NOAA: Gulf of Alaska Storm Forecast to Drop 6-12″ of Snow on Lake Tahoe This Weekend

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Stock photo of Tahoe chairlift snowfall.
Stock photo of Tahoe chairlift snowfall.  There will be 7 ski resorts open in Tahoe this weekend.

NOAA is reporting that a cold, “potent,” Gulf of Alaska storm is forecast to hit Lake Tahoe, CA this weekend with 6-12″ of snow and snow levels dropping as low as 4,000-feet.  

“Some of the highest elevations of the Sierra could see nearly a foot of new snow between Saturday night and early Monday morning.” – NOAA Sacramento, CA today

NOAA forecast map showing liquid precipitation totals for the coming storm and calling for 4-8" of snow at pass levels and up to a foot of snow on the highest Tahoe peaks. image: noaa
NOAA forecast map showing liquid precipitation totals for the coming storm and calling for 4-8″ of snow at pass levels and up to a foot of snow on the highest Tahoe peaks. image: noaa

The biggest snow totals will be focused north of highway 50 (south Lake Tahoe) but Yosemite and Mammoth will see some snow.  Snow levels will be around 5,000 to 6,000-feet during the bulk of the precipitation that’s forecast to come through on Sunday morning.

You can see from this map that the snowfall is focused on the north Tahoe region. 6-12" of snow forecast for 7,400-foot Donner Pass this weekend. image: noaa
You can see from this map that the snowfall is focused on the north Tahoe region. 8-12″ of snow forecast for 7,400-foot Donner Pass this weekend. image: noaa

NOAA is forecasting up to a foot of snow specifically targeted at the Mt. Rose (Carson Range) area.  Thus far, the Mt. Rose region of Tahoe has provided for the deepest snowpack and best skiing in Lake Tahoe this season and it’s about to get better.

FOR THE SIERRA, POTENTIAL FOR A MODERATE SNOW EVENT IS RELATIVELY
HIGH BASED ON THE LATEST GUIDANCE, ESPECIALLY AROUND THE TAHOE
BASIN NORTHWARD TO WESTERN LASSEN COUNTY WHERE CURRENT PROJECTIONS
INDICATE SNOWFALL POTENTIAL UP TO 6 INCHES. WEST OF THE LAKE TO
THE CREST, AND AROUND THE CARSON RANGE, SOME LOCATIONS MAY
RECEIVE UP TO A FOOT OF SNOW. - NOAA Reno, NV today
Mt. Rose, NV backcountry in Lake Tahoe on Nov. 10th, 2015. photo: matt bansak photography
Mt. Rose, NV backcountry in Lake Tahoe on Nov. 10th, 2015. photo: matt bansak photography

The Lake Tahoe region will have 7 ski resorts open this weekend.  It’s been a long time since Tahoe has had this many ski resorts open this early in the season.

Mt. Rose and Boreal are currently open in Lake Tahoe and Mammoth is open in central California.   Alpine Meadows will open on Thursday and Squaw will open on SaturdayNorthstar and Heavenly will open this weekendKirkwood will open this weekend with the most terrain open in Lake Tahoe and the only expert terrain Tahoe.

Snow probability for California on Saturday. Looks good for Tahoe, not much snow for Yosemite and Mammoth.
Snow probability for California on Saturday. Looks good for Tahoe, not much snow for Yosemite and Mammoth.

There are no advisories, watches, nor warnings in effect for the Lake Tahoe region at this point.

The 5 day liquid precipitation forecast showing about 1.25" of liquid for Tahoe which could translate to over a foot of snowfall in the next 5 days if accurate.
The 5 day liquid precipitation forecast showing about 1.25″ of liquid for Tahoe which could translate to over a foot of snowfall in the next 5 days if accurate.

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