Weather
This forecast was written at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, January 1, 2025
A fast-moving storm on Friday will bring moderate mountain snowfall, breezy winds, and slightly cooler temperatures. This will be followed by a lull this weekend and mostly dry conditions through early next week. Expect snow levels to briefly hover above 7,000 feet before dropping during the main event, with only minimal additional snowfall potential later Saturday night for some southern areas.
Thursday begins with mostly quiet weather across the mountains. A weak disturbance will keep clouds around in northern sections, but any showers should remain light and scattered, favoring higher elevations. Snow levels will generally sit above 7,000 feet, where flurries could fall, though little accumulation is expected. Winds look modest through the day, with slightly above-average temperatures persisting in many mountain locations.
Friday into early Saturday marks the primary storm of this period. Strong ridge-top gusts may exceed 80 mph, while valleys and mid-mountain zones could see gusts in the 30–40 mph range. Snow levels start high around 7000–8000 feet early Friday, then drop to around 5500–6500 feet by late day. This system should deliver moderate snowfall to the Sierra, especially along the crest, and a brief window of steadier snow Friday afternoon through nighttime. While most significant accumulations taper off Saturday morning, watch for isolated snow showers in a few mountain locales through midday.
A lingering weak wave could brush the southern Sierra on Saturday night. This feature appears minor, with only spotty snowfall amounts for areas farther south. Otherwise, high pressure rebuilds for the rest of the weekend into early next week, bringing mostly dry conditions and near-seasonal temperatures. Another weak disturbance may swing in from the north early next week, but moisture looks limited.
Storm-by-Storm Forecast Totals
Friday-Friday night (January 3)
Sugar Bowl – 5-9″
Palisades Tahoe – 4-8″
Kirkwood – 4-8″
Northstar – 2-5″
Heavenly – 2-4″
Mt Rose – 2-4″
Mammoth – 0-3″
