Weather
Two days ago, NOAA was forecasting 15-24″ of snow for Lake Tahoe from the current storm. Today, NOAA is forecasting 10-18″ of snow above 7,000-feet with very high winds. A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for the Sierra Nevada until 7pm this evening.
This storm is still very potent packing 100mph winds, and snowfall rates forecast to be as high as 2-3″ today.
SNOW WILL BEGIN THIS MORNING WITH THE HEAVIEST SNOW ANTICIPATED BETWEEN 10 AM AND 4 PM. SNOWFALL RATES DURING THIS PERIOD COULD REACH 2 TO 3 INCHES PER HOUR. - NOAA Reno, NV today
NOAA is forecasting 6-14″ of snow below 7000-feet and 10-18″ of snow above 7,000-feet.
* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: ABOVE 7000 FEET...10 TO 18 INCHES. BELOW
7000 FEET...6 TO 10 INCHES WITH UP TO 14 INCHES POSSIBLE
WEST OF HIGHWAY 89. - NOAA Reno, NV today
Snow levels will be down to Lake Tahoe level (6,400′).
* SNOW LEVELS: NEAR LAKE TAHOE LEVEL THIS MORNING...FALLING TO ALL VALLEY FLOORS BY THIS AFTERNOON. - NOAA Reno, NV today
Winds are already gusting to 100mph at 8,700-feet at Squaw Valley.
* WINDS: SOUTHWEST 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 55 MPH IN VALLEYS WITH RIDGE GUSTS UP TO 125 MPH. THE STRONGEST WINDS ARE EXPECTED THIS MORNING THROUGH INTO EARLY AFTERNOON. - NOAA Reno, NV today
Mammoth and Yosemite have less snow forecast than Tahoe but will still see solid amounts of snow and wind.
WINTER STORM WARNING for CALIFORNIA:
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV 349 AM PST SUN DEC 13 2015 GREATER LAKE TAHOE AREA- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...SOUTH LAKE TAHOE...TAHOE CITY... TRUCKEE...MARKLEEVILLE...GLENBROOK...INCLINE VILLAGE ...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM PST THIS EVENING... * TIMING: SNOW WILL BEGIN THIS MORNING WITH THE HEAVIEST SNOW ANTICIPATED BETWEEN 10 AM AND 4 PM. SNOWFALL RATES DURING THIS PERIOD COULD REACH 2 TO 3 INCHES PER HOUR. * SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: ABOVE 7000 FEET...10 TO 18 INCHES. BELOW 7000 FEET...6 TO 10 INCHES WITH UP TO 14 INCHES POSSIBLE WEST OF HIGHWAY 89. * WINDS: SOUTHWEST 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 55 MPH IN VALLEYS WITH RIDGE GUSTS UP TO 125 MPH. THE STRONGEST WINDS ARE EXPECTED THIS MORNING THROUGH INTO EARLY AFTERNOON. * SNOW LEVELS: NEAR LAKE TAHOE LEVEL THIS MORNING...FALLING TO ALL VALLEY FLOORS BY THIS AFTERNOON. * IMPACTS: SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW DUE TO WINDS WILL CREATE NEAR WHITE OUT CONDITIONS ALONG WITH ICY ROADS. SIGNIFICANT DELAYS AND CHAIN CONTROLS ARE POSSIBLE ON INTERSTATE 80... AND HIGHWAYS 50...28...88...89...267...207...AND 431. DANGEROUS CONDITIONS WILL EXIST FOR BACK COUNTRY ACTIVITIES AND ANYONE OUTDOORS DURING THIS STORM COULD EASILY BECOME DISORIENTED.
