVELS: NEAR LAKE LEVEL ON TUESDAY THEN RISING TO ABOVE
  7500 FEET LATE TUESDAY EVENING.

* IMPACTS: SNOW, HEAVY AT TIMES, MAY CREATE ICY AND SNOW
  COVERED ROADS. GUSTY WINDS OVER THE PASSES MAY RESULT IN
  LOCALIZED WHITE-OUT CONDITIONS.